Evening star., 1924-11-23
URGE new COURT
FOR TRAFFIC ONLY
Commissioners Likely to Be.
gin Agitation With Con-
vening of Congress.

Aroused over the threatening situ-
alton of a court SO congested with
cases that traffic criminals" may
circumvent or indefinitely delay their
punishment, the District Commits
sioners are preparing to seek with
renewed vigor congressional action
looking to the establishment of a new
court exclusively for traffic cases, it
was indicated yesterday.
1t is probable that with the con-
vening of Congress next week the
Commissioners will begin agitation
for a separate traffic court and also
for authority to impose jail sentences
on drivers who cold d-bloodedly leave
their victims helplessly injured or
dying in the streets after an accident.
Inability of the present courts TO
dispose of more than two or three
jury trials in traffic cases a week,
whereas the docket is being daily in
creased by jumps and bounds, has
created a serious problem for law
enforcing authorities TO work out.
Offenders appear to recognize the ad-
vantage of "stalling" their cases by
demanding trials by jury and the
of grave concern, legal experts point
out
Only One Remedy.
Assistant Corporation Counsel
Ringgold Hart, legal member of the
Commissioners traffic board, is fully
cognizant OF the court situation, and
believes that the only remedy is g
distinct court, devoting its whole
time to melting out justice in traffic
offenses.
So hne = h.
goal of District officials. Maj. Danie
Sullivan, superintendent of police, ir
| his annual report to the Commi ssion-
| ers urgently recommended that leg
| iSlation be Immediately enacted eS-
| tablishing a traffic court, the function
of which should be the trial of traffic
cases exclusively"
Maj. Sullivan also recommended
that Congress be asked to provide
| against forfeitures of collateral, tc
the end that all persons arrested or
charges of violation of any of the
| traffic regulations be given a hearing
| in open court"
May Revive Bill.
1t is likely the Commissioners will
petition Congress to pass a bill SINH
lar to the one introduced in 1921 by
| Representative Frederick r. Zihlmar
of Maryland, and which failed OF
passage. This measure provided fol
| creation of the District of Columbis
Traffic Court" with a judge appoint.
ed by the President. and which
| should have exclusive original jur-
isdiction" over offences against any
law, municipal ordinance, or regula.
tion in force in the District in so fal
as it relates to the regulation of We.
hicle traffic
AS it is now there Is virtually but
one afternoon a week available fol
| jury trials of traffic cases, since the
morning of the one District jury day
usually is taken up with routine
cases. The District formerly had two
jury days per week. but because OF
the congestion of Federal liquor
cases one of the days was turned
over to Federal Government prose
cutions.
Effect of $500 Fine.
The effect of the newly adopted
$500 fine for fleeing from an accident
will be added to the stagnation in the
courts, officials point out. With the
$40 limit such cases did not go before
juries. but with the higher penalty
the defendants may demand a hear
ing by jurymen. The result on the
docket will not be Immediately ap-