Evening star., 1924-11-16
SEES TRAFFIC. SPY
SYSTEM At END
A. A. 4. Certain That All Cities
Will Insist on UNI
formed Police.

Complete abandonment within the
next year of the use of plain-clothes
omcers In the work Of bringing auto
mobile sDeeders to justice is pre-
dicted by the American Automobile
Association in a special bulletin just
sent to all affiliated motor clubs
throughout the country from it's ma
Uonal headquarters In this city.
The prediction is based upon the re-
cent A. A. A. investigation of the police
methods of the principal cities with
regard to the arrest of speeders and
motor law violators. and has been ad-
Vanced at this time in view of the
action of the local police department.
IN experimenting with ununiformed
officers In Its campaign against law
lessness.
According to the Three AS messag.
to motor clubs, the Washing, plan
is but a flare in the pan. the leading
police chiefs of the country favoring
tho abolition of plain n-clothes officers
as essential to the success of motor
law enforcement.
Few Use stem.
OF the G. police chiefs consulted
the bulletin shows. only three repor, ed
the use Of ununiformed officers in the
work of catching speeders and Ave
reported a dual system whereby
traffic officers were both i'll uniforms
and plain clothes
or the SO cities now using uniform
cd police exclusively for traffic law
enforcement 23 had at one time tried
plain clothes men and abandoned the
system.
Commenting upon the facts. Thorn
as +. Henry president of the \. A. a
says that the trend Of enforcement
being toward uniformity as with all
automobile legislation, the secret
method of arrest cannot expect to
gain favor and must be discarded
Just another instance of the law
OF the survival of the fittest," Mr.
Henry explained.
Opposed Clubs.
The investigation revealed the fac.
that of 81 affiliated a \. 4. clubs
that were questioned on the matter
of above-board methods VS. the es-
pionage system, only one club favored
the latter. 1t is pointed out that
through their organizations, motor
lists are now in a position to oppose
vigorously and successfully any plans
Tor the return to m athods that have
been abandoned as a menace
Details of the nations attitude on
the subject have been brought to the
attention of The Washington public
both through the press and the medi-
um OF motor club membership, and 1t
Is believed by A. A. A. officials that
the weight of opinion is so over
whelmingly against the espionage
system as to discourage it's use here
At an early date.
Facts Against System.
The A. A. A. has summarized the
reason for abandonment of the es-
pionage system as advanced by the
leading police chiefs as follows:
1t has never been necessary to put
out plain clothes men to catch speed
ers Detective methods are necessary
only for violations which are not
done in public.
Uniforms are a protection to the
motoring public as we'll as to the
police force. The uniform has a very
deterrent effect upon would-be viola
tors.
1t Is more important to discour-
age motor violation than to make
an arrest after something has hap
psned.
Good policing consists in maintain
. ing order without arrests.
Espionage presupposes the motor
1st criminal.
1t also encourages fatalities through
obvious confusing Of police with
highwaymen and grating constables
THE A. A. A" says Mr.. Henry in
conclusion. believes that the few
cities now using the spy system will
have to abandon 1t presently, not
merely because 1t has been found to
be inadequate and illogical by the
many other cities that have tried 1t
but mainly because the time is not
far distant when no city will be able
to enforce any plan that is out of key
with the motor regulations of the
country in general.
"The increased volume Of touring
II demanding a certain degree of uni