Evening star., 1924-11-24
POLICE BACK MOVE
FOR TRAFFIC COURT
Would Compel VioIators to
Stand Trial, Ending For
FIXTURES of Collateral.

Declaring that what we need here
IN Washington Is less hysteria about
traffic and more concerted action
looking toward establishment of a
traffic court" Milton d. Smith, presi-
dent of the Policemen's Association,
| today marshalled the rank and file
| of the police department in support
Of the expected drive by the District
Commissioners for separate traffic
| court.
With traffic court. presided over
by a judge familiar with conditions
as they exist today, and with ade-
quate laws to support him, Washing
ton could be made the safest city in
the country" the policemen's head
announced.
"A number of members Of both the
House and Senate District Commit
| tees are in favor of such a court" he
| said. Now is the time to strike for
such action as will result in the
establishment of a full-fledged traf-
| fic court.
| Would End FOrfeitures.
81 am a motorcycle officer myself"
Smith stated, and / know from ex-
perience that a traffic court is badly
needed. l believe that with the estab-
| liShment of such a court to which
| attendance would be compulsory on
speeders, reckless drivers, collision
fug:tiVes and traffic criminals, the
| traffic situation in our city would
show an immediate improvement"
officer Smith strongly advocated
doing away with the present forfeit
ure of collateral system.
| Make every person charged with
serious traffic offenses stand trial be-
fore the traffic court" he urged in a
| formal statement. LAS soon as the
recreant motorists knows that he
will have to face the judge, he will
be bit more careful
Suspension of Permits.
Suspension of operators permits for
| certain violations in lieu of fines or
! a jail sentence would be an effective
punishment in many cases, Smith as
| serted. He is in favor of the enact
ment of laws to suspend permits for
| periods ranging from one week to a
! year, especially in second offense''
| cases.
! For such cases as reckless driving,
where injury to persons or property
! results, nothing in the nature of a
! fine is sufficient. But suspend a mans
permit. and you deprive him of his au-
tomoble-a telling blow Smiths state
ment pointed out.
Smith said that the reason the
traffic court bill introduced by Repre-
sentative Frederick l.. Zihlman failed
of passage in the last session OF Con
gress was the lack of united support
of the proposal in the District al
that time. But today" he explained
| I'VE have committee that is favor
able to the District and if all agencies
sure 1t will pass at this session"
Hart Urged for Post.
Smith proposed Ringgold Hart, as
sistant corporation counsel, as a
logical candidate for judge of such a
court, because of his familiarity with
court procedure and his deep interes,
! in Washington's traffic situation
Hart is legal member of the Com
missioners' traffic board and author
of the new regulation raising the
fine for fleeing from the scene of an
| accident from $40 to $500
In serious offenses such as driy-
ing while drunk Smith concluded
the defendant often benefits by the
congested court dockets under the
present system Of trying traffic cases
Cases are continued from week to
week and by the time they are
called for trial the principal wit
nesses frequently have moved or are
otherwise unable to be reached, and
the defendant gets away without
punishment.
ut is useless to try to make all
persons arrested for speeding and
similar violations stand trial under
present court conditions Many OF
them would never live long enough
to face the court" Smith declared
Three Drivers Hunted.
Three additional fleeing driver
cases developed overnight Three ar.
rests were made for operating vehi-
cles while Intoxicated and 80 for
speeding. Maj. Daniel Sullivan, su-
perintendent of police, reported to-
day to Commissioner Oyster, in
charge of police administration.
Police are looking for the driver OF
the car which knocked down Grove
James, colored, 8 years old, of 2O0s
| NJ street, and drove away from the
scene of the accident, Thirtieth and
NJ streets, without stopping to aid
the injured boy or make himself
known.
Two other unidentified drivers
failed to stop after their cars were
in collision with other machines.
Police were told that the car which
collided with that of Eugene Fer
guson, 1872 Park road, at Seventh
street and Mount Vernon place, con-
tinued on it's way, as did also the
of Griffin Ritmour, 1854 East Capitol
street, near Thomas Circle