The Washington times., 1924-09-27
Jail Sentences for Confirmed
Auto Speed Fools
IN BIZ PRICE.

IA u
Judge MCMAHON Of tie Police Court shows i leen ann
prehenson Of the public menace involved in reckless auto
speeding in the District when he only imposes stiff fine
but sends TO jail for thirty days offender who had
twice before convicted Of speeding.
This policy should be steadily pursued from now on by the
Judges handling traffic in the Police Court thirty
days IN Jail do not persistent speed maacs take notice
and slow down in their wne then the judges should make
sxy DAYS or six months the law authorizes the law
Itself provides for less than six months year then the
Commissioners should see that II is made more drastic
The plain truth is that the whole city is reck
less traffic methods pursued BY large numbers Of drivers
ard the irritation coming from this feeling is ultimately going
" result in farreacng that may cura the use 81 che
automobile and the giving Of drivers permits to only those fit
to have them. a8
The automobile Of incaIculable use to the business world
ana q pleasure to all citizens but that does not
that machines To make life unbearabe ana safe fo
those who happen to be still using their legs ii going about tie
cry Laws are made for the good of Gil and especially for
the protection OF the majority Of people
mighty weak spot In the traffic life Of civ "a the
wholesale prcnsCucus licensing Of all people to run
automobiles There thousands Of men boys and
operating cars IN Washington who would be vouChed for
as to character responsibility common sense BY those 81
standing who happen to know them Many Of these drivers
Of their unrelabity their failure Is undersand ~
rss rudmens OF care and devotion to duty in whatever
The derelicts Of humanity failures ii every field tev
have ever gone into have trouble in being licensed 10
drive cars IN Congested hcrOughaes and eopde the lives
OF innocent people
You often reckless young white or black man driving
car which seated intimate companions Of the same
stripe Their joy in encouraging him while he defias Iii
traffic laws and steals the rights Of other driver q Is rac
es speeds through the most dangerous places and takes
chances that none but fool would take With him II Il not
case OF right Of way but out Of the way fool for the
other fellow. - ~ -
Every day read where men on trial for murders and
other heinous crimes shown be suffering from mental
disorders that make necessary to put them Of the way
OF laWabiding people Yet any boy with the lowest
grade Of mentality and suffering from any Of brainstor
can easily procure licenses to drive this city or almost
any other American city.
The fault here in the lack Of and money to check
up on these things carefully In the District Building in
this city comparatively few clerks in the auto license
facts bearing upon each application for drivers license
When the Commissioners ask for and more money
Tor that office Congress turns down the request It is
cheap economy that risks human life and property and the
Commissioners should persist until they get the necessary
laws and money to bring about greater in the
Of drivers permits
Economy all right at the right time and in the right place
but has no place in situation like this the members
OF Congress who refuse these appropriations will not
give the time to pass needed laws lived in this city they
would see many questions in different light from what
they do
The traffic authorities Of the District government must also
devise plan which will make crossings in the con-
geed portions Of Washington safer for pedestrians generally
same fool drivers Of cars but the majority people COM
PEELED streets should be subjected to real dangers
by street crossing policeman who switches traffic in
hurry without paying the least attention to whether pedes
TRANS are still in the line Of the flow Of machines
The duty Of cooheaded traffic cop congesed cross
ing to protect pedestrians well drivers not TO
shift signals and make people jump for their lives to escape
the class Of auto who to think that pedestrian has
no rights anywhere.