The Washington times., 1925-04-04
Getting Rid of the Collateral
system in Traffic Cases

M. honor. agreement between police court judges and
the director of traffic that the old collateral system OF evadng
trial for traffic Offences certainly the serious Ones snail De
eliminated viii undoubtedly work for safer conditions in
this city .
# Is now comparatively easy to do away with collateral
deposits There are police judges The number was IN
creased by two for purpose Of bringing about prompt
trial of offenders the system existing prior to the new
traffic laws offenders found put collateral with
the notice department fail to for trial Those
who forfeited were classes First fragrant vloators
who much preferred evade trial altogether second the
minor oator who for the than they did
about of time In lettering ABOUT the az
mosphere of police court
Under the present laws will be possible to try all
cases immediately because defendants VIII wish TO nave
witnesses summoned and will not be able to have them
brought court This will necessitae brief postpone
ment of cases. indefinite postponement the judges allow
themselves to be imposed upon by lawyers who know that
is always advisable bad to put off trial as long
as the courts will permit In such cases collateral VIII De
determined by traffic officials but the decision has
been reached forfeiture viii not end the prosecution
Defendants who attempt to this method Of evang
trial will be rearrested compelled to undergo trial
how That is the proper thing do and there should be no
deviation from that pea all major law nfractions
As to the minor inracons which have not jeopardzed
life or property the offences the first ones
charged against drivers collateral deposits should be allowed
and nobody worry they forfeited There no use
cogpng the of the courts with cases
and compelling men and appear for trial when
justice will be cheated but beneflted ~ saving o.
police court time.
Almost the object Of the law was to put the lear
of law and order the hearts of drunken reckless speed
ing drivers the cowardly hitandrun gentry The old
laws with old collateral system and only two overworked
police Judges was literal picnic for dangerous auto drivers
There are many Of against these sort OF men
and women pending the courts the facts almost for
gotten The lawyers found it snap to delay trial.
is not the object the law to harass those drivers
of machines who repecers of traffic and all other laws
and try to do the right thing by themselves ana Oy Oner
people The administrators of the law should not hamper
these citizens with cloud of technical hazy rules ana
regulations and then annoy them by frequent arrests and the
necessity of going The main thing after ALL no.
to make driving difficult by saddng all SORTS OF
theoretical and fancy inhibitions upon the public
Traffic Director Edge held TO be conservative Well
poised man with practical ideas That is the sort OF man
we want in Washington. He is now being deluged with
multiplicity and theories however THESE ne VIII
doubtless anayze carefully before attempting TO give them the
force of law will understand that the fewer the regu
tons the simpler they the public the better Tor the
community Nobody expects him to get everything done In
week, month year.
In cenazng every effort program OF reaching ana
drascav Furnishing wu and serious traffic Offenders the
director will close cooperation with overwhelming pubic
sentiment Until maners and manners fully under
stand that they are undesirable in this city and that vacations
behind prison actually awaiting the little Will be
Accomplished Wasting much time upon the small min
nows of the auto is boyh The big and bad fish
must be gone after by the traffic anglers.