The Washington times., 1925-12-30
Public Defiance of Increasing
Traffic Regulations
By BILL PRICE

Commissioner FENNING is able lawyer Presumably he
has given serious thought widespread failure the part
of the public observe the multiplicity OF laws and
regulations of all It has gotten further than
observance reaching the point Of suen defiance
There is psychological de 70 Inns serious nrds ~ t
nations greatest lawyers They openly express the belief
that the has for the cessation OF so many legal re-
cons upon the public even the repeal OF many OF those IN
existence.
An eminent lawyer recently estimated that awabding
citizen undertook inform himself as to various laws and
regulations national and municipal it would take him
over 600 years. studying reasonable period each day. o
posted and by that time he would have forgotten
large number of those he had read about.
In District Of Columbia better off in this
respect than in the States National and
regulations applying District citizens no
knows when he is stepping some statute or regu
laton and may be hauled into court.
the local regulation governing pedes
TRANS at street crossings where there crossing policemen
y S poicemn viii be required at each crossing and when
these four hauling voator to station houses police
court the violations will continue the crossing at each
place undertakes apply the regulation to pedestrians there
viii be unusual traffic jams
We also read that the regulation preventing horse,
drawn vehicles certain streets to be contested by some
Of those who still get enjoyment out of esurey drive
behind carriage I'VE believe that taxpayers
citizens entitled to the streets Of Washington
citizen who carriage horses and vehicles for
pleasure rides.
the streets is getting be most interesting The proposed
regulation barring anight parking brings it to the
hearing from the public about it. Public sentiment appears
from letters to them, to be about equally divided Mr.
Fennng quoted saying that those opposing regulation
against anight parking fare persons with financial in
tere since they park their outdoors and don't want to
pay garage hire or build their garages "
those who favor the plan controlled by interest
IN any do not hear about It. Evidently there
is selshness in their attitude Garage and street
companies Of course, not concerned Owners of
fashionable hoes have grievances against vvers parked
in front Of their places.
Just how much self interest Is involved in the views
pressed the Commissioner and Director is not after all
the real question which is the fast growing resentment against
focs Of traffic regulations that do touch the vital spot
Of traffic controsafety to human life and the expedition
Of traffic.
Lawobserng citizens do understand and appreciate the
Importance Of all regulations that tend make life safer
and promote the uninterrupted flow Of traffic What they
do complain about is that these most vital regulations not
enforced with the utmost vgor and that too much time
ftered away In baggng the small fry who deliberately
Internationally violate minor regulations that have direct
bearing on human safety
is possible to efficiently enforce all the traffic
regulations in existence in the District and those that
daily in the making the police force of Washington will
have to be 5000 1000 men; there will
to be halfdozen police judges; and goody portion
Of District people will spend much Of their time going back
ward and forward police stations traffic headquarters and
the police court.
Senator CAPPER quite right when he that there
traffic problem in Washington between the hours Of
and a. m Senator EDWARDS of New Jersey member Of
the Senate District Committee regards the scheme wholly
unnecessary and as unfair to many owners q cars.
IT, Senator Capper says, there traffic problem
those early hours Of the morning why the attempt
saddle more regulations upon owners?
D0oe He Wnnf R1.nino