The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1925-03-13
z SECTIONS
Of ACT IN
FORCE
Provisions Relate to Smoke
Screens and Garages Re-
porting Accidents

The District police today are
expected to put into effect the
first two provisions of the new
District traffic law. Regarding
all other sections the District
officials are thoroughly at sea,
following receipt today of the
first copies Of the new law from
the Government Printing Office.
The two sections which are now
held to be effective, is one re-
lating to the use of smoke
screens and another about garage
keepers reporting cars damaged
in accidents or bearing the marks
of bullets.
Weakness i'm Law.
Preliminary examination of the
law revealed what is regarded as
a weakness in the enforcement of
the statute in the wide scattering
among the courts Of trial of cases
arising under the act, District Cor
poration Counsel Francis H.
Stephens said.
Sections of the law providing for
additional Police Court judges and
for appointment Of the new traffic
director and creation of his office
and staff are now effective, but
cannot become operative until the
appointments are made.
Major Daniel Sullivan, Superin-
tendent OF Police, will today send
copies of the law to all precincts,
accompanied by orders for enforce
ment Of the two sections about
which no question has been raised,
1t was planned.
Smoke Screen Banned.
The smoke screen section, which
is now effective, prohibits the pos
session " any smoke screen device,
| installation of any such equipment
In motor vehicle or ownership
OF any car so equipped. Violators
OF this section will be held guilty
OF a felony and subject to imprison-
ment of from one to five years,
without alternative of a fine.
The other section which becomes
effective Immediately requires gar
age or repair shop keepers to re-
port to a police station within
twenty-four hours any motor We
hicle brought to him which shows
signs of having been in an acct
dent or struck by bullets, giving
the make of the car, the engine
number, the registry number and
the name and address of the owner
or operator. Failure to make such
report is punishable by fine OF
$25 to 500.
Police officials will confer this
afternoon with Corporation Counsel
Stephens in an effort to determine
what other provisions shall be made
Immediately effective for prosecu
ton purposes.
Old Speed Rules Stand
} The present speed regulations
will be enforced until May 2, it was
tentatively agreed today, when all
provisions of the law will become
effective.
New laws regarding operators
permits. non-residents' permits
reckless driving, fleeing from scene
of accident, driving under influence
of liquor or drugs, do not become
effective until May 2, it was held.
| Considerable confusion exists at
the District Building regarding the
issuance Of the new annual opera.
tors permits. Corporation Counsel
Stephens, after hurried examination
Of the law, voiced the opinion that
1.-The present permits will be good until
March 81, 1926. 1t is held in other
quarters that renewals of permits
must be made on May 2.
Corporation Counsel Stephens re.
CARDS as a serious defect the re-
vision that prosecutions for offenseS
coming under the act are not cen.
tered in any one court which might
therefore become a purely traffic
court, but are scattered among at
least three courts-the District
branch of Police Court, the United
States branch of Police Court and
the higher District courts.
Directors Duties.
of traffic, when appointed, is au.
thorized to make regulations and
iprescribe penalties for use Of brakes
horns, lights, mufflers and other
equipment, the speed and parking
of vehicles, registration of vehicles
issuance and revocation of opera.
tors permits and other traffic con.
troll needs.
He can prescribe as penalties n
simple fine, in which case the trial
would be in the District branch of
Police Court, Imprisonment for not
exceeding ten days, which would be
tried in the same court, or both fine
and imprisonment, which would
have to be tried in the United States
branch of Police Court.