Evening star., 1925-04-20
Fine From ST to $500 or
Jail Term Not Exceeding 10
Days Urged by EIdridge.
CODE TO BE COMPLETED
FOR STUDY TOMORROW
Approval of Regulations by Com
missioners Expected Be-
fore Thursday.

a general penalty of from 81 to $500
or not more than 10 days in Jail for
all traffic violations for which spe-
cial fine was not fixed by Congress
will be recommended to the 'Commis-
sioners in the new code, Director
Eldridge said today.
When Congress enacted the new
traffic law it wrote into the act specific
penalties for reckless driving. speed
ing, driving while intoxicated. leaving
the scene of an accident and for using
a smoke screen.
Mr.. Eldridge said the general pen
atty clause now being recommended
to the Commissioners will apply to all
other sections of the new code, such
as parking, brakes, headlights and
similar regulations.
The court, Mr.. Eldridge said will
have broad leeway under this clause
to apply a fine in each instance ac-
cording to the seriousness Of the Of
fenSe.
List of Special Penalties.
The special penalties fixed in the
traffic law follow:
Reckless driving-First offense, not
less than s25 nor more than 500, or
Imprisonment not less than 10 days
nor more :han 80 days; second or any
subsequent ofenSe. not less than 800
nor more than $1,000. and shall be inn
prisoned not less than 80 days nor
more than l year.
Speeding-F'irst offense, not less
than IS nor more than s25; second Of
fense, not less than S25 nor more than
800; for the third or subsequent Of
fense, not less than 800 nor more
than $500, and shall be imprisoned for
not less than 80 days nor more than
l year.
For leaving the scene of an accident
after striking an individual-F'irst Of
fense, not less than 500 nor more
than $500, and shall be imprisoned
for a term of not less than so days
and not more than months; for sec
ond or subsequent offense, fined not
less than $500 nor more than $1,000.
and shall be imprisoned for not less
than six months nor more than one
year.
Smoke Screen to Bring Year.
For leaving the scene of collision
with another vehicle-Frst offense,
fined not more than $500 or impris-
-ened : not more than six. months, or
both: second or subsequent offense,
tined not more than Sl,UOU OF 1nprlS-
oned not more than one year, or both.
Driving while intoxicated or under
influence of drugs-First offense, fined
not less than 500 nor more than $500,
and imprisoned not less than go days
nor more than s months; second or
subsequent offense, fined not less than
5000 nor more than $1,000, and i'm
prisoned not less than six months nor
more than one year.
Smoke screen-Any individual vio-
lating any provision of this section
shall be guilty of a felony and punish
ed by imprisonment in penitentiary
for not less than one year nor more
than five years.
Will Be Ready Tomorrow.
The act provides for revocation of
operators permits after the second
conviction of reckless driving, after
the third conviction of speeding and
upon conviction of leaving the scene
of an accident.
The completed draft of the new
traffic regulations will be ready for
consideration by the Commissioners
tomorrow and are expected to be ap-
proved before Thursday. They will
become effective May 3.
Col I. c. Moller, engineering assist
ant to the traffic director, is in New
York today attending conference OF
city planners, at which arterial high
ways will be discussed.