Evening star., 1925-11-29
A. A. A. PLANS WAR
UPON SPEED TRAPS
viii Urge PenaIizing Reck-
less Driving, and AboIiShing
Fee System of Arrests.

Supervision of all main highways
by state road patrons and discontinue
ance of the fee system OF arrests are
advocated by the American Automo-
bile Association in a program designed
To rid motordom Of the speed trap and
the roadside court.
Making arrests based on technical
violation Of speed limits is scored rs
practice which should he replaced hy
a policy Of arrestinG motorists for
reckIeSsneSs. Speed limits are charac-
terized as misleading and forming 1t
wrong basis for arrest in many in
stances.
The program aimed at reforming
many unjust and undesirabl ble practices
has for its purpose the projection OF
motorists using the highways and, at
the same time. the more effective en-
forcement Of the motor vehicle regu
lations.
Salient features Of the \. \. A. pro
gram follow:
First, that ail main highways be put
under jurisdiction Of State road pa
trolls.
Second. that the fee system of ar
rests be abolished and. that pending
the time when all States establish road
patrols, every officer should he elected
hy the people. paid by the people. and
compelled to Wear a uniform.
Penalize ReckIessness
Third. that arrests be based on
recklessness rather than on technical
violation of speed limits.
Fourth, that laws be enacted bar
ring evidence obtained by speed traps
on the ground that such evidence is
gotten by trickery.
Fifth, that every State take steps
similar to those recently taken in
Ohio for defining the jurisdiction of
Justice Of the peace courts. 50 that
motorists may know the exact powers
of such tribunals: also that State audi
tors should institute strict account
ing system for fees and fines collected
on the highways.
Seventeen states and the District
Of Columbia said Thomas p. Henry.
president of the \. ~ A. discussing
the program. have established road
patrols already. We find that law
enforcement Of the motor vehicle law
IS not only more effective in these
States. but also that motorists have
greater protection"
Pointing out that speed trans and
roadside courts prey on motorists in
localities where the road patrol is not
Under State supervision ana that they
Will continue To plague highway users
rs long as small villages have the right
10 make their own regulations and
hire their enforcement officers. Presi-
dent Henry continues
Fee System Abused
It IS clear to all that Justice under
the fee system. as far as the highways
are concerned, is a farce and Il caric;i-
ture. In the absence of q road patrol
serzer the direction of the State. con
--abieS, sheriffs and their deputies
Ia In
..@opie OF the community. They should
nave no financial interest in the re
SUIT OF an arrest. Take away this
pecunIary interest and you will have
taken away 80 per cent Of the enthrIs-
iasnl of Your average speed-trap cop.
Sut YOU will replace him with a better
officer
feel very strongly that the exist
@n'e OF present speed limits on main
highWayS-in many cases 50 low as
(" be ridiCulous-iS one OF ollr diff
ruitles. Arrests and violations should
ne based on reckleSSness rather than
on the actual speed of an automobile
at any given time. We must come
down to common sense and cease 10
he pestered by the hobeoblfu of -
miles an hour, The States that have
made reckleSSuesS the test have
materially improved motoring rondi-
lions within their borders
There is another point yvnI,ld
Ike TO see stressed in this connection.
The duty OF u patrol officer is to pre-
vent violations. Your typical speed
COP too often encourages technica
NlolauonS and too frequently pIavs
the role Of an agent provocatellr for
me purposes OF conviction. Testimony
mus secured is not only worthless.
nut highly immoral and should not
count for conyiction.'