Evening star., 1925-04-05
NEW ORDER BANS
TAKING CASH BAIL
IN TRAFFIC CASES
Must Take Offender Into
Court at Once, Police
Are Instructed.
LATITUDE is ALLOWED
IN MINOR OFFENSES
Forfeiting Collateral Will Not
Save Violators From
Facing Judge.

Facing Judge.
Carrying into effect the intent of Con-
gress to hail traffic offenders directly
into court instead of allowing them TO
deposit collateral at precinct stations,
Maj. Daniel Sullivan, superintendent
Of police, last night instructed his force
TO begin enforcing the new provision to-
morrow.
In a sweeping general order, the
police chief ordered officers to take
directly into court all automobile
drivers found breaking the traffic
laws between 1890 pm and $50 am,
the only exceptions being those who
violate minor provisions, where i'm
mediate action might impose an un-
due hardship on a reputable citizen.
In this case the police officer is al
lowed to use his discretion in ar
ranging with the defendant to meet
him at court at a stated time.
Since there will be a traffic court in
session, beginning tomorrow, from
o'clock in the morning until II o'clock
at night, Maj. Sullivan ordered that COL
arrest is made between the hours Of
1880 o'clock pm. and $50 o'clock am.
Police Chiefs Order.
The order governing police pro-
cedure in traffic cases beginning to-
morrow reads in part as follows:
All persons arrested for any vio-
lation of the traffic regulations be-
tween the hours of $3.50 o'clock am.
n-0n II
directly from point of arrest to the
Traffic Court; provided, however, that
for minor infractions of the regula-
tions, where such immediate action
might work a hardship or serious
embarra ssment to a reputable citi-
zen, the arresting officer is vested
with power and discretion to set a
date and time convenient to the de-
fendant and to such officer for the
appearance of such defendant in
court for trial
No Rail Acceptable.
For hagrant and apparently in
territorial violation of the regulations
however, and in major cases, such a s
willful violations of the speed regu-
lations, driving while under the in
huence of liquor, use of smoke screen,
colltding and leaving the scene, etc,
no departure from the general rule
of Immediate appearance in court will
be tolerated
In all cases where officers make
arrest where immediate appearance
is directed, such officer will notify
his precinct or bureau as to the time
of leaving his beat or post and time
OF his return to such beat or post
and proper and accurate record of all
such notifications to precincts by Of
ficers will be maintained in such sta
tion or bureau.
The arresting officer will be held
directly responsible for securing from
defendants appearing in court under
the provisions of this order, all neces-
sary information for the record of
arrest. Prepared forms for this pur-
pose will be found in the Office of the
assistant corporation counsel, and in
each case one of such forms will be
hlled out and the officer Will deliver
or cause to be delivered such form TO
the station clerk whose duty it shall
be to enter such information on the
record of arrest book.
Night Cases Exception.
ut was clearly the intent of Con-
gress to reduce to the necessary mini
mum the acceptance and forfeitures of
collateral in traffic cases, and it is
therefore directed that only in the
tions as are made after 1880 o'clock
pm. and before $50 am. will de-
fendants be taken or directed to the
station houses and permitted to de-
posit collateral; all other causes will
go direct to court and the RESPONSE
bility for their release will rest upon
that body.
AN officer will be detailed for duty
at the Police Court from $3.50 o'clock
w 70 4 Enn Ill
lar days of the week, and II will be
the duty of such officer TO assist in
looking after such prisoners as are
brought to the court for trial. and
1T will be his further duty to ac-
company the patrol wagon taking
prisoners from the court to the Jail
at the close of each nights session.
This officer will also be held respons-
ible for the thorough search of de-
fendants committed to Jail or TO the
Gallinger Hospital and the safeguard
ing of such property as may be taken
from them; personal property to be
delivered TO and receipted for by the
prisoner when he arrives at the jail,
other property such as weapons. etc,
to be handled according. to the ex-
listing rules and regulations of the
department. This officer will be pro-
vided with a property book for the
for such property"
Assures Court Action.
Judge George H. Macdonald is
slated to preside over the night ses-
sion at Police Court for the first two
weeks.
For a short time the new system.
it is believed, will result in many
people who previously were allowed
to forfeit their collateral and escape
convictions being brought into court
and deal with summarily. The four
presiding judges of the Police Court
are of the opinion, however, that the
ultimate result will be stricter ad
herence to the law, and consequently
a safer and saner National Capital.
Intoxicated drivers will by necessity
of the offense escape facing the court
until later. In the minds of court Of
ficials it would be preposterous to
send man. before the judge while
still under the influence of liquor, or
even to arraign him. This immunity,
however, will be short-lived.
Night traffic court, as its name i'm
plies will be held only for traGic
violations All other District Of Ce-
lumbia cases and United States cases
will come up as formerly, and e@i-
lateral will be taken when deemed
proper by police precinct chieftains.
A change will be noted in the fact
that due to the. cooperation OF the