Evening star., 1926-03-30
SPEED LAW HINGES
ON TEST IN COURT
Involves EIdridge's Right to
Regulate Travel Under
22 Miles an Hour.

The right of Traffic Director NJ. o.
EldridGe to regulate the speed of We
hicles in the District of Columbia un.
der 90 miles an hour will be deter
mined in Traffic Court tonight. when
Judge John p. Mcmahon decides the
case of George l.. Gloscoe of Hyatts-
vile. Md. who was arraigned last
night on a charge of exceeding the Is.
mile speed limit on a certain section of
Bladensburg road northeast.
In continuing the case until tonight.
Judge Mcmahon declared Mr. Eldridge
has no authority to reduce the speed
limit of % miles an hour. although the
traffic act of 1925 permits him to in
crease the speed on boulevards. arte-
rial highways and streets in outlying
sections of the city.
Inconsistent With Law.
Judge Mcmahon contended that the
reduction of the speed limit on the
Biadensburg road was inconsistent
with an act of Congress. which saws
that no person shall operate a motor
vehicle over any public highway In
tne District at rate of speed greater
than is reasonable and proper, having
regard TO the width of the public high
way, the use thereof. and the traffic
thereon" 1t is the dutv of the court
or jury to decide when a speed is rea
sonable and proper. and the director
OF traffic exceeds his authority when
ne attempts to do 1t. the Judge ex.
planned.
ASSISTANT Corporation Counsel Ed.
ward Thomas last, night argued that
under paragraph "b" of section 6 of
the act, the director is authorized tn
make reasonable regulations with
respect to brakes, horns. lights
muff1ers and other equipment. the
speed and parking of vehicles. the
registration of motor vehicles. ETC.
Judge McMahon allowed Mr. Thomas
until tonight to look up precedents on
the subject.
To Appeal II He Loses.
Mr. Eldridge today declared if
Judge McMahon's decision is against
the 15-mile limit on BladensburS road
then vehicles of all description NAV
operate over streets. alleys and bridges
at y miles an hour. Such a decision
would completely undo the effective.
ness OF the present traffic regulations.
ne declared. but added that a writ of
error would be applied for to the
4
The present traffic regulations were
drawn up from the traffic act of 1928
Mr.. Eldridge explained, ruled on nv
the corporation counsel and approved
by the District Commissioners.
AS interpreted by these two review
Ing authorities, Mr. Eldridse saws
that under that section of the act re.
ferring to the regulation of "speed
and parking of vehicles he had the
authority to reduce speeds at certain
places about the city in the interest
of public safety.
The 15-mile speed-limit sign wa g
placed on Bladensburg road Just be-
fore bottle-neck in the road which
goes under a bridge" he explained
There had been several accidents and
one death at that point over a years
period, and it was necessary to re.
duce the speed from 80 miles an hour
at this point.
Sign at Cemetery Gate.
Then coming in from Baltimore
and near Mount Olivet Cemetery
there is another 15-mile limit sign at
the crest of hill. A few feet further
on down the road IS the entrance to
the cemetery, where daily there are
funeral professions making left-hand
turns to the entrance. An automobile
Continued on Page 4. Column ~