Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-07-27
TWO DRIVERS FINED.
FORCUTT|NG AHEAD
Police Start Campaign to
End Practice of Breaking
Out of Traffic LineS.o

Obedience TO traffic regulations. with
particular attention to violations en-
tailed by drivers cutting around lines
of cars held up by traffic signs. and
running on the wrong side Of the
street. is to he made the subject of
special attention on the part of the pO-
lice. A start was made this morning at
Twelfth street and Massachusetts
avenue, when nine automobile drivers
fell into the clutches of the law. and
were given notices TO appear at Police
Court. Only two appeared. while
others were given permission, for valid
reasons, to appear at 10 O'Clock tomor-
row morning.
Sergt W. F. Terry of the Traffic
Bureau and Policeman NJ. ]. Bridges
of the same bureau appeared at the
intersection at O'Clock, simultaneous
ly with the turning on of the traffic
lights. About S:15 the morning traffic
began to get heavy, and each time
the light turned red, stopping south
bound traffic, the cars would jam up
in line. The many, who were in
hurry would drive out to the left side
of the street to get ahead of the line,
thus closing up the lane for traffic for
those who wished to make turn. or
holding up northbOund traffic when
the red light was turned on.
Scores of Violations.
There were scores of violations, but
it was a physical impossibility for the
two policemen to issue tickets or
catch all. Many. observing the police
writing tickets, turned right at the
corner and dashed away. Many saved
themselves a trip to the court after
starting down the left side of the
street and observing the police at the
corner, turning quickly into the line.
Inspector f. W. Brown. command
ing the traffic bureau. decided yester-
day to dispatch the two officers to
clean up this situation.
Most of the drivers apprehended
contended that they were forced
out of traffic, but the police pointed
out to them and to the court in the
two cases tried today that they were
driving on the wrong side and volun-
tartly left the line in order to get q
place of vantage ahead.
The drivers summoned today were
Robert E. Melting, 1851 Fairmont
street; Frank J. Hsske, jr., 1903 Brent
wood road; William Pecker, 5509 Thir-
teenth street; Robert c. Farrar, 1910
Douglas street: Sylvester McLAurin,
2017 Thirteenth street; Raymond l..
Muir, 2544 Seventeenth street; Harry
S. Copperthite, 1444 w street: Hugh
Everett. SAG Kenyon street, and Harry
Haynes, Chevy Chase, Md.
Two Fined S. Each.
The first case before Judge Schuldt
in the Traffic Court today was that
of Mr.. Farrar. Policeman Bridges
testified as to the conditions. He Of
fered to present in evidence pictures
showing the conditions, but Judge
Schuldt said that he was thoroughly
familiar with the conditions He said
that there was much of it, too. on
Sixteenth street, as we'll as on other
streets, and that 1t must be stopped
If driving Is to be made safe. The
regulations must be enforced, he said.
He fined the defendant IS.
The next appearance was that of
Mr.. Everett. Sergt. Terry gave sub
stantially the same testimony as
Policeman Bridges. Everett testified
that he was forced out of the line,
but Judge Schuldt pointed out that
If he had been in his place in the
line he could not have been forced
out. He fined him IS.
Other cases will be brought up for
hearing at 10 o'clock tomorrow morn
ing. In the meantime the police will
continue their work of attempting to
break up this practice, in which they
are receiving the full support of the
court.