Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-08-10
ELDRIDGE PROPOSES
PINK CARDS 70 CURB
JAY-WALKING HABIT

CONTINUED from First Page)
four officers were stationed. It was
the duty of these officers to hold back
any pedestrian traffic which might be
attempted against red or. amber lights.
and they changed their positions to
the appropriate crossWalks as the
light signals changed.
System Proves Effective.
For the first few days these Off
GERS remained in position on the cross
walks, as explained above. Later they
dropped back onto the sidewalks as
the people became accustomed to the
lights and stepped forth only to check
the occasional attempts to cross
against the red light. In the latter
stages of this educational campaign
the officers we're supplied with small
pink warning cards. which bore
statement to the effect that the per-
son TO whom it was given had been
violating the pedestrian ordinance
and that by so doing the pedestrian
had made himself liable TO fine.
The officers were maintained at
the intersections for a period Of two
weeks. During that time there were
but three arrests. all in cases of stub
born and wilful disregard of the reg
ulation. and all three cases resulted
in conviction and fines of SIS. These
cases were given very prominent pub
licity in the local papers. There have
been no subsequent arrests.
THE card system has been very
effective. because of the emharra SIS
ment of the recipient of A card when
being presented with ii before an
amused gallery Of those who were
waiting TO cross at the proper time
The distinctive color of the card, and
the circumstances surrounding the
presentation, made it an Immediately
obvious fact to all in the neighhor-
hood that a potential violator had
been stopped. The disappearing gaze
Of the law-abidinS walters at cross
ing operated as a very effective check
upon would.he yiolators since the of,
f1cers have been withdrawn.
Would Include All Vehicles.
If this regulation is again enacted
1t might be advisab bic to adopt a SINH
lar educational campaign in Washing
ton. and to avoid if possible. making
large number of arrests: hut to bring
about the enforcement of the regula
ton by cooperation and common CON
sent, if possible.
the Art, namely. para graph (kl pro.
vides that The term vehicle shall ap.
ply TO any appliance moved over a
highway on wheels or traction tread,
including street ears, draft animals
and beasts Of burden
This definition was added to the
act in order to be certain that sny
traffic regulations which had already
been adopted or which might here.
after be adopted effectinS street cars.
draft animals and beasts Of burden.
might be enforced without question
by the courts.
Para graph (acl. article 2. section
10. page Is, of the existing regulation
has already been attacked in the
courts
The Police Court decided that,
while commercial motor vehicles can
be controlled as provided for in this
section there is no authority in the
act which would permit horse drawn
vehicles To be thus controlled and reg
ulated. The commercial vehicle case
was appealed by the defendant. and
the horse-drawn vehicle case was ap-
pealed by the District
Would Bar Slow Vehicles.
"In discussing this matter with
members OF Congress, the suggestion
was made that If the words and horse
drawn vehicles were eliminated from
this section that the National Horse
Association and others interested
would be satisfied. because this would
place all commercial vehicles equipped
with solid tires. whether they he mo
tor vehicles or hoISe-,lrawn vehicles.
on the same plane, thus eliminating
what the horse people claim to be an
unjust discrimination.
1t is proposed. therefore. that this
section be submitted for reapproval by
the Commissioners. eliminating the
words and horse-drawn vehicles.
The object Of this para graph is TO
prohibit slow moving solid tired com
mercial vehicles from passing through
certain heavy traffic areas. such as
Scott, Dupont and Iowa Circles. Slow
moving vehicles have the effect of
slowing down traffic. thus causing
congestion and accidents.
Urges Change i'm Truck Case.
I'm order TO give better distribu
ton of truck traffic, originating in the
Georgetown area and avoid forcing
large volumes of this traffic through
narrow streets such as . and r. II is
proposed that the restriction on Mass
achusettS avenue shall be modified as
to extend from Fourteenth street TO
Twenty first street northwest, in
stead of TO Twenty. second street as at
present.
Sometime ago. II was proposed by
this Office to lift this restriction on
Sixteenth street. north Of Florida ave
nue. and should like TO ask the ad.
vice Of the council. as 10 whether in
it's opinion. il would he wise 70 again
ask the commissioners 10 lift the re-
striction on Sixteenth street north of
Florida avenue or preferably north Of
kalorama road II might. however. re
a6.Isa HE m rostrone res1lhmiS9 On of