Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-13

Congressional and Diplomatic
Immunity Also Assaulted.

Having moved to Washington re-
Gently from the Middle West and OBJ
serving the various phases of the
traffic situation in the District, the
following question came to my mind:
Just what advantages has the COM
mon citizen OF the District of Column
bia in owning and operating an auto
mobile in the District?
By common citizen" I refer to any
one residing in the District of Column
bia not either in the diplomatic serv-
ice of any country, a member of Con-
gress or Government or local
official.
We know that any one in the dip
lomatic service" from the minister to
the assistant chief clerk to the third
secretary to the minister, who prom1-
nently displays on his car a small tag
bearing the legend Diplomatic" is
immune from arrest owing to failure
to observe any traffic law OF the DIS
trict. He IL not even to be held &C
countable for the damage or loss OF
life resulting through his negligence.
We also know that any other indi-
vidual who conducts the peoples
business" and conspicuously displays
a marker bearing the word Congress
sionaI' on his car appears likewise
to be immune from 1.-The peoples
traffic regulations. Perhaps he can
even park his car In front OF f1re
hydrant with immunity, IL he has the
peoples business" to attend to near
by. OF course, a mere building en-
trance means nothing. even IL plainly
marked by the police department. The
little sign takes care Of all that.
Mighty handy to have several OF
either or these signs placed conspicu-
ously above the license plate on your
car, because then you can do just as
you wish, and nobody-not even
policeman-will dare to interfere.
And IL you should hit some one, you
should worry. The little sign takes
care of all that.
Compare this with the rights Of
mere common citizen. He has to re-
member traffic rules, in order to be
within the law set down by Mr.. Ed
ridge, that will fill a book OF 80 pages
and about by s inches in size. All
this to operate a car in a territory
less than 10 miles square. He Is Inn
tied to such speeds as 3, Z, Is and ~
miles per hour. He Is limited to 10
feet, feet, 20 feet and rs feet In
parking, depending upon numerous
conditions. He is limited to feet In
stopping behind a street car.
Is 1t any wonder that the traffic
regulations are not observed as they
should be? A motorist would have to
be a veritable mathematician to keep
all these odd figures straight.
Aside from that, several weeks ago
I asked a. motor cycle policeman what
the law stated in regard to the right
of way of motor vehicles. He said
that whoever gets to the street inter
section first has the right of way. II
both arrive at the same time, the car
on your right has the right OF way.
This, as you know, is incorrect. III,
therefore, the very ones who enforce
the trafflc laws do not themselves
know them, how is mere motorist TO
be expected TO?
Instead of having a conglomeration
of odd size speeds and other regula-
tons. would 1t not be for the better
interests of all concerned to revise the
entire list. bearing in mind that the
speedometer manufacturers have not
as vet realized the importance OF the
District sufficiently to mark plainly in
figures such odd speeds as these ON
their product.
Would not a reasonable system be
based on the consideration that the
speeds in multiples of 81. e., 10, Is,
20. rs. so, etc.-are plainly marked Dy
figures on all speedometers, and, In
addition, are easy to remember! In
place of the ridiculous speed of miles
an hour, make 1t s; in place OF J, make
1t 10; 20 instead of Is and % instead
of %. The Smile an-hour difference
is not enough to be an item OF any
importance In the latter.
In conclusion, I do not believe, IN
consideration OF the risks involved
through diplomatic and congressional
Immunity and the many untenable
traffic regulations now imposed. that
there is any advantage to the common
citizen of the District of Columbia to
own and operate an automobile with
In the District. r.. A. WALLACE.