Evening star., 1928-11-26
.ELDR|DGE: EXPLAINS
TRAFFIC LETTERS
Not Trying to Revoke Permits
of Minor Offenders, He
Answers Critics.


pressed particular concern oyer the
attitude Of Ernest N. Smith. general
manager of the American Automobile
Association. who issued a statement
yesterday calling the letters further
evidence Of the larrassing to which the
motorists are being subjected by the
traffic directors office" Mi Eldri1ge
said that certain features of his policy
were evidently not understood by Mr..
Smith. He said that he would probably
issue a written statement to clarity his
position later.
3. There is nothi,.p new about this. "
Mr.. Eldridge said. have been writing
letters to traffic offenders ever since
I became traffic director. asking them
to come in and talk the matter over
with me-"
The only thing different about the
letters being sent now is that they are
in mimeographed form. This is be-
cause we are going TO start the renewal
of operators permits July l. 1929, in
accordance with the act of Congress
There are many drivers who have long
records here. and we want them to
understand that their permits will not
be renewed. This will save the care
full drivers a lot of delay when it comes
h
business Of renewing permits will be
accomplished by mail.
Not Trying to Revoke Permits.
"One thing / want clearly understood: :
] am not trying to revoke permits for
parking offenses. Where man has a
long string Of parking offenses on his
record and nothing more serious, it is
my purpose to have him see me and
explain to him that he is hcgging street
space and see If can't get him to CO.
operate with me in having the parking
space made more available for legiti-
mate parkers."
In connection with the serious of
Tenders, those charged with one or more
cases Of speeding, reckless driving and
other major violations, I am calling
them in to give them an examination on
the traffic regulations and to ask for
their future cooperation. In some of
these cases drivers have escaped be-
ing charged with second and third Of
fenses when brought to court because
of the arresting officers oversight, but
I want them to know that this fact
has been noted by the Traffic Bureau"
Letters Of Two Types.
The letters. which have been sent at
the rate of about 26 day for the past
month, are of two types, one sent to
those with serious offenses charged
against them and the other to those
guilty of only minor infractions.
The first reads as follows:
Dear Sir:
TN our check of traffic records, we
find that your record indicates several
violations.
"'You will therefore please call at this
Office, i414 Pennsylvania avenue north!
west, within three days from the re-
ceipt of this letter, exclusive of Sundays
and holidays, between the hours of
am. and p.n.-Saturdays between
am. and pm.-where you. viii be
given an opportunity to present such
facts as you desire in connection with
the investigation which is now being
made as to whether or not your per-
nit should be suspended or revoked
The letter to those accused OF minor
tnfractlol1s reads:
Dear Sir: q
In our check of traffic records we
find that your record indicates several
violations.
will you, therefore, please call at this
Office, 1414 Pennsylvania avenue north
west, as soon as possible in order that
We may discuss the matter with you."
Smith Hits Second Letter.
The statement of Mr.. Smith was di-
rected In the main against the second
letter.
''The American Automobile Associ4
ation," he said, stands for the elm
ination from the streets of the District
of Columbia of those drivers who have
indicated that they are menace to
public life and limb and 1t seems ap-
parent that Congress has provided law
which makes 1t possible for the traffic
directors Office to withdraw driving per-
nlitS from these drivers. We new
learn from statements just issued that
those convicted of minor traf1c viola
tions are to be called up with the
prospect of their driving licenses being
revoked
This is further evidence of the har-
RAISING to which motorists of the Dis
trict are being subjected by the traffic
directors Office. Rules promulgated ami
, then withdrawn, experiments launched
and dropped. The average motorist
couldn't keep up with all the rules and
regulations and have time to earn his
living. s.e<
IF licenses are to be withdrawn the
time to do this is when convictions have
been secured in the courts, not months
afterward, when it becomes the. pleas
ure of the traffic director. and his as
sistants to inspect. a drawerful Of rec
ords.
Dictatorship" Charged. =
"we fail to understand what Mr.
Eldridge means, if correctly quoted
when he says they will be given q
sseiaanee to explain away the record rs
the record on any case on file in the
director of traff1c's Office is a record
competent Jurisdiction and the oppor-
tuniN of any explanation is afforded
to the n1otorist at the time Of his tria
and any attempt on the part of tnc
1 per6onfel in the traffic directors OFF Ice
to establish a court to review cases al
ready tried, is in my opinion an attempt
on the part of the director OF traffic;
office to set up dictatorship never
contemplated by the Congress of thesi
1 United States in enacting the legis'
! lation.
! I'm our opinion, it was never the in
1 tention of Congress in enacting sector
ana (e1 of the traffic act that the ap
plication of this act would be made
haainst violators of the so-called mino
regulations. That the intention was
and should be, to permit the directo
of traffic to remove from the highway
of the District of Columbia those driv
EDS who have proved themselves to b
tnenaces to public safety, and by n
stretch of the imagination can We con
I taive that any one charged with viola
l tibns Of the parking regulations beinI
menace to the public safety.
so far as minor regulations ar
concerned, there is probably not mo
torist in the District of Columbia VIII
does not at some time violate then
Those who are apprehended and con
victed of such violations constitute
very small percentage of violators, an
] we fail to see why the director of traf
. fic's Office should attempt to singl
them out with possible view of tn
revocation of their right to drive.
Says Ancient System" Confusing,