Evening star., 1928-04-22
D. C. TRAFFIC JUDGE LINKS
LIQUOR AND AUTO VIOLATORS
Many Citizens Hold Dominat-
ing Statutes Were Made for
Others to Obey, Not Them.
Drunken Driver Called Great
er Menace TO Safety of Pub
lie Than Man With Gun.
BY JUDGE ROBERT e. MATrrNGLY

BY JUDGE ROBERT f. MATTINGLY.
Acting JadSe Of Police and Traffic Courts.
The traffic situation in Washington
is similar to the prohibition situation IN
several respects Both the regulations
affecting traffic and the law called the
eighteenth amendment and the sub
si6iary enforcement act are constantly
violated, and ii is from these two
sources that our courtroomS. work
houses and jailS become crowded.
Many defendants in both cases are
alike-they are willful violators. Many
residents. unfortunately, of this city
actually believe, or seem to at least,
that these two dominating statutes In
the national life of today are meant for
others. but not for them. They do not
believe in either, as pertaining 10 them
selves, and even so so far as to brag
about their violations. if they get away
with it"
1t is this class of people I believe in
dealing severely with. Many of them
are citizens Of good repute, If their busi-
ness dealings and intellectual standing
in the community are 10 be taken as a
criterion. But the trouble is, that these
people should be an example to the
other people of the National Capital
II they fall down. because of selfish mo-
tiveS, how can We expect others with
less capable minds TO obey our laws
and regulations?
Obliged To Obey Laws.
Whether we personally like law or
not has nothing TO do with our Cbli-
cation to obey ii. Our only appeal is
by our vote. True. at present, the citi-
nf the Y1S(frip4 nF TnlYar%afN3n f.nx
not been given this privilege as yet.
but they can express their sentiment
through the various trade bodies and
the citizens associations.
AS this is an article primarily upon
trafnc ] will drop the question of pro-
hibition, except where the two subjects
are allied closely, as in the case of the
drunken driver.
The drunken driver, person guilty of
violation of both the prohibition law and
the traffic regulations. is more of men,
ace in my opinion than a man with a
loaded gun. In the latter case the path
Of bullet is a very narrow one. and his
victims few. But q man intoxicated
at the wheel has countless possible
victims and the path his machine may
take is a very wide one. Both are
armed to kill. one Intentionally. the
other without knowing. The result is
the same. however. and prevention
should be taken at all costs.
The drunken operator did not mean
to get drunk, Of course. "A few drinks
never affected him that way before !"
But the vile stun that is picked up
maybe from a friend, can
only be harmful A chemist could not
tell from analysis what effect the drink
would produce. How could the layman?
Only Sober Should Drive.
The man who has been imbibing takes
the wheel. He thinks he is all right.
They all do. He may not hit anything
this time. but it is only Providence that
saves him. For his wits, his eyes, his
ability to quickly turn the wheel and
his power TO step on the brakes are not
the same Only the sober man, and
when say sober. mean the man
without an intoxicating drink Of any
kind. Is mentally enough alert to drive
on the streets Of the city today. De-
PENDANTS in court have told me that
il was only a little light wine. little
beer or q little cider that they had
before the accident
Leave it all alone! Leave even tea
and coffee alone. il it affects your driv-
ingi Otherwise severe penalties must
be handed outi
AS for other traffic violations. Don't
drive as II you were the only one on
the street. Regard the rights of 9TH
ers, whether they are motorists or Pc
destriars. I see too much of the utter
lack OF regard for others on the streets
every day. I see the consequences of
their driving In this manner when I
preside over Trafic Court. 1t Is the
people that are continuously trying 10
take the right Of way from others that