Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-08-26
Reminders" Not Enough.

Despite the TACT tflat Lney NulSaPpioNe
heartily of the practice Of motor cycle
policemen ambushing themselves without
lights to trap the unwary speeding
mctorist. the Commissioners, in answer
to a protest from the American Auto
mobile Association, have refused to &c
more than remind" policemen of their
disapprovai The association, as re-
suit of a concrete case presented 70
the Board of Commissioners, urged the
prosecution of two motor cycle men who
were found without lights by member
of the motoring body. The policemen
refused to give their names to the
associations representative and prompt
" arrested him on a fimsy cnarse
which was Immediately dismissed in
court The Commissioners. in answering
the letter of protest. said that they
could see no good to be accomplished
by charging the two men with viola
ton of the regulations in regaru to
lights. but that members of the force
will be reminded that their duty is to
remain In plain view ON the public high
ways with motor cycles lighted accord
ing to existing regulations.
In reiterating the policy of the Wash
ington Police Department in regard to
the conduct of traffic men on duty. the
Commissioners demonstrate that they
are in agreement with the accepted tiaf-
fic enforcement theory the world over,
which is that men In uniform circulat-
ing freely on the highways and obeyine
the regulations accomplish much more
50 far as safety Is concerned than the
ununiformed and hidden minion oil
the law. 1t is believed, however, that In
the pursuance of this policy little
something more drastic than reminders
should be given to policemen who are
more anxious to compile impressive
personal records than to do their duty
Of spreading the gospel of safety by theil
appearance on the highways. II thu
Commissioners intend to adhere TO thE
policy. and there is no reason to believe
that they do not, 1t most assuredly fol-
lows that the men charged with carry
ing it out should either fal In line OF
be punished for disobedience.
No sympathy can be wasted on the
u,otorist who violates regulations. ID
must take his medicine, however ad-
ministered. But 1t is more than the
question of an individuals minor in.
fractions of the regulations which inter
ests the trafic authorities of every COM
munity. 1t is the prevention OF whole
sale violations and the promotion Of
safety by the appearance OF an en-
forcement officer, rather than the cap
ture of an offending individual! who
perhaps exceeds the speed limit by two
or three miles. The habitual, fragrant
yiolator of the traffic regulations vii
always be caught. He is easy TO spo
and easy to bring TO book. He Is not I'm
pressed by the sight of policeman
upon the street and that proves nj
undoing, but all intelligent motorist
are impressed and as they are In tn
vast majority the work Of safety Is hes
served by the policeman in fun uniform
setting the example in safe driving 10
others 70 follow.
There can be no vacillating policy OF
this question. The Commissioners SHOULD
either enforce what they believe to b
the correct method for the protection
human life, or else abandon it in favo
Of the alternative which has been re
jected by every community that Is alfv
| to the exigencies Of present day tranit