Evening star., 1929-07-01
HEAVY FINES GIVEN
TRAFFIC W0LAT0RS
Nearly 200 Face SchuIdt.
Writs in Collateral For
FIXTURES Ordered.

Motorists who chose the past week
end to exceed the speed limit and drive
through red signal lights were severely
dealt with in Traffic Court today by
Judge Gus A. Schuldt, who indicated
his intention of cooperating to the
fullest extent with Police Supt. Henry
G. Pratt's traffic safety campaign.
Nearly 200 motorists arrested during
the past SO hours were in court this
morning to answer for traffic infringe
ments.
Several attempted to escape trial on
speeding charges by forfeiting collateral
and Judge Schuldt ordered that writs
OF attachment be issued for them to
insure their presence in court.
Heavy Fines Imposed.
Fines were heavy. First offense
speeders were assessed from $40 to S25,
while those who ignored traffic lights
were fined SO. Declaring that the
failure to observe these signals must
be stopped, Judge Schuldt warned that
fines of $25 would be imposed If nec-
essary.
TRAFFIC conditions n washington
showed nearly 100 per cent improve
ment over the week end, If the number
CT arrests made by police for violations
can be taken as fair criterion.
The fact that many Washington mo-
torists do their Sunday reckless driy-
ing on Maryland and Virginia roads Is
believed to have been In a large meas
ure responsible for the fact that special
traffic patrol and the precinct officers
made but 137 arrests from am. Sun
day to 8 am. today. This is about one
half the number of traffic arrests made
for the 24-hour period preceding.
Campaign Results Noted.
According to Inspector E. w. Brown,
supervisor of the Traffic Bureau and
director of the five-day-old traffic safe
ty campaign, a distinct improvement
in traffic conditions throughout the city
has been noticeable since the campaign
got under way.
He believes that the more rigid en-
forcement OF the traffic regulations has
taught the motorists o lesson in caution
which will he reflected in more orderly
traffic movement and fewer accidents
in the future.
OF the 1877 arrests made yesterday and
last night, Is were for speeding. for
reckless driving, for driving while
drunk and 113 for miscellaneous
offenses. There were but persons
hurt in traffic accidents Sunday. as
against II Saturday, according to
figures compiled under the direction OF
Lieut.. L. /. H. Edwards.
Inspector Brown said today that, with
the consent OF the major and superin-
tendent Of police, he expects to make
the present large motor cycle traffic
patrol permanent feature of his Office
as soon as a number of automobiles
already purchased can be made ready
for service in the precincts to replace
the motor cycle men withdrawn for
detail at the Traffic Bureau.
Involves Needless Bookkeeping.
Inspector Brown wants the IS men
recruited for the safety campaign in
stalled permanently in his Office be-
cause he believes a higher degree Of
efficiency in enforcement of trafic regu-
lations will result. Until such perma-
nent transfer has been made, he pointed
out, the men, even though they work out
of the Traffic Bureau, must book theiI
arrests and take collateral at the pre-
cinct to which they were formerly de-
tailed, involving much unnecessary book
keeping.
The Traffic Bureau chief said the
corporation counsels office has under
consideration an amendment to the
traffic regulations, drawn up by his Of
fee, which would prohibit cruising by
taxicabs on r street from Ninth tc
Fifteenth streets between the hours oi
8 am. and IL midnight
Inspector Brown said he had talked
with w. j. Brown of the Black and
White Taxicab Co., and that the latter
had expressed his approval Of the pro-
posed change and offered the fullest
cooperation OF his company. 1t Is be-
lieved, however, that the independents
who have fewer downtown stands, viii
oppose the new regulation.