The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-01-10
COUNCILMAN
TRIES TO BEAT
TRAFFIC Law
Harris, Booster of New
Code, Fails TO Take
Care of Friend.
ORDER 225 ARRESTED
who's Going to Get Me?'
Sheriff Asks; Several
Cops Slated.

Discovery that one of the city
councilmen, who fostered the strict
new traffic regulations, was one of
the first business men to attempt to
get police to evade it and the is
suance of 225 affidavits against per-
sons who had failed to report on
Stickers charging minor violations
were outstanding developments to-
day in the traffic safety drive.
Sheriff George L. Winkler, Police
Lieutenant Ralph Dean, Sergeant
Michael Morrisey, Patrolman Carl
Kimberlin, Patrolman Calvin 81
monsy Sergeant Clifford Richter and
Patrolman Thomas Kegeris, and the
wife of Lieutenant Roy Pope are
among the 225 who will be arrested
within the next forty-eight hours
unless Captain Lester Jones' plans
are changed.
Councilman Edward w. Harris
was the official who went to a high
police official and asked for some
kind of a card which would keep
policemen from plastering the car
of business friend with stickers
The business friend is compelled
to park frequently in safety zones
while he goes into retail stores.
CounciIman's Mission Fails
According to police headquarters
reports the high official pulled
copy of the traffic ordinance out of
his desk and handed it to the
councilman with the advice, in
effect, that he farniliarize himself
with it.
Rhe councilman, puzzled, asked
for further information, it was said,
and the high official explained that
since the council had removed from
police the right to exercise discretion
in the enforcement of the traffic or
dinance there was nothing police
could do but enforce the ordinance
absolutely to the letter, and that is
what is being done.
1t was reported that the council
man then went to Traffic Captain
Jones and got practically the same
answer.
No Right of Exemptions
Councilman Harris admitted he
had gone to the high official but
declared "I just wanted to show
this fellow how alright the ordi-
nance was"
The high official, it is said, ex-
planned to Councilman Harris that
under the old traffic ordinance po-
lice executives had the right to
grant reasonable exemption to en-
ployes of reputable business firms,
such as collectors or deliverymen
who have to stop their cars in usual
places or be put to many incon-
veniences, but it is entirely up to
the council now.
Councilman Harris said he could
see now where there might be need
for some provision for taking care
of emergencies in the ordinance.
Councilman Robert E. Spring.
steen, chairman of the traffic com
mittee, of which Harris also is a
member, said he would favor no
revision of the ordinance at this
time but that there may have been
an oversight in failure to make
some provision for taking care of
unusual situations.
Feared Favor to Friends
Under the old system, police ex-
ecutives from Chief Claude M. Wor-
ley on down were bothered inces-
sanity by citizens high and low ask
ing to be relieved of traffic stickers.
Hundreds of exemptions were
granted in cases the police deemed
just.
The council, with the idea that
police were favoring few political
friends, according to discussions be-
fore the new ordinance was passed,
provided that duplicates of all
stlckers issued by police must be
turned over to the city clerk, who
must report regularly to council how
many are issued and what disposition
is made of each. Police stopped
cancelling stickers Jan. l when the
NN~N~csAANS WCAib INV CllEEb.
Sheriff Threatens Cops
Sheriff Winkler, hearing of the
affidavit being prepared against
him, served notice on Captain Jones
he will arrest the next policeman
who puts a sticker on his automobile
while it is parked in front of the
residencaat the county Jail.
Besides, who is going to arrest
me?" he asked. ''The coroner?"
Police anxiously are awaiting the
outcome Of the first wholesale lot of
arrests. Among those to be arrested
we're several lawyers. Among shem
was Henry Winkler, who said he
would demand a jury trial If ar
rested.
NAMES AID