Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-09-12
ALL-N|GHT PARKING
BAN SOON IS SEEN
HarIand Predicts Additional
Restrictions in Downtown
Congested Area.

Abolition Of all-night parking, pas
sage of certificate of title law, great
ly restricted parking in the downtown
shopping area, somewhat less drastic
laws on speeding, insistence on financial
responsibility of drivers-these are
some of the things predicted for the
future of Washington traffic by Traffic
Director William H. Harland, in his an
nual report covering the fiscal year
ended June 80.
Mr.. Harland cited the continuous in
crease of automobile registration and i'll
automobile traffic, and said: 1T will
be necessary in the very near future to
take steps toward the abolition of all
night parking in some sections of the
District" adding that the matter must
receive Every careful attention" before
anything is done, as there are not suf-
f1cient garages to take care of the num-
Der of cars parked on the streets at
night.
Congested Area Is Studied.
Careful consideration also is being
given" the report says, Ito parking con-
ditions within the so-called congeSted
area, with view to prohibiting park
ing during the morning and evening
rush periods and the abolition OF angle
parking on certain streets where traffic
congestion occurs"
AS to the certificate of title law, Mr..
Harland stated that there was little. if
any, objection to its enactment, and
urged that such a law, similar in prin-
ciple to that in effect in more than
half of the States, be enacted, to save
the District from being the dumping
ground" of stolen automobiles.
Speaking of left-hand turns, which have
been given much attention by the press
and the citizenry of late, Mr.. Harland
SAYS: "It Is felt that it would not De
in the interests of safety to make a
left turn on a green go signal and
against oncoming traffic. 1t would have
the effect of slowing down and endan-
gerirg through traffic and jeopardizing
pedestrians crossing the streets on the
proper signal. Further study OF our
local traffic condition with respect 10
this turn will have to be made before
any recommendations can be made in
this connection"
In the matter of compulsory jail SEN
fences for third offense speeders, Mr..
Harland pointed out that it was much
less of an offense to speed three times
IN three years than to speed three times
in one year He suggests that third
offense speeders, second offenSe reck-
less drivers and first offense drunken
drivers. all of whom must now go 10
jail without option of fine, should simply
be fined and have their permits taken
away. Mr.. Harland said that proVloeo
the fines were heavy, he believed sucf
a course would better serve the ends Of
justice. l..
MIR. Harland asked for legislation to
prevent motorists whose licenses to drive
in the District have been Cancelled from
obtaining drivers permits in other
States and using them here. To Illus
trate how ineffective the present law IS,
he takes the case of a driver whose
license to operate cars in this jurisdic-
ton has been taken away from MIN on
account of repeated convictions Tor
reckless, speedy and drunken driving
and whose presence is menace on the
street. Under the present law, this
driver may move to Virginia. there es-
tablish a residence, and obtain regis
tration card for his car which entities
him to drive in the District. This
situation, in the interests OF safety.
should be remedied, Mr.. Harland said.
Statistics Are Arrayed.
A somewhat new presentation OF the
problem of compulsory insurance for
drivers is made in the report. Mr.. Har-
lands suggestion In this respect is the
passage of law requiring the cancel
iation of the drivers permits of those
who have failed to satisfy judgments
obtained against them in court by in
jured victims of their negligent opera
tions The suspension should remain
in effect until the Judgment is satisfied.
While this is not an entirely satisfactory
solution. Mr. Harland said, it would
serve the interests of safety, as the
permanent expulsion from the road is
SO compelling that it inevitably will tend
to secure payment of such judgments
in most cases."
MIR. Harland asked for an annual ap-
preparation of $4,000 for the purpose Of
conducting traffic surveys, which would
be of use not only to his department,
but also to the National Capital Park
and Planning Commission and other
governmental agencies.
The report sets forth an array of
traffic statistics formerly published in
the monthly and annual reports of the
Traffic Bureau of the Police Department