Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-01-19
FRICTION APPEARS
OVER TAXI RULES
Police and Traffic Bureau Say
Utilities Commission Is Try
ing to Usurp Powers.

partmentS. which 1t expects. Moreover,
it was denied that the commission made
any effort to usurp the authority Of
either department, as the regulations
affect only common carriers, over which
1t has jurisdiction.
While members of the commission
admitted they had not conferred with
police or traffic officials. it was pointed
out that a widely advertised public
hearing was held on the new public We
hicle code prior to its promulgation. and
that only one representative of the
Police Department was present, and he
offered no objections to any of the pro-
visions. However, Mai. Gen. Mason M.
Patrick. chairman of the commission,
said If there are any points of conflict
between the commissions code and the
police or traffic regulations, smendl
ments would be made to remove them.
As far as the commissions new regu-
Ia lions go in setting up schedule of
rates and the amount of liability in
surance to be carried by the taxi oper-
ators, the police and trafiic authorities
md no criticism. But the objections
lie in . long series of rules regarding
equipment and operation of the vehicles
on the public streets.
Traf1c oficials point out that the
traffic act authorizes the director of
traffic Ito make reasonable regulations
With respect to brakes, horns, lights and
muffiers and other equipment" but the
commission notwithstanding sets forth
in its regulations the specific types of
brakes, horns, headlights, tail lights,
etc, to be required on public vehicles.
Herein the Trafic Department claims
an unsurpation of authority.
Say Rules Conform.
The commission takes an entirely
different view with respect to these
regulations. 1t contends that all OF
the regulations regarding equipment
were taken from the traffic code and
conforms with it In every detail.
Another objection found by trsh1c
of1cials Is a provision in the commits
sion's regulations requiring public We
hicles to be equipped with motor ade-
Quate to propel them, fully loaded. over
speed of not less than 30 miles an
hour. This infers. traffic officials claim
that such vehicles might be permitted
to operate at that rate of speed.
The commissions regulations, how=
ever, in one place stipulate that the We
hicles shall be operated in accordance
with the laws of the District, but in an
other declare the speed shall not be
greater than Is reasonable and proper
having regard for pertinent" police
and traffic regulations and the condi-
tons of traffic and of the highways
Then, in q subsequent paragraph the
commission says:
Except as otherwise specified OF
prescribed in these rules and regula-
tons, every motor vehicle shall be OPP
Grated in compliance with the trafiiG
and motor vehicle regulations Of the
District of Columbia"
The Police Department Is aroused
chiefly over two features of the COM
missions new regulations-one fxins
the age limit of drivers of public
vehicles at not less than Is years, and
the other regarding the licensing Of
operators.
section Is of article of the police
regulations, 1t was explained, specfhcal-
ly forbids the issuance of licenses To
drivers of public vehicles under 81 years
Of age, Yet the commission, police of
ficials declared, Is attempting to re-
duce this age limit and permit boys
to operate cabs. The present age limit
of a, 1t was pointed out, was flxed
primarily to prevent minors frem driv-
ing taxicabs because OF the objection
of parents.
The reduction Of the age limit was
done inadvertently, 1t was said at the
commission. Opinion was expressed
however, that another provision in the
regulations which forbids the issuance
of permits to persons not competent
to operate motor vehicles would con-
trel this situation If it Is found unde-
sirable to- issue licenses to drivers
under 81 years of age.
80 AA M
drivers, police eficials declare the
commission is running counter to ths
license law of 1902 which places the
responsibility for the issuance of
licenses ON the tax assessor, contingent
upon the approval of the Police De-
partment. The license law says that
"appiication for licenses shall be made
to the assessor and no license shall be
issued until an investigation OF the
character Of the application by the
Relice Department" and "the Police
Department shall keep a record Of every
person so licensed"
CaR Revoke Licenses.
The District Commissioners, under
this law, are given the authority to re-
woke the licenses of the drivers of pub
lie vehicles upon conviction for viola
ton Of its provisions. Thus, police
offlCial claim. the commission also may
run into conflict with the CeEnmis-
sioners in It's attempt TO regulate the
character of drivers.
Again the commission contends that
its regulations call for no change in
the present system Of licensing drivers.
In addition, 1t has fortified itself be-
hind a recent opinion of Corporation
Counsel William w. Bride, its general
counsel, who held that Congress in
tended that orders of the commission
should be supreme" over any regu-
lations made by the District Com
missioners or the director of traffic in
so far as they pertain to regulation or
operation of common carriers. Bride
made this ruling December 6, last
on a question as to the authority of
the commission to designate space on
the public streets for public vehicles
The commissions regulations with re-
spect to drivers forbid persons addicted
to the use of narcotics or Intoxicating
liquor, who are not Of good moral char
acter, and who are mentally or physi-
eslly defective, to operate public vehicles.
1t was pointed out that such persons
cannot now procure licenses. and that
an elaborate system has been set up In
the Trafflc Bureau, under the direction
of Sergt. Joseph Harrington, hack in
spector, for keeping careful check on
the drivers, even after the licenses are
granted, Serious violati tons of the traffic
laws or other misdemeaners, IS we'll as
felonies, results in the immediate can
collation. of the license.
Both the Trafae Department and the
Police Department are disturbed over
stiR another provision in the commits
sion's code regarding accidents, which
reads:
Repair Regulation.
ANY motor vehicle concerned in or
involved in an accident or collision rem
dering such motor vehicle UNIT for
operation in It's intended service, or
which results In serious personal injury
or fatality, shall be Immediately taken
to the garage or shop of the company