Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-10-31
Effective Enforcement.

It Is with good deal of qualification
that Washingtonians learn that the
Police Department and the Public
Utilities Commission are making some
progress in one phase of the reasonable
attempt to enforce some sort of taxicab
regulation. The public, while 1t ap-
preciates the cheap transportation that
has been the result Of chaotic taxicab
conditions. has had its appreciation
tempered with the nervousness that
comes from the realization that the
majority of the drivers or companies
operating the low-price cabs are not
financially responsible for damage
caused by their own negligence; and
that in many cases Identification of the
drivers or vehicles would be difficult, If
not impossible, because the cars bear no
inscription other than the rate OF fare.
So it has been much like the timid
person taking his first airplane ride.
The cab would be engaged with the Il
will take q chance" spirit, but with no
prospect Of tranquility Of mind until
the ride was ended.
Now, however, the police have dis
covered that the order can be enforced
which requires that every taxicab shall
carry on each side in painted letters,
not less than two inches high, the trade
name of the operating company, or, II
there is no such trade name, the name
of the individual owning or operating
the cab. In addition, there must be on
each side and on the rear q numeral
distinguishing the cab from others OPP
Grated by the same parties. Arrests
during the past week or so have been
frequent for violations Of this order ana
in every case convictions have been OBJ
tanned. Up to the present time per-
sonal bonds have been taken from the
defendants because Of the fact that
many Of the great army of new drivers
that now swarm the streets were
probably unaware Of the regulation, but
In the future stiff fines will be levied.
One of the first acts Of Congress when
IL convenes should be to give the Public
Utilities Commission the necessary au-
thority to enforce its regulations. It is
regrettable but true that In most every
case Of reasonable regulation OF We
hicles for hire the commission has found
itself utterly helpless as the result OF
the determined attempts of the taxicap
companies and drivers to avoid en-
forcement. The financial responsibility
regulation is q case in point. In no
other city comparable in size to WASH
ington are taxicab operators allowed to
roam the streets, free from any type
of financial responsibility to the public.
In many cases the drivers or COM
panies merely have a small equity In
the vehicles they own. A suit for dam
ages by an aggrieved victim would be
Of no avail The commission, however,
has been unable to enforce this regu-
lation, and it Is now tied up In court,
with no apparent prospect OF being
decided one way or another.
The thorough Identification Of cabs
now made possible through the happy
discovery Of the police that at least
one regulation Of the commission could
be enforced without court action by the
taxicab companies will help some, but
one of the fundamentals Of vehicle-for-
hire operation, that Of financial re-
sponsibility, must follow in order that
q sense Of security may be given the
riding public. The bill for adequate
regulation Of taxicabs is now in Con-
gress. Congress should pass 1t imme-
diately upon reconvening.