The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1930-03-07
HOLT CHARGES
TRAFFIC ZONES
GIFTS BY COPS
Blocked Off on Friendship
Basis Declares City
Controller.
AUTO DEALER FAVORED
Cops Allowed to Use Cars
in Return for Space,
1t Is Said.
BY CHARLES E. CARLL

Instances in which curb loading
zone areas have been blocked off by
police for individuals without charge
and on a friendship basis" were
alleged today by Sterling r. Holt,
city controller. as police began
check of no parking" places.
Holt admitted he is without power
To investigate use of restricted
zones on which fees are not being
collected and that he will be unable
to act until the police traffic d1Vi-
sion supplies him with a complete
list
Captain Lewis Johnson OF the
traffic department conferred with
Chief Jerry Kinney and city Off
cials today and said that the in
vestigation is underway, more than
fifty parking places having been
checked. johnson assured officials
the investigation will cover the en-
tire city and should be completed
within a few days.
Collection of the fees will add
thousands of dollars TO city revenues
annually.
ct tried to get to the bottom of
this situation not long ago. Holt
said. ut should be corrected and
those who are using large spaces
without costs should be made to
pay for the privilege, as provided IN
the city ordinance.
Car Dealer lad Section
"In a previous investigation, l
learned that an East Washington
street used car dealer had re-
stricted section of 100 feet in front
of his auto sales lot.
Il called him to my Office and
he said he paid for the area. He
couldn't tell me whom he had paid
but when questioned closely. ad-
mitted the police had given it to
him and he let some of the boys
use autos when they needed them"
Holt said the dealer would not
state what the cars were used FOR
but indicated that police, of duty,
used the autos on pleasure Jaunts.'
The loading zone situation came
before officials after Albert F.
Meurer. former city councilman,
was arrested Tuesday when he re-
fused to pay a 81 fine for alleged
violation of the ordinance prohibit
ing parking in the fifty-tour-fcoC
loading zone in front of the Hume
NIansur building.
Records show the building firm
has not paid required fees OF $50
annually for the first eighteen 1eet
and SO for each additional foot.
Thinks Zone Too Long
Holt said he did not understand
why the loading zone should De
more than eighteen or twenty feet.
AS 1t is now. the restricted area ex-
tends east of the building entrance
in front of an empty storeroom ana
on the west side, into the frontage
Of a candy shop.
Since Meurer'S arrest, many mo-
florists have complained that the
parking situation in downtown In
dianapolis is bad enough without
individuals and companies blocking
of areas on main thoroughfareS.
Meurer said his stand in the mat
ter was prompted "in the interests
of the motoring public"
Meurer will be tried before Mu-
nicipal Judge Dan V. White, April
3. for the alleged ordinance viola
ton.
While a contract for housing cars
taken of streets by police in gar
age is pending. a fifty-four foot
parking space is marked of in front
OF the market garage. Market and
Alabama streets. This garage had
the city contract last year, but the
contract has not been awarded
again this year, garage officials
said.
No Rental Paid
An official of the garage said the
parking space Just came there He
said he did not know of the firm
ever having paid any rental on the
space.
1t was said that while the garage
had the city contract, many cars
brought there were allowed to
stand in the space.
The location IS less than half
block from the market and three
DAYS a week traffic is congested in
this area, principally because motor
lists can not find parking space.
a fifty-four foot space will &C
commodate three cars and perhaps
four, depending on their length.