The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1932-09-15
The Extensive Authority Which One Maryland
Bureau Has Acquired

in all sections of the State, is an in
formation bureau for bewildered
travellers. The woman driver who has
lost herself en- route to Baltimore on
the Conowingo road is speeded on her
way by the State patrolman at Como
wingo-albeit without much hope that
she will be able to follow the straight
road without convoy. The doughty
fishermen who have aroused sleepy
troopers at A a. m. in an effort to
find out where the best fishing
grounds are receive the most expert
advice available at the moment and
are sent on their way. Every year
thousands of motorists apply to the
substations or the patrolmen for in
formation, according to Captain john
son, and whenever possible it is pro-
vided.
Aside from their routine duties,
State policemen frequently are called
upon to fill special assignments. They
supervise traffic at fairs, race tracks,
or other events at which crowds of
motorists gather. They serve as es-
corts for notables and others, not
so notable who may. be travelling on
the highways in motor caravans. AL
though a special police escort is gen.
orally regarded simply as a bit of os-
tentation, Captain johnson asserts
positively that it is also necessary
precaution whenever automobiles
! travel in groups. In such cases, he
points out, the caravan is very likely
to become entangled with other traffic
and accidents are quite likely to re-
suit. The State police like to be adj
vised of any such movement of We
hicles and whenever practicable they
provide an escort.
| &&*
One of the most difficult conveying
jobs ever faced by the State force was
the recent assignment to guide the
refugees from the evacuated Bonus
Army camps through the State. The
assignment came without warning
and little or no preparation was pos
sible. To the, State police fell the
task of creating some semblance of
order in thoroughly disorganized
groups-and of keeping the groups
moving until the State line had been
passed. The job was accomplished
quietly and efficiently.
After all, however, the main job of
the State police is to watch for and
arrest the exceptional motorist whose
disregard of the rules of the road
renders him menace to other travel
ers. When such arrests are made the
culprit is hailed before local magis-
trate for trial, and, if found guilty,
the magistrate imposes sentence. But
if the offense has been a serious one
the motorists troubles do not end
with the prison sentence which may
be invoked in some cases. After he
is through with the magistrate he still
must face the second disciplinary arm
of the office of the Commissioner of
Motor Vehicles.
The law provides that a drivers
license is Subject to revocation" when
he has been found guilty of such ser
ious offenses as driving while under
the influence of liquor, racing on the
highways or failing to stop after an
accident in which someone has been
seriously or fatally injured. In all
such cases, when the courts have
found the motorist guilty, the Com
missioner's office, regarding the law
as mandatory, takes away the Offend
er's license automatically. But for
less serious ,offenses the law places
the decision as to the status of the
operators driving privileges in the
hands of the Commissioner of Motor
Vehicles. The latter, for example,
may at his direction revoke the license
of motorist convicted of having
speeded in excess of go miles an hour;
in fact, on his own initiative he has
established a general rule that this
shall be done. For lesser ofenses
which reveal the incompetency of the
operator or for a succession of often
ses which indicate that he is menace
to others on the road, license may
be revoked or suspended at the Com
missioner's discretion.
The machinery by means of which
this judicial function of the office
operates is one which no convicted
motorist is able to escape and one
which involves as well number of
drivers who never have been called
upon to answer traffic charges. In the
department of investigation of the
Commissioners office there is a per-
manent record of every licensed
operator in the State. Every traffic
conviction-major or minor-comes
into this department automatically to
be scrutinized by the chief and to be
| aa4o,oJ ~, h. ,.oo