Evening star., 1933-02-19
In the Motor World
BY G. ADAMS HOWARD.

A LMOST every one will admit
~ that policeman's lot is not
~ always happy one. He is on
A \ duty long hours and subject
at many times to inclement
weather. Tired often by arduous labors,
it is not wonder that now and then
he loses his head and makes mistakes.
1t Is almost impossible to smile always
and to err is human.
There are, unfortunately, many mo-
torists who do not consider these
things. Not that they are always right
far from it, but some seem to think
a policeman is just another machine
without Judgment or heart. They
never think the policeman may be
partly sick or his family i'll. No, they
expect him to be the same at all times
regardless Of conditions.
Another Glass.
Then there is another class of mo-
torists which believes that they should
at all times be recipients of special
favors and privileges. 1t isn't that
they regard themselves superior to law
and regulation, but that they are big
enough to have the law wink at them
and invoke penalties on others, but
not them.
"dStlLlSDOu 1S Idl1lGI 4U1 O1 UtllS
claSS-perhapS more than other large
cities. There is large group Of "im-
munes," belonging to the diplomatic
and congressional group, which is given
a certain degree of leniency. Added to
this group are secretaries, relatives and
just friends. These last three named
probably exact and believe they are
entitled to more latitude than those
they are connected with.
Tags OF All Descriptions.
License numbers of cars do not
classify all of these groups. They have
tags of every deScription-low-n
bered, unlettered and any number at
all. Therefore, even the policeman
cannot tell just whom he is watching
or speaking to. He must be on guard
at all times. A well-deserved ticket
handed motorist may result in trouble
for the officer later. Directing traffic
is a hazard for the policeman at all
times.
But like everything else there are
two sides to the story. The motorist
has his, too. It is a well-believed
opinion that every one who drives
car Intentionally or unintentionally
breaks some rule every day the auto
mobile is in operation. The majority
of these violations are unintentional
and are minor infractions. If arrests
followed in all these cases the con-
gested area of the city would be
thronged with people waiting to get in
Police Court.
This being the case policemen should
not make an arrest or give out tickets
every time they can. Some try to.
This is indeed foolish. The primary
work of a policeman is to prevent
trouble. He is. if possible, to eliminate
the cause and thus prevent trouble.
Traffic policemen are to keep traffic
moving-safely and expeditiously. The
average motorist is amenable to kind
ness. If thoughtlessly he is making
some mistake, a kindly warning or word
will correct it. He will be pleased and
will be careful to keep the mistake from
happening again. It establishes a feel
ing Of friendliness between him and the |
officer. This is as it should be.
Protector of Citizens.
The policeman's duty is to be the
protector of the citizens in the city
or community in which he works. The |
citizens by taxes pay his salary. He
should be both friend and adviser.
There has been the habit of q few
traffic policemen in Washington to be
careless when changing their traffic |
signals. A policeman is required to
give notice or warning before making |
the change. This is to allow the
motorist or pedestrian to clear the in
tersection, or to stop in time back of
the crosswalk. 1t is a regulation of
safety.
Not so long ago several policemen
formed a practice of changing their |
signs without giving the necessary
warning. The warning prescribed is
the blowing of a whistle and holding |
out the hand few seconds prepara- |
tory to the change. AS a consequence |
of this neglect many motorists found |
themselves half out into the crosSwalks, |
thus blocking the pedestrian traffic. 1t |
is always a good thing to stop when |
confronted with a stop sign. When this |
happens the mctorist found himself in
a dilemma. To go forward would be to |
disobey an official sign. Therefore |
most motorists came to stop, and if |
they could not back up-simply stayed |
there.
It so happened that some policemen |
motioned them on to the right, which |
order, If followed, would take the mo-
toriSt block or more out of his way |
Some motorists, refusing to argue the |
point. although believing they were be- |
ing treated unfair, did as told. Others,
as the saying goes, "Sat tight" To |
some, nothing happened. To others, |
tickets were handed out for obstruct-
ing the croSSWalk.
Finally the matter was brought be- |
fore Supt. E. w. Brown and Inspector
Lamb. Arguments were presented to