Evening star., 1934-09-23
TRAFFIC CONTROL
REVISION IS URGED
|NSPEC|AL REPORT
Committee Named as Result
of Criticism Would
Revamp System.
MAI. BROWN DIsAGREEs;
TO SUBMIT HIS FINDINGS
E. w. Thomas and Stanley De
Neale as Majority Stress
Need of Prevention.

Drastic revision of the traffic con-
troll system in the District has been
proposed to the Commissioners by
special committee of officials named
months ago to study the matter after
Judge John P. Mcmahon in Police
Court severely criticized the work Of
the Police Traffic Bureau.
Commissioner Melvin c. Hazen, in
announcing the finding Of the spe-
cial committee, said he was very
sympathetic" to many of the pro-
posed changes. The city heads, how
ever, have not yet taken formal ac-
tion on the suggestions.
Mai Ernest w. Brown, superin-
tendent of police and member of the
committee, reported he had disagreed
with some of the findings and would
submit minority report later.
Accident Squad" Suggested.
The majority members of the COM
mittee, consisting of Edward w.
Thomas and Stanley De Neale, as
sistant corporation counsel, recon-
mended the following changes:
Creation of a special accident
squad in the Police Department to
visit the scene of every important
street accident and take photographs
and measurements of the course and
position Of vehicles involved, as well
as statements of witnesses.
That persons charged with traffic
violations post collateral with the sta
ton keeper of the police precinct in
which the accused motorist is appre-
hended, instead of with the Traffic
Bureau headquarters.
That the serving of traffic warrants
be placed in the hands of the police
precincts in which the offenders re-
side or work.
Would Change Tagging System.
That motor cycle men of the Police
Traffic Bureau be freed of the duty
of giving of parking tickets and the
notation of parking violations. except
in special emergency, and that this
work be transferred to the footmen OF
the. Traffic Bureau and the police
precincts.
to pay attention to those factors which
contribute directly to accidents and
that their efforts be concentrated on
moving traffic.
That the fixing Of collateral or
bond under a traffic charge be left to
the police station clerk rather than
with the arresting officer. This is
designed, in part, to emphasize the
point that the precinct men, as well
as the Traffic Bureau, would be re-
sponsible for traffic enforcement.
That legislative authority be sought
for the work of the submit of the
Traffic Bureau, whose members con-
slider many minor violations and set
tie many cases before they reach
court.
Trials Are Suggested.
That regulations be amended to re-
quire that persons charged with the
following offenses be required to stand
trial, instead of merely forfeiting COL
lateral:
Driving through an occupied safety
zone. driving so as to crowd vehicles
or persons, failing to give right of
way to pedestrians at crosswalks, fail
ing to give right of way to police. fire
or emergency vehicles; failing to give
right Of way at intersections, failing
to give warning of intention to change
course or stop, loaning operators per-
NIT or license tag, obtaining opera.
tors permit by Misrepresentation.
operating on dead or borrowed tags,
operating vehicle with improper foot
brake, operating vehicle in unsafe me-
chanical condition, parking more than
18 consecutive hours or passing street
car which has stopped to receive or
discharge passengers.
The committee also recommended
that no forfeiture of collateral be
permitted in cases where there is
accident involving injury to person or
substantial property damage.
Special Traffic Course Urged.
That the chief of police be called
upon to furnish suggestions relative
to increasing the number Of motor
cycle policemen, and that the number
of officers assigned to traffic duty
undergo special course of instruction
on the direction Of traffic. the making
Of cases and similar duties.
The report of Thomas and De Neale
disclosed that Corporation Counsel
E. Barrett Prettyman had suggested
another innovation. This would be
that motorcycle officers and regular
traffic policemen keep at hand a pad
on which to write the tag numbers of
all drivers who violate traffic regula-
tions, even though formal charges are
not preferred. A record would be
kept of all such complaints and would
be reviewed when a car owner ap.
piled for a new drivers permit.
Prettyman emphasized that secrecy
would be one of the principal ele-
ments of such system, revealing to
all motorists that the eye of the police
was on all violators. A similar system
has been in vogue during the Voice
of Conscience" safety campaign of
the Police Department.
This idea was Endorsed by Thomas
and De Neale, but was not included in
the recommendations.
The survey resulted from outspoken
charges by Judge Mcmahon last
Winter that members of the Police
Traffic Bureau were "coasting" on
JHeT JOD ana we're SpenQlng most OF
their time in pursuit of violators of
minor traffic violations.
Van Duzer Answered.
The assistant corporation counsel
commented on a suggestion from Traf-
fic Director William A. Van Duzer
that a law be enacted to provide for
prosecution of a person who causes
the death of another by negligent
operation of an automobile on felony
charge, carrying penalty of five
years imprisonment or fine of not
more than $4,000.
Punishment for involuntary man
slaughter in the District now is fine
of not more than $1,000 or imprison-
ment Of not more than IS years, or
both.