Evening star., 1935-05-19

can rectify. But there are SOM
too many-that are lacking in
their various duties. A school
The lack of judgment-or is it
sense?-on the part of certain officers
has a bad effect on the motorist. He
loses his respect for law and ord&-
just as necessary in trs6ac as in any
thing else-and in that mood is not
considerate of the rights of others.
Instances of this nature are numer-
Gus. They show lack of uniformity
in training, and it often has been said
that no two officers would act alike
under the same circumstances.
The system of giving an offender a
ticket or requiring him to go with the
officer to the Traffic Bureau or pre-
cinct to put up collateral often varies.
One policeman will do one thing, an
other will do something else.
A restaurant owner was on his way
downtown the other morning to open
up his place for the morning break
fast trade. 1t was just before day
light. He was stopped by a police
man, who informed him that his rear
light was out The driver was un-
aware of the violation, but asked for
ticket so that he might put up col
lateral later in the day.
The policeman refused and took the
man to the Traffic Bureau. The ar
rested one stated that he did not have
the money for the collateral on him,
but could get it at his place of busi-
ness. He also asked permission to
open up his place, so his help could
get in and prepare breakfast. This
was refused. He was taken to the
Traffic Court and was held there sew
eral hours until policeman he knew
appeared and loaned him the neces-
sary money.
Considerable more money was lost
because his place of business was not
opened. Surely, few can believe the
policeman acted fairly.
Recently a man parked his car in
front of an apartment house uptown.
It was about 9 o'clock in the evening.
Part of his car projected over the en-
trance, but still there was sufficient
room for another car to drive up to
take on or unload passengers.
When the man came out a police
scout radio car was alongside with
two policemen. The man was greeted
with Can you read the signs?" A
few minutes later the radio car drove
away without any more ado.
Does it seem the correct thing for
radio cars lat at night to be out on
parking cases? 1t would seem that
the duties of the drivers of those cars
were far more important.
A woman the other day was driv-
ing through Georgetown in section
not we'll known to her. She entered
a one-way street, but kept along as
she was going in the right direction.
Coming to Wisconsin avenue she
found that the entire intersection was
being torn up and she could neither
60 ahead. right or left.
Consequently she turned around
and retraced her drive. A policeman
approached and arrested her. She
was escorted to precinct where her
story was of no avail. To these Off
GERS she confronted she was travelling
in the wrong direction on one-way
street and that was all there was to
it. She was made to deposit col
lateral of So and, unable to face the
long delay in court the following day,
she lost the money to experience or,
as it would seem in this particular
case. to the inexperience lack of judg-
ment or stupidity on the part OF the
police.
Some policemen, either on motor
cycles or in their automobiles, have
a dislike for being passed by any mo-
torist. 1t does not matter if the
police are going slowly enough for the
motorist to pass them at legal speed,
they are irked just the same. Many
times they carry out their spite to
place some trumped-up charge against
the unoffending driver who had the
nerve" to pass them.
This practice has been noted by
many for a long time. Its justiflca-
ton cannot be determined.
Some police appear loath to say
anything tc taxi drivers. At several
intersections a serious traffic hazard
existed by taxis piling up to get in
line before a hotel and while waiting
stop on the crosswalks. The atten-
ton of officers at the scene have been
called. only to get The reply, "Oh.
that is for the hack inspector"
That is absolutely untrue. The
police are supposed to prevent any
violation of the regulations.
Street cars and busses have pc
culiar influence over some members
of the blue-coated force. Either they
are too big to tackle OF that they be-
lieve too many people are involved
and should not be slowed up-at any
rate a certain daze comes over the
noliceman when he sees or pretendS
not to see a street car going at a
high rate of speed passing red light
or a bus emulating the new stream
line trains in their daShes or pulling
out past the center of the street.
These above conditions are not a
few hand-picked ones. They repre-
sent examples of what is going on
every day.
Well. to be fair, maybe a school
for motorists and policemen should
be set UP. Greater safety in trafhc
certainly would ensue.
President Roosevelt, by signing the
safety-responsibility bill for the Dis
trict of Columbia, has placed the
stamp of approval of the Federal Gov
ernment on this type of safety legls-
lation. a statement issued by the
American Automobile Association de-
clares.
The bill that will govern motorists
driving in the Nations Capital after
August /, next, is based on the model
bill drawn up several years ago by
a special A. A. A. committee named
to study accident-prevention methods.
Twenty-Five States, eight Canadian
provinces and the Territory Of Hawaii
already have this type of law on their
statute books, and the addition OF
the District brings to "a the total
number of jurisdictions operating