Evening star., 1936-08-05
BY JAMES e. CHINN.

BY JAMES e. CHINN.
Whatever may be the outcome of the
recommendations Of the District Lii
cense Committee, which is now at
work on a program for licensing and
controlling privately owned and oper-
ated parking lots, it is foregone con-
clusion that when Congress cenvenes
in January, the Commissioners will
renew their plea for broader authority
to supervise the comparatively new
parking lot business.
From time to time complaints have
been filed at the District Building, at
the Police Department and at other
municipal agencies about the activi-
ties of an unscrupulous parking lot
operator or employe, showing the need
for supervision for protection Of the
car owner who pays anywhere from Is
to so cents q day for the privilege OF
parking off the street.
Complaints have been made that
automobiles stored on certain lots for
the day have been moved to sidewalk
SHdCCC W CICdtC 3OA Nd1o sA4os
park only an hour or two. Other car
owners have complained that their
cars have either been stolen or dam
aged on the lots and they have been
unable to recover damages.
Present Law Held Inadequate.
Under existing law there is little
the Commissioners can do. Most oper-
atorS of the lots diSclaim responsible
ty for theft or damage to cars while in
their care. A notice to that effect
susually is either posted on the lot or
printed ON the claim check given the
owner at teh time of parking. And
owner at the time of parking, under
the law, is acting merely as agent or a
bailee.
The attention of the Commissioners
formally was called to such a situa-
tion last month by the Executive Com
mittee Of the keystone Automobile
Club, which sent to the District Build
ing the following resolution it adopted:
whereas the membership Of the
Keystone Automobile Club Is seri-
ously concerned with negligent and
irresponsible operation Of some park
ing lots in the District of Columbia,
and
whereas it now appears unlikely
that legislative action specifically
dealing with this matter can take
place at the present session of Con-
greSs,
Asks Scale Of Fees.
Nov therefore be it resolved, That
the Keystone Automobile Club strongly
recommends that the District Com
missicners adopt an order under the
provisions of the license act of July
1, 1882, requiring licenses for all park
ing lots operated for hire in the
District of Columbia, with scale of
fees for such licenses based upon the
area of the parking lot and sufdcient
in the aggregate amount to pay the
reasonable cost of inspection, policing
and other such items which must be
borne by the District of Columbia.
THAT occupancy permits be re-
quired prior to such licensing, issued
only after proof Of compliance with
building, police and fire regulations
designed to insure safe operation, safe
exits and sanitary premises of the
parking lot.
THAT the Commissioners issue such
licenses only after proof Of financial
responsibility to meet the obligations
of q bailee, and that regulations pro-
hibit the required waiver of liability
for accidents, theft and damage to
cars parked on any such licensed lot"
Roberts Seeks Garages.
William A. Roberts, peoples coun-
sci, who has made an exhaustive study
Of the traffic situation in all its varied
ramif1cations, believes his pet" plan
for the operation of public parking
garages by a municipality financed
corporation would automatically solve
the parking lot question, as well as
other parking problems. A bill au-
thorizing such project was intro
duced at the last session of Congress,
but died Of inaction.
The corporation, under the bill,
would have been authorized to obtain
funds at minimum charges to finance
the garages. Rates for parking would
be fixed and controlled by the Public
Utilities Commission on a basis de-
signed to yield operating costs, in
terest and amortization of invest