Evening star., 1936-01-18
DRIVING PERMITS
Of SIX SPEEDERS
ARE SUSPENDED
Registered Letters Are Sent
Convicted Ones, Ordering
Cards Surrender.
VIRGINIA AUTHORITIES
OFFER COOPERATION
Maryland Expected to Join Cam.
paign to Compel Safe Motoring
and Cut Loss of Life.

The Traffic Bureaus campaign
against Speeders was in full stride
today, with an announcement by
Traffic Director William A. Van Duzer
that six drivers permits have been
suspended automatically as q result
of convictions in Traffic Court.
Registered letters signed by w. H.
Murphy, secretary of the District
Board Of Suspensions and Revoca-
tions, were in the mails today, order
ing the convicted drivers to surrender
their permits to the board for periods
designated within five days.
Assistant Traffic Director M. o.
Eldridge, chairman of the board, said
issuance of suspension orders will
hereafter be a routine matter, put
into effect automatically on the
drivers conviction in court.
Police Fill Out Blanks.
Policemen have been provided with
blanks to make separate reports on
speeding cases. A list of those con-
victed is furnished Murphy daily.
After investigation to learn whether
the driver IN question has a record
of previous speeding convictions.
Murphy assesses the penalty in accor-
dance with the schedule drawn up by
the board, which varies according to
the rate of speed and the drivers
record.
Previous convictions within II
months will operate to increase the
penalty, although they occurred prior
to inauguration Of the new suspension
policy. Eldridge emphasized. If
driver has one speeding conviction on
his record, a new conviction will thus
be second offense, and the term OF
suspension will be heightened accord
ingly. he said.
The permit suspension campaign Is
expected to aid in reducing traff1c
fatalities in the District, Van Duzer
said.
Bill Would Raise Fine.
I'VE know that speeding is an i'm
portant contributory factor in acci-
dents, many of which result in fatal
ities," he declared. We are going tc
make it hard on the speeder." A bill
| to raise the maximum fine for speeding
from $l00 to $500 Is before Congress
Authorities of the Virginia motor
vehicle department have offered CO.
| operation in Van Duzer's program, anC
Maryland officials also are expected II
fall into line. At present. the law ir
Virginia provides for revocation of 6
drivers permit only after three con.
victions within a 12-month period. bu
steps are being taken to enable State
authorities to suspend permits for frs
and second offenses, Van Duzer ha.
been advised
Among the suspensions today wa.
one Of Maryland resident who wa!
operating on a District permit. Tht
District permit was suspended, anc
Maryland authorities were notified o.
the action.
Two Speed Near Schools.
Several convictions of which the
board received notice yesterday wer,
for cases involving speeds of less thar
35 miles an hour, which do not com,
under the automatic suspension ban
These will be referred to the boart
for appropriate action. Two of th'
convictions were for speeding in tn,
vicinity of schools during study hours
The cases of three Maryland resi-
dents operating on Maryland permit
also were reported to the board. The!
will be referred to Maryland authoritie
for whatever action it may care Il
| take.