Evening star., 1936-02-29
SEPARATE COURT
.FORUN|F0RM|7y|N
PENALTIES URGED
Walk Lights, Educational
Campaign Up Before D. c.
Subcommittee.
SPREAD OF ALL-NIGHT
PARKING BAN SUGGESTED
Superintendent Says Storage
Space, Now Inadequate, Can Be
Improved by Demand.
BY JAMES E. CHINN.

bf JAMES T.. CHINN.
Establishment of traffic court in
dependent of Police Court-a proposal
of Police Supt. Ernest w. Browns
being given serious consideration to-
day by the special subcommittee of
the House District Committee study
ing Washington's traffic situation.
Maj. Brown recommended a sep
arate court because he claimed that
under the present system, with the
Traffic Court presided over by the
four judges of Police Court alternat-
ing each month, there is lack of uni
formity in the disposition of traffic
penalties. The judge of the inde-
pendent traffic court, he said, should
be skilled in traffic as well as the
law.
Other Proposals Studied.
Nine other proposals for improving
traffic conditions, suggested by Maj.
Brown, also are under consideration
by the subcommittee. These include
A continuous educational program
for both adults and children to make
them traffic conscious. more
thorough examination of applicants
for drivers permits and the re-exami-
nation of those applying for renewal
OF permits, regulation of pedestrians
at intersections, coupled, however, with
additional protection for them with
either walk lights" or underpasses,
and imposition of maximum penalties
in aggravated cases of such traffic
violations as driving while drunk,
reckless driving and speeding.
Stressing the need of a continuous
traffic education program, Maj. Brown
pointed to the activities already un-
dertaken in that direction and said:
For some period the several news
papers have put on an intensive pro-
gram of education in traffic safety
and have given freely of their per-
sonnel and space. The educational
program could also be enlarged by
short radio talks over the several
stations, developing of moving pic
lures of actual traffic conditions
throughout the city and the showing
of these pictures at the moving pic
ture theaters and large gatherings"
Thorough Examination Urged.
Maj. Brown declared "a most
thorough examination" should be made
of all applicants for operators per-
mits, mot only an examination on
the regulations, but more time in the
examination and tests as to the oper-
alton of motor vehicles. Re-exami-
nation of all applicants for renewal
of permits, not only on the regulations.
but determining his physical fitness,
and re-examination and tests of
motorists who have been in serious
accidents also should be made. This
would entail additional personnel,
which feel is justified from the bene-
fits that would be obtained"
In the suggestion for pedestrian
control, Maj. Brown said: "Considera-
ton for a possible pedestrian regula-
ton, requiring pedestrians to cross
at intersections on the proper signal
however, consideration should be given
for additional protection for pedes-
trians at intersections. either by estab-
fishing pedestrians lights or under
passes, and increased efforts on the
part of policemen in safeguarding
pedestrians-also an educational pro-
gram for pedestrians to impress upon
them the importance of crossing at
intersections on the proper signal"
Maj. Brown also suggested, rather
automatically, that all-night parking
be abolished gradually. On this SUBJ
ject he said:
1.-THE District of Columbia has a
very unsatisfactory and what may be
referred to as deplorable parking
condition, due to the fact that this
condition has developed over a period
of years and is the result of vehicles,
outside the one or two hour parking
limit now in effect. parking on the
public streets for a period of lS con-
secutive hours.
Storage Space Inadequate.
"This is a condition that is per-
missible in hardly any other mu-
nicipality, and is matter that should
be given serious consideration. How
ever. as a result of the use of the
streets for parking, garages and off,
street storage facilities are not ade-
auate at this time to take care of the
large number of vehicles registered
in the District of Columbia. am
of the opinion that if and when owners
of motor vehicles, when not in use,
especially at night, are required to
find off street storage facilities, there
will be a decided improvement In the
condition of our streets from a traffic
standpoint"
The subcommittee will resume its
hearings on the traffic situation Tues
day at 10 am. Corporation Counsel
E. Barrett Prettyman, who has some
ideas of his own about the traffic
situation, will be the first witness.