The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1937-01-28
ALL OFFICERS
join In drive
Statewide Effort in 1887 to
Reduce Toll of Human Life
on State Highways.

A statewide drive, in cooperation
with the sheriffs and county attorneys
of Minnesota's 81 counties, has been
launched by the Minnesota Highway
department to reduce the toll of human
life on the highways and to drive the
drunken driver off the public roads.
Instructions for the drive were issued
to all patrolmen Of the Minnesota
Highway patrol by John P. Arnoldy,
chief patrol officer. At the same time,
Chief Arnoldy, in his biennial report to
N. w. Elsberg, state commissioner of
highways, disclosed that the enlarged
highway patrol had travelled million
more miles in 1886 than in 1885, put in
10000 more patrol hours, and performed
more than 100000 official acts in the
interest of law enforcement and ac-
cident prevention.
Minnesota sheriffs and county attor-
neys, at their recent state conventions,
have been consulted and have agreed to
full cooperation in the statewide cam
paign for 1887, Chief Arnoldy said.
In the past State Highway Patrolmen
have customarily placed careless driv-
ing charges against motor vehicle oper-
atorS under the influence of liquor
Hereafter, under new instructions in
all such cases, patrolmen are ordered
to consult with the county attorney
whenever driver is apprehended under
the influence of liquor, and the de-
cision will be left to that county at
torney as to whether the charge shall
be careless driving or drunken driving,
carrying a much more severe penalty.
in all cases of motor fatalities, the
bulletin further instructs, patrolmen
will notify both the county attorney
and sheriff as quickly as possible so that
both may assist in the investigation.
THE county attorney is the only
person who can determine what charge
shall be placed against the operator of
vehicle who, through culpable negli-
gence, causes the death of any person, %
Mr.. Arnoldy said in his instruction
bulletin.
''The great slaughter of human lives
on our highways must be stopped. You
have the means, and with the assistance
of the county attorney and sheriff,
fatalities and accidents can be reduced,
and it is your duty to do So"
Minnesota's highway patrolmen trav-
eled 4,249, 1896 miles, by automobiles and
motorcycle, in 1886, according to the
biennial report, as compared with g.
961, TAB in 1885.
The force increased its patrol hours
from 170,739 in 1885 to 260.OO3 in 1896,
the report shows, as an increased per-
sonnet brought the force to 100 men.
During the year, the patrol stopped
and weighed Alps trucks, checked lights
on 81 ,588 motor vehicles, checked brakes
on 59,804 and examined $40 drivers
for drivers licenses The patrol at
tended 1870 accidents, took ITO vehicles
into custody and gave aid to 1890
motorists.
There were 160,435 drivers warned for
various traffic law attractions, 5O,O51
tagged for illegal equipment, 2O,692
tagged for improper licenses and 1892
arrested. Where tags were given as a
courtesy token, correction was required
within 48 hours and motorists usually
complied, Mr.. Arnoldy said Fines
against offending drivers totaled $87, 048
during the year and the patrol was re-
sponsible for collection of $214,138 in
license corrections.
The year marked the first use of in
creased police powers by patrol and