The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1937-01-28
Citizens Should Aid In Law Enforcement,
Declares Chief Justice William Makbie
Prominent Jurists Give
Opinions on Motor We
ElicIe Problems

No community, IN the long run,
win have much better enforce
ment Of its motor vehicle regula-
tons than It's citizens demand,
says Chief Justice William NJ.
Maltbie Of the Supreme Court Of
Errors In an article in the cur
rent issue Of Connecticut Safety"
a publication Of the Governors
commission on street and highway
safety.
Every citizen should appreciate
the purpose Of enforcement by
the police and the courts" Judge
Maltbie says. HE should realize
the need OF firm and impartial en-
forcement. He should feel that any
attempt to bring to bear upon
police or court officers the ir1-
duences which may sway them
from the full performance Of their
duty Is no less an offense against
good government than would be
the conduct Of these officers in
Yielding to such an attempt"
Judge Maltbie's article Is one Of
a number prepared by prominent
members Of the bench and bar on
motor vehicle and highway mat
Sers. Other statements are by Ar
thur F. ELS, Judge Of the Superior
Court; Arthur M. Brown, States
Attorney for New London Coun-
ty; Warren b. Burrows, President
of the State Bar Association of
Connecticut and Philo G. Calhoun,
Judge Of the Town Court Of Fair
field.
The statements, in part, are as
follows:
Judge Maltbie
The ultimate responsibility for
highway safety rests upon the in
dividual. Our highways should be
so constructed and traffic upon
them should be so directed as to
provide every safeguard against
accident which can in this way be
reasonably afforded. Every driver
of a motor vehicle should be thor
oughly familiar with his car and
know how to operate and control
it. But II both Of these conditions
were met many accidents which
could readily be avoided would
still occur. These accidents can be
prevented only when the individ-
hal operator realizes that there
rests upon him an obligation to
be alert and careful at all times
to do nothing which may en-
danger his own safety and that Of
others.
Motor vehicle laws and regula-
tions are not enacted for the pur-
pose Of hampering the individual
in his reasonable freedom Of ac-
tiMa. Their purpose Is to afford
rules Of conduct in frequently re-
curing situations, rules which
experience has found will conduce
to safety. Sometimes obedience to
them seems useless subservience
to constituted authority; but obe-
djance at all times inculcates a
habit which will be to the great
advantage Of the operator and,
perhaps Of more consequence, a
failure to obey them at any time
sets for others an example of dis
regard which Is fraught with
danger.
MY plea Is for an understanding
and appreciation Of the purpose
of motor vehicle regulations. And
this Is equally necessary as re-
CARDS their enforcement by police
officers and courts. One cannot
stddy the methods used in GER
tain communities in the country
which have made notable adj
vances In the prevention Of auto
mobile accidents without being
struck by the fact that the out
standing element in their pro-
gram Is a firm, fair and impair
tial enforcement of traffic regu-
lations. This results in the driv-
ers of cars being alert and careful
and in a general obedience to the
regulations. If this Is so-and no
one can doubt it who carefully
considers the experience of these
communities-it Is an obligation
of good citizenship to support
an enforcement of the laws, to
help and not hinder 1t.
Mr.. Brown
It would seem that every good
citizen, who, in a measure at
least, loves his fellowman, ought
to be vitality interested in the
matter Of making our highways
safe for public travel to as great