Evening star., 1937-11-27
DRIVERS INVOLVED
IN ; ACCIDENTS
FACE PERMIT LOSS
Commissioner Hazen An
nounces New Policy as
Result of Conference.
DECISION WILL REST
IN REVOCATION BOARD
System Already Has Been Set Up
for Compilation of All Records
as of October l.

Drivers involved in as many as
three accidents hereafter will face
revocation or suspension of their op-
orators permits under a new policy
announced by Commissioner Melvin
c. Hazen.
Members of the Board of Revocation
and Restoration of Operators Permits
will be left to decide from the drivers
record whether his performance justi-
fieS invocation or suspension of the
permit and for how long it may be
taken up.
This policy was adopted as result
of the latest monthly conference of
police captains and traffic and legal
officers of the District held late yes
terday in the Office of Commissioner
HaZen.
Officials revealed that in anticipa-
ton of the new plan a system already
had been set up for the compilation
of the individual records of all drivers
dating back to October /, and these
are to be transferred to the Revoca-
ton Board whenever as many as
three accidents are found on the
record of an individual
Check Reveals Three.
Traffic Director William A. Van
Duzer announced today that a check
of the records shows there are Is
drivers who have been involved in
three or more accidents since Oc-
tober l. These are to be referred to
the Revocation Board and may be
ready for action by Thursday Of next
week.
Mr.. Van Duzer explained that the
agents of the Commissioners had full
authority to invoke the new weapon
against the irresponsible driver, as
illustrated by the recent Court of Ap-
peals ruling, and that special regu-
lation by the Commissioners was not
| needed.
He added that one driver was found
to have had three accidents in one
day since October l.
Persons who are tried on traffic
charges at court and found not guilty
will not have such cases subject to
the review in the new plan for per-
nit suspension or revocation, officials
explained. The plan. however. it
was said. would apply to accident
records in cases in which the driver
was not subject to court trial as we'll
as to those found guilty in court
cases.
The plan is to be tried on an ex-
perimental basis for an indefinite
period, it was announced.
Night Parking Ban Favored.
Prohibition of all-night parking on
traffic thoroughfares was favored by
a majority of the conference group
but it was decided such a step must
be left to the future. Commissioner
Hazen said it would not be feasible
to put the plan into effect now.
The concensus seemed to be, how
ever. that an absolute ban on park
ing was coming eventually" in many
areas. This thought was applied also
to suggested bans on all-day parking
in the more congested areas
Commissioner Hazen suggested that
when the time comes for a prohibi-
tion of all-night parking it be applied
gradually, first to zone in the con
gested downtown area, extending it
block at time until the whole
zone was under the ban after a period
of six months AS the need for ex-
tension grows, he said, he would sug-
gest that a full year be allowed for
its extension to zone 2.
Discussion raised the point that
there is no charge other than reck-
less driving which may be placed
against person held accountable for
accidents which occur between in
tersections. Mr.. Hazen said he would
ask the Office of the corporation coun-
sci to consider proposed regulation
on this point.