Evening star., 1939-05-12
Drunk Drivers
Must Be Jailed,
Schultz Asserts
402o of Convicted
In Four Months
Put on Probation

Washingtons Traffic Court judges
must get tough" and send every
drunken and reckless driver to jail
in order to make local streets safe,
Chairman Schultz of the House Dis
trict Streets and Traffic Subcommit-
tee said today.
He was perturbed by disclosures
in Traffic Department records that
both the number of accidents here
and the proportion of drunken
drivers being released on probate
are increasing.
There were 200 more accidents
here last month than in the same
month last year, Mr.. Schultz said,
while the records showed more than
40 per cent of the persons convicted
of drunken driving during the first
four months of this year were re-
leased on probation, as compared
with q per cent during 1888.
Declaring drastic action appeared
necessary to put fear of the law into
those motorists inclined to take a
chance, Mr.. Schultz said he not only
believed there should be no proba-
ton for convicted drunken drivers,
but that every one should be sent to
Jail for at least 10 days, and every
one convicted of reckless driving be
jailed for at least five days.
To Call Judges to Farley.
He plans to call a conference early
next week of the Districts four
Police Court judges, who alternate
in handling Traffic Court, and at
tempt to persuade them to establish
these minimum Jail sentences for the
major traffic offenses, together with
uniform scale of penalties for
other cases to assure all offenders
equal treatment.
Mr.. Schultz said he believed the
judges would cooperate in the plan
for tightening traffic law enforce
ment here, but indicated that if they
should not agree to maintain a dras-
tic uniform penalty system he would
sponsor legislation to put it in force.
In addition to the large percent
age of drunken driving convictions
resulting in probation, the traffic
department records disclosed that
more than one out of every four of
the 345 drunken driving cases dis
posed of last year was reduced to
some lesser charge before sentencing.
Two Flat Jail Sentences.
A total of 80 persons thus faced
sentencing on charges carrying gen.
orally less severe penalties than the
charges preferred by the police Off
GERS arresting them. OF the 10 such
cases changed to reckless driving, %,
or 1928 per cent, were given proba-
ton. Another 81, or 30 per cent,
were given their choice of paying $50
fines or going to Jail for 80 days.
Only two received fiat Jail sentences
one for. 80 days and one for 30
days.
Of those actually convicted of
drunken driving last year more went
free on probation than went to Jail.
The records showed 234 drunken
driving convictions, 64 resulting in
probation, SIS in Jail terms ranging
from 80 to 180 days and ia in fines
ranging from $50 to one of $500.
Eighty-five of the fines were 500.
While the smallest fine assessed
during the year for a drunken-driv-
ing conviction was $50 and only
three were that small, five of the
70 persons who had their charges
reduced to reckless driving got their
choice of $25 fine or Is days in
jail and one received only a $25 fine.
Two were fined 5000, three $3.50, five
$100 and two SIS.
Other Reduced Charges.
OF the SO drunken driving charges
changed during the year eight were
reduced to colliding, with one finally
getting probation and other penal
ties ranging from $40 to SIS fines.
Five others were reduced to charges
of driving on the wrong side of the
street, resulting in one probation,
one $50 fine and three $25 fines;
three to leaving after colliding, one
resulting in probation, one in 500
fine and one in $40 fine; two to
failing to yield the right of way, one
fined $50 and the other $25, and one
to intoxication, with a $40 fine.
The changes in the charges were
(see DRIVERS, Page A-3)