The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1939-12-22
TRAFFIC. VIOLATORS MAY BE
DEPRIVED OF LICENSES
Maryland Traffic Safety Committee
Weighing Commissioner Elgin's
Suggestion

If suggestions made at confer
ences between members of Governor
Herbert r. O'Conor's Traffic Safety
Committee and w. Lee Elgin, Com
missioner of Motor Vehicles. should
become effective, many violators of
regulations of the automobile laws
will find themselves without oper-
ators' licenses for five days for Of
lenses they formerly were able to
escape by paying fine.
The conferences have discussed
the feasibility of suspension of OPP
orators license for a period of five
days for such offenses as Speeding,
Reckless Driving, and Running
through Boulevard Signs and Red
Lights. In cases where the offender
has previous mark against his rec
ord, Commissioner Elgin contem-
plates suspension period of longer
duration, from fifteen to sixty days.
While it was realized that such
suspensions would work hardship
on persons who need their cars for
transportation to and from their
places of employment, it was felt,
nevertheless, that with sufficient
warning to operators of motor We
hicles, they would guard themselves
against arrest and conviction on all
serious motor vehicle charges. This
regulation would in no way affect
the penalties now in force for hit
and-run, operating under the infiu-
ence of liquor, and other charges of
this nature that carry penalties
stipulated in the laws of Maryland.
A. B. Meter, Chairman of the
Enforcement Committee of Governor
O'Conor's Safety Council, attended
the conferences and is now making
study of the suggestions.
In a radio broadcast in the inter-
est of Traffic Safety, Charles T. Lee
Viness, Chairman of the Board of
Liquor License Commissioners of
Baltimore, said: Gin my work in
liquor control problems in. Balti-
more, l have become increasingly
aware of the great public import
ance of banning drunkards or heavy
drinkers from the roads entirely
The operation of the automobile is
not a right inherent to all of us,
such as the right to live and to be
reasonably free in our movements;
but it is privilege granted by the
state only after the applicant for an
automobile license takes and passes
an examination as to his qualifica-
lions. Having once passed such ex-
animation the motorist does not then
obtain an irrevocable privilege from
the State. His license to drive may
be suspended for improper conduct
on the road or may be revoked en-
tirely, in the discretion of the Com
missioner of Motor Vehicles. More
widespread use of this important
Safety weapon would in my judy
ment go far to secure the aims to
which the Governor and his Traffic
Safety Committee is dedicated"
Mr.. LeViness further brought out
the details regarding a person whose
license has been suspended for
drunken driving. This person after a
period of three months may make
application for reinstatement. Thus
in some cases drivers whose licenses
have been revoked two or three
times are still operating upon the
highways.
He said, Greater care in admin
istering this phase of the Motor We
hicle laws would permanently re-
move from the highways those per-
sons known to be dangerous; and
such action would not only be a
boon to traffic safety in the State,
but also would be in many cases a
beneficial thing for the driver him
self; and it may be the means of
saving his own life"