Evening star., 1939-06-27
Van Duzer. Tells
Auto Inspectors
To Be Tolerant
Brakes and Lights
Cuuse Most Trouble
For Owners

Inspectors checking District cars
under the new inspection law have
been admonished against over
zealousness, William A. Van Duzer,
director of traffic said today, as the
American Automobile Association
reported that good many" COM
plants had been received from own
ers who said they had gotten red
stickers calling for, adjustments
when they believed their automo-
biles should have been passed.
Mr.. Van Duzer explained that cer-
tain tolerances are allowed-par-
ticular reference was made to light
and brake checking-and that the
inspectors have been told that this
leeway must be given.
In common with the rest of the
country where cars undergo official
inspection, the first weeks opera
ton of the law here has showed
that brakes and lights are causing
the most trouble, and Mr.. Van Duzer
believes there are two reasons why
some owners have been running into
difficulties that could have been
avoided.
Forgot About Weight.
Probably couple of his own in
spectors, he says-there are 50-are
the particular type who will not
waive any shortcomings; the other
reason. he adds, springs from the
fact that repair shops, in adjusting
lights for owners getting ready for
inspection, have forgotten that the
lights are tested with a 400-pound
weight in the rear of the car, and
have adjusted them accordingly
AS a result, when the official test is
applied, the light beams shoot up in
the air, necessitating new adjust
ment.
Mr.. Van Duzer says his Office is
working with automobile establish
ments over the city, in an effort to
have their method of making ad-
justments harmonize with the in
spection requirements, and that he
looks for this rough spot to be
smoothed out.
Seeking further to eliminate fric-
ton, the inspectors, he said, are not
to give red stickers for some border
line defect. In such cases, however,
owners are being advised of the con-
ditions that need correction.
Entitled to Thorough Job.
"The people are paying for this
inspection, and think they are en-
titled to thorough job" Mr.. Van
Duzer said. "If they go to a doctor
for check-up, they want the truth,
and we are proceeding on the same
theory. To be success the inspec-
ton must be Efficient"
The traffic director said he had
received no direct complaints of
overefiiciousness, but realized that
his organization would not function
100 per cent until the inspection
process has had a little time to
operate.
Up to Saturday night, he said,
there were but 306 red stickers out
standing, and these, he added, rep
resented hardly more than those
applied that day, indicating that
owners are promptly making adjust
ments. One traffic officer who
cruises a great deal at night, accord
ing to the traffic director, has re-
ported that there already is marked
improvement in car lights.
Asked for Identity.
The traffic director has asked the
A. A. A. for the identity of one car
ouyy,or u,l,o y,roto octoJ Tho j,,croo+;ov
procedure. This man said his brakes
had been adjusted by a reputable
concern here, but were rejected upon
inspection; he went back where he
had had the work done, and was ad-
vised the brakes were all right. Upon
returning to the inspection station,
the owner said, the car was passed
by the same inspector who previ-
ously had turned it down.
The first week of inspection here
showed 40.5 of the taxis inspected
failing to meet requirements, 425
of the private cars and Sc per cent
Of the trucks. There were less than
100 trucks inspected, however, While
the other vehicles aggregated more
than $500.
In bringing the complaints to the
attention of the traffic director, A.
j. Montgomery, director of public
relations for the A. A. A., explained
that they were presented only in
the spirit of helpfulness, adding
that his organization was interested
in the success of the law, and
wanted to see it so administered as
to command the support of the citi-