Evening star., 1939-01-22
Motorists Charged
With 94,550 Traffic
Violations in 1888
Collateral Forfeited in
63,354 Cases, Report
Of Clerk DiscIoses

Motorists were charged with vio-
lating traffic regulations nearly
100000 times here last year.
The annual report of the Police
Court made public today by Walter
F.. Bramhall, chief clerk, shows
that charges of committing 94,550
separate traffic violations were
placed against drivers.
OF this total, collateral was for
feited in 63,354 of the cases, which,
in effect, amounts to plea of guilty
by the offender. The remaining
31,196 cases were heard in Traffic
Court and, although the number
of defendants found guilty was not
ascertained. it is known compara-
lively few were acquitted.
The court heard 10,537 cases of
first offense speeding, $50 second
offense, 81 third offense, and one
fourth offense.
Charges of passing 1,277 red lights
were heard and I'LL cases of driv-
ing without a permit were tried.
Motorists allegedly passed stop signs
648 times and failed to give the
right of way SOL times.
311 Drunk Driving Cases.
Driving while drunk was charged
against 31l persons and reckless
driving against AL. One hundred
and eighty-fve defendants were
tried on hit-and-run charges.
Comparative figures of separate
violations in previous years were
not available as this is the first
complete report ever drawn up at
the court. However, including both
the number of cases heard in court
and the total number of forfeitures,
traffic offenses increased SOIL over
those Of 1887.
The financial report submitted
by w. S. SchantZ, financial clerk,
and his assistant, William j. Zepp,
showed that fines for all offenses
totaled S539 ,86O.21, an increase of
$67 aab rs over the 1887 figure, AL
though the total was not broken
down In fines for different types
of ofIcnses, traffic Law violntors Meir
known 10 have paid the greater
amount of the fines.
If fines continue at the present
rate, the total at the end of three
years will be greater than the cost
of the new S1,5OO,00O building into
which the court moved last spring.
However, operating expenses totaled
$122,19 last year.
13,843 Intoxication Cases.
The District branch of the court
tried 13,843 cases of intoxication.
In many of these, violators faced
the court several times in the year.
Disorderly conduct cases totaled
3,076.
Cases of soliciting aims amounted
to 497 and vagrancy to $50. Two
cases to telling fortunes without
licenses were heard. Sixteen trials
for allegedly turning in false alarms
were held. One man was charged
with driving horse and wagon
while drunk.
SdSCS 1lCdl " AL O1lO OAAAVCA AtotSo
branch totaled 8.043, of which Ills
were assault and 1929 petty larceny.
Robbery accounted for 259 cases
and housebreaking, 271. Twenty
five cases of negligent homicide were
tried.
Cases disposed Of in the jury
branch totaled 1856, of which 678
were traffic cases. Only 101 cases
were pending on January !, as COM
pared with SOB at the same time
last year. The number of persons
being held in Jail pending trial was
"a at the beginning of the year, the
lowest number in many years, due
largely to the condition OF the jury
assignment docket.
During the year only four out of
1868 bonds written were forfeited,
totaling $l,700.