Evening star., 1939-06-04
Citizens Offer
Proposal TO Aid
Traffic Safety
Reorganization Of
Police Court
Procedure Urged

Reorganization of Police Court
procedure in dealing with traffic &C
cident cases in order to bring more
cases into court was voted last night
by the Federation of Citizens Asso-
Citations at its final regular meeting
of the year.
A comprehensive safety program
drastically curtailing parking was
also voted on recommendation of the
Safety Committee, headed by Harry
S. Wender. The action would ban
all double parking at any time any
where in the District and would re-
strict angle parking to take up not
more than a quarter of the width
of street. 1t would also amend
present regulations to forbid park
ing or standing of commercial We
hicleS on public thoroughfares
around non-commercial property eX-
cept when engaged in loading or un-
loading merchandise.
Six Proposals Approved.
,: Six proposals calculated to pro-
tect children on Fairgrounds by
regulating parking around such
grounds were also approved.
AS the delegates swept through
the docket trying to clear as many
items as possible from carry over,
they supported:
l. A regulation providing appeal
to the zonlng commission from the
Board of Zoning Adjustment and a
recommendation that the commits
sion not issue building permits for
lots of less than 40-foot frontage in
a restricted zone.
2. The King bill for the estab-
lishment of an office for the COM
pulsory recording and releasing of
liens on automobiles as a section of
the Department of Vehicles and
Traffic.
3. Purchase by the Federal Gov
ernment of the Stephen Decatur
home for a museum.
They opposed:
l. Reduction of the distance limit
of bowling alley from a private
residence from 900 to 200 feet.
2. Location of the Occoquan
Penal Wharf along the Anacostia
River either in the park area or
above the Eleventh street bridge.
3. A bill to prohibit optometrists
practicing in department stores.
4, A bill granting liens in favor
OF hospitals in cases of accident vic
TINS being brought in.
Procedure Critized.
In crlticising the present Police
Court procedure, Mr.. Wender told
the delegates that accidents not
witnessed by police are fot-dnpesti-
gated unless police are called to
scene at the time it occurred. Often
such men are not trained or equipped
to make an adequate investigation
he asserted.
Every effort, he said, is made to
have the case settled out of court
despite the fact of an actual acci-
cent resulting in injury and damage
ana such procedure keeps lot of
dangerous drivers on the streets
simply because they pay off out of
court.
Inc reform program adopted bv
the federation demands.
l. mat only scientifically trained
ana equipped police officers be as
signed to investigate all renorted
ACCIDENTS, armed with authority to
arrest ana swear out warrants
against all persons deemed guilty
IN connection with such accidents
z, That the corporation counsel $
once be equipped with stenogra oh
ers TO report all proceedings at
Pollce Court with testimony of all
witnesses sworn to and used TO
compel subsequent appearance at
court IN the event of another trial.
Some Opposition Voiced.
5. mat representatives of the
corporation counSels office at colrt
snail assume the responsibility of
swearing OUT information against
oe1endants if testimony indicates
a violation of the law. Under the
present system it is up to the
pialntlff, Mr. Wender said.
4. That every effort be made to
encourage witnesses to appear in
such cases and that no continuances
be granted without notifying them
SO they will not attend court
unnecessarily.
Some opposition was voiced to
TINS program on the score of the
cost OF the changes, but supporters
argued the expense would be met bv
the fines and by the savings of life
and property in getting accident
prone drivers off the streets.
AT the outset the regular order of
business was waived for the presen-
tation Of a District flag to the Com
mlssioners by the Federation. Thom-
as E. Lodge, chairman of the Alco-
hollc Beverage Control Board, made
the presentation on behalf of the
Federation and Col. David Nc
Coach, Jr., received it for the Com
mlssloners. The delegates were then
introduced to Col. and Mrs. Nc
Coach.