Evening star., 1941-02-18
Rule Tightened
On Suspending
Speeder Permits
45M. p. n. Drivers
Face Loss Up to 90
Doys on First Offense

In an effort to cut down on the
number of traffic accidents caused
by excessive speed in the District,
the Commissioners have authorized
new powers for the Board of Revoca-
ton and Restoration of Operators
Permits in dealing with first and
second offense speeders.
Under the new policy, which will
go into effect Immediately, the board
will be authorized to:
l. Suspend for periods ranging
up to 90 days the permit of any
person convicted on a flrSt-offenSe
charge of driving in excess of As
miles an hour.
2. Suspend for periods ranging up
TO six months the permit of any
person convicted on Second-o -offenSe
speeding charge, where it is found
that both convictions were for speed
ing in excess of 45 miles an hour.
Keech Finds No Legal Objection.
The boards policy in the past has
been to suspend permits for second
offense speeding for periods of from
80 to so days, where the speed was
in excess of SO miles an hour, and
to order a 30-day suspension in cases
of f1rst-offense convictions for driv-
ing more than SO miles an hour.
Meanwhile, the maximum fine
that can be levied in court for first
offense speeding is $25.
Judge John P. Mcmahon, in traf-
fic branch of Police Court, today
warned speeders of the new policy.
Judge Mcmahon also asked the
citizens to cooperate in helping to
make traffic conditions safer in
Washington. He described as dis
couraging" the fact that so many
good citizens" appear in court day
after day for traffic offenses.
The jurist's remarks were ad-
dressed to a large audience in the
courtroom, and also to those listen
ing at the time to a radio broadcast
of the court procedure.
The Commissioners announced
their approval of the new policy late
yesterday after Corporation Counsel
Richmond B. Keech had informed
them there was no legal objection
to the change.
The new policy was adopted on
recommendation of Traffic Director
William A. Van Duzer, who de-
clared in a letter to the Commits
sioners that the increased number
of accidents and deaths in and
around the District may be traced
partially to excessive speed or too
much speed for conditions"
while these new penalties may
appear to be harsh" Mr.. Van Duzer
said, sit is believed that the adop-
ton and wide publicity of this policy
will 60 a long way toward reducing
the number of traffic fatalities and
accidents in the District"
Second Offenders Double.
The traffic director informed the
city heads that second-offense
speeding cases have more than
doubled during the last 90 days and
that the number of persons arrested
for speeds varying from so to 80
miles an hour also has been on the
increase.
An examination of the records
involving personal injuries and ia
talities discloses that in many cases
the driver was operating at speed
ranging from 80 to 45 miles an
hour" he added.
During the last several months" :"
Mr.. Van Duzer said, there have
been many thousands of persons
added to the Government pay rolls
in the District. This increase in
population has placed many addi-
tional thousands of automobiles on
the streets of the District.
Due to the crowded and con-
gested condition of the streets, it is
believed that a speed of 45 miles an
hour on the streets and highways of
the District is extremely hazardous" :"
The Commissioners report also
included a report by Maj. Ernest w.
Brown, superintendent of police,
showing that 10 of the 25 traffic
deaths which occurred in the Dis
trict between December l, 1910, and
January %, 1941, were caused by
excessive speed.