Evening star., 1941-10-12

Stlll is not enough enforcement.
This is evident" he said, "fron
small decrease in accidents during
September, l3 persons were killed
and more people were injured. This
means, of course, that a lot of mo-
torists were driving carelessly and a
lot of pedestrians were walking care
lesSly. But it also means that trafflc
law enforcement officers were not as
vigilant as they should have beer. "
The total number of arrests made
by officers of the IA precincts and
the Traffic Division was 11,072 which
was 2,706 more than in August and
80 above the figure for June, the
previous peak month.
Hikes in All Categories.
There were increases in arrests for
virtually every major offense, and all
precincts except the Sd, 18th, 18th
and harbor precincts recorded more
violations than during the previous
month.
The highest percentage of increase
was a 40 per cent rise in arrests OF
motorists parked between loading
platforms and curbs. Ironically
during a month when 10 of l3 traffic
fatalities were pedestrians, law en-
forcement officials arrested 1876 per-
sons-almost 40 per cent more tlar
in August-for violation Of pedes-
trian control regulations.
Inspector Miller, in explaining why
he was not completely satisfied with
the traffic enforcement picture
pointed out that the District is moi
up to the required enforcement in
dex," which specifies, he said. that
| there should be between 10 and Il
arrests for moving viola tions which
cause accidents, for every single in
jury.
During September, police made
about 5000 arrests for moving viola
tions-speeding. turning from wrong
lanes, passing red lights and stop
| signs. reckless driving, parking
abreast, driving on wrong side ot
street, falling to give right of way
etc-and Inspector Miller said this
figure would have to be increased
to about 5000 if accidents are to be
reduced.
1--WE will need still more traffic
consciousness on the part of al
policemen. whether assigned tc
traffic work or not, as we'll as on the
part of pedestrian and motorist,
said Inspector Miller He said the
/ impending addition of more motor
cycle officers should result in greater
enforcement.
Appeals to Precinct Leaders.
Following up his special tour oi
all precincts to urge greater vigilance
on all members of the force, InSpec-
tor Miller is appealing to the pre-
cinct commanders to lay more stres!
on traffic law enforcement. He hope!
in this way to bring about an ever
larger number of arrests this month
Speeding still led all other acci'
dent-producing offenses during Sep
tember, with 994 arrests being made
but the 1908 arrests for disobeyins
offcial signs topped the whole list
Violations In the latter classification
showed an increase of 81 per cen
over the previous month, while thu
speeding arrests were up 28 per cent
Arrests for overtime parking
which stood at the top of the list II
August. dropped to third place IL
September, although there was ar
! Af civ viola tinnc
For parking from to pm, 81
persons were given traffic tickets
an increase of lS per cent over Au
gust Another big increase was re
corded in arrests of persons parked
less than so feet from intersection
and less than 20 feet from the build.
ing line. These violations totalec
626. or IS per cent more than the
August figure.
Other increases: No parking al
any time, 1868, up 81 per cent
parked abreast, 366. up 80 per cent
passing red light. 227. up 81 per cent
passing stop sign, 242. up 19 per cent
making unnecessary noise with horn
OIL, up So per Cell.
Thirty-two persons were arrested
for driving while drunk, as compared
to % in August. In addition, II!
motorists were taken into custody
for driving on the wrong side of the
street, as against 109 in the previous
month.
The biggest increase in arrests fol
violations was recorded by the Traf.
f1c Division, which made 4,430 ar
rests, 1276 more than in August
The fifth precinct had 750, an in
crease of 352; the thirteenth had 8S9
a jump of 282; the first. $50, 81.
increase, and the tenth precinct