Evening star., 1941-11-05
Steep Boosts
Collateral
Jar Motorists
Violation Scale
To Be Enforced,
Mason Declares

Large increases in collatera
charges for traffic violations, ordered
late yesterday by the Commissioner.
and officially in effect since last
midnight, were proving disturbing
to offenders appearing at police
headquarters today.
Motorists who arrived ready to
part with 50 and promptly forget
about the ticket received for a
minor infraction of the regulations
were Jared visibly when Informed
prices had advanced Clerks re-
ported that at least one man ap-
peared on the verge OF collapse
when told he would be required to
deposit IS. He left without offering
collateral. as did several others who
apparently were lnprepared flnan-
cially for the increased cost of their
indiscretions.
Commissioner Guy Mason COM
mented today that the new rates
"reallv will be enforced"
These new minimum collateral
rules" he said, ARE based on two
things: First, that our efforts to
enforce parking and traffic regula-
tions are predicated on the drivers
Interest in his own pocketbook: and
second. that the public should be
educated to obey all traffic regula-
tions on the ground that the streets
are for traffic and not for private
garages"
To Confer With Judges.
At the same time, Commissioner
Mason forecast approval by the
Commissioners of a new order for
bidding any parking in alleys. except
by commercial vehicles and then
only when such operations are per-
mitted.
Meanwhile, the city heads were
scheduled to confer at the District
Building this afternoon with judges
of Police and Traffic Courts on pro-
posals by members of those courts
for reducing trials by extending the
collateral system there, one objective
being to permit police officers to
spend more time on the streets in
stead of in court.
The unprecedented increases in
collateral payments for parking and
traffic violations ordered by the city
heads were much heavier than had
heon ontirinofa6 Tho iy,n
ranged all the way from so per
cent boost to an increase, technically,
by so times, but in the latter case.
one official explained. the boost
would not amount really to an in
crease of 1900 per cent. since more
than the old minimum collateral
would have been demanded in the
past in grievous case
This concerned turning from
wrong lane of traffic" for which the
old minimum collected was 81. But
In case of a bad accident or personal
injury. the official said, more than
50 collateral has been demanded.
Under the new system the minimum
was raised from So to $40 where
property damage of s25 or less was
incurred If there is personal injury
the minimum is raised to $25. and ii
the person injured requires hospital
care the minimum is raised to S100
or bond.
Cites Menace Of Practice.
Corporation Counsel Richmond B
Keech declared the offense Of turn
Ing from the wrong lane constituted
the greatest menace and that more
persons were hurt and more prop
erty damage done by this violation
than any other.
In similar way the collateral was
raised for failing to give right OF
way to a pedestrian at crosswalk.
There has been a general S. demand
This has been raised to $40 in cases
not involving personal injury, to a
minimum of $25 where there is per-
sonal injury. and to 500 or bond
in cases in which an injured person
requires hospital care.
In the more normal type of traffic
case, two of the more severe in
creases in collateral requirements
were for obstructing traffic. raised
from SO to s20 and for parking
abreast, raised also from 50 to $40.
The city heads ordered no change
In the old SO collateral for stopping
or standing although drastic new
rules against this practice now have
gone into effect on long stretches of
81 traffic arteries, but it was noted
that sturdy increases were ordered
as to collaterals for obstructing
traffic and parking double, listed
above, and one for parking in a
restricted zone from SO to $40.
Right of Way Sum Increased.
For failing to give right of way to
another vehicle. the present blanket
collateral of IS was raised to SIC
where property damage is s25 OF
less, but to S25 where personal in
jury is involved and to $lOO or {
bond In cases in which personal
Injury sends a victim to the hospital
Other changes in collateral re.
quirements were listed as follows:
Bad hand brake, from IS to $40
dead tags, from $40 to SIS; disobey.
Ing officers signal from 50 to S.
disobeying traffic signal, from 50 tt
IS.
Driving through unoccupied safet!
zone, from 81 to $40; driving through
occupied safety zone. from $40 t.
$50; driving over sidewalk. from S
to IS; driving to left of loading plat
form against sign, from 81 to IS
driving on wrong side of street, from
81 to $40; driving wrong way arount
circle, from 50 to IS; driving slowl
abreast, from 81 to IS.
Driving so as to crowd another ca
or person. from IS to $40; failing t.
keep in proper lane, from 81 to IS
failing to give right of way to emer
gency vehicles, from SIS to $40; fail
ing to step at stop sign, from IS t.
$40; failing to give hand sigma
from 81 to IS: improper lights, fror
81 to 50; no lights while running, 5
to 50; no signal device, from 81 t.
s..
Operating unapproved auto. iron
IS to $50; operating unsafe vehicle