Evening star., 1943-06-15
240 More Listed
As VioIators Of
Driving Ban
? Investigators List
103 Tog Numbers
| At Circus

An additional 240 persons, l03 of
whom were attending the circus,
were cited yesterday and last night
for alleged violation Of the pleasure
driving ban, District OPA ofiicials
announced today.
OPA inspectors and District police
Joined In making the wholesale haul.
The latest development increased to
1882 the number Of persons reported
since the ban became effective and
left backlog of nearly 900 cases to
be acted on by OPA officials. Nearly
800 cases have been referred to ra-
ton boards for action.
Armed with a ruling that diplo-
mats owning automobiles bearing
"A" ration stickers are not exempted
from the pleasure driving ban, Dis
trict OPA officials are conducting an
investigation into the ownership of
cars seen Sunday night in front OF
the home of Mrs. Evalyn Walsh
Mclean.
Disclosing that the license num-
bers OF approximately IS privately
owned cars seen there had been re-
ported to his Office, "but not by our
own inspectors" District OPA Direc-
tor Robert K. Thompson today said
check was being made and that
the usual form letter would be sent
to alleged violators, asking an ex-
PLANTATION.
When explanations are not salts
factory, cases are referred to an
individuals ration board for action.
Penalties Up to Boards.
Informed that a Richmond (Va.)
ration board had cracked down on
violators by suspending gas rations
for periods ranging up to two years
and rejecting all pleas for leniency,
Mr.. Thompson emphasized that the
severity of penalties is solely a mat
ter for ration board determination.
A statement issued by the national
OPA office said There has been a
general impression among some
people that cars with diplomatic
licenses are exempt from uniform
rationing regulations. If the auto
mobile is personally owned by the
diplomat, he must observe the pleas
ure driving ban. However, an en-
bassy-owned car would not bear an
"A card and could go anywhere
that is considered an official business
mission"
With the citation of 229 additional
alleged violators over the week end
here, the District OPA office has
become cluttered with undecided
cases.
Names Are withheld.
Mr.. Thompson's Office declined to
make public the names of persons
whose auto license numbers were
totted down Sunday night, when
Mrs. Mclean was entertaining at
one Of her customary Sunday din
ner parties. He explained it was
matter Of policy not to release names
until cases had been referred TO ra-
ton boards and the boards had
taken action.
Suggestions advanced editorially
by some New York newspapers that
Secretary Ickes give Eastern motor
lists free day" once a week to
drive without fear of disciplinary
action today drew from Mr.. Ickes'
aides a statement that only the
Office of Price Administration has
authority to make such a grant.
While Secretary Ickes, as petro-
!eum administrator, has asked that
OPAs gasoline rationing powers be
given to him, he is without author
tty to ease the pleasure driving ban,
his aides emphasized. According TO
proponents of the free day" sug-
gestion, temporary lifting of restric-
tons would relieve the burden on
railroads and maintain home front
morale"