Evening star., 1943-07-02
0PA Will Press
Driving Checkup
Without Help
Aid Of D. c. Police
In HoIting Autos
Hos Been Refused

/" SIuit'sSS TutOS
Hos Been Refused
Faced with the Commissioners
refusal to let District police guard
highways leading out of Washington
in q special holiday drive against
pleasure driving, District OPA ON
cials today said they would have
their own investigators make = con-
centrated checkup. ~ the same
time, appreciation of the continued
assistance Of the police" was ex-
pressed.
Action taken by a special panel
last night and the recent decisions
OF two local boards made public to-
day showed that 20 offenders were
penalized. Board No. II did not
show leniency, as it took away cou-
pons from eight offenders. Mean
while, 23 additional cases Of alleged
violations were reported today,
bringing the total here to $3.50
since the gas conservation drive
began.
John L. Laskey, chief attorney Of
the District OPA, replied to the
Commissioners letter Of yesterday,
in which the Commissioners said,
AT this time we do not feel war
ranted In directing members of the
police force to stop motorists merely
for the purpose of ascertaining
whether or not they are engaging
in driving for pleasure purposes.
The Commissioners, In their reply,
said District police would continue
to report the license number of any
automobile observed under circum-
stances indicating pleasure driving.
and that officers who stop motorists
in the discharge Of normal traffic
duties will ask the purpose for which
= car Is being used.
Board Studied Request.
Mr.. Laskeyis request was made to
Inspector Harvey G. Callahan, as
Sistant superintendent of Metropoli-
tan Police. Since a matter of policy
was involved, Inspector Callahan re-
ferred the request for q special holi-
day enforcement drive to the Com
m.ssioners.
The special panel. consisting of
Fred Stohlman. chairman; Peter
Connolly and John w. Jackson, i'm
posed penalties in 10 cases, involving
loss of 80 gallons of gasoline, at
public hearings last night at the
Force School Building Nine case.
were dismissed and six persons failed
to make an appearance.
Those penallzed were:
Lexington E. Smith. 29O0 Park
place NV. teacher in Randall High
School S.W.. loss OF one A coupon;
Dorothy Ballard, also a Randall in
structor, loss OF one A and one b
coupon. They had driven school
children to picnic ground on June
10. The panel chairman said 1t was
q worthy purpose. but a violation OF
the law" adding that OPA had de-
MED extra gas rations to persons
desiring TO place flowers on graves.
G Book Suspended.
Millard Buck, 14l8 Eleventh street
NV. use Of next c book suspended
for two weeks. His car was parked
near Hams Point at 11:4O pm. He
said he had taken hi sick wife
there at her request.
Sam1el Addison. 1924 Tenth street
NV, use OF B card suspended for
two weeks from August g. Addison,
student at the University OF Mary
land, admitted his car was parked
on a bride path near q picnic
ground on June "a. He said his
ration book was exhausted last week
Fred B. Smith. 1909 F street NE.
suspension of A book for 80 days.
the panel terming it fragrant vio-
lation" He said he drove on va
cation to Chesapeake Beach for a
fishing trip. He had only three
coupons in his book and decided to
spend them while on single trip,
he told the board.
John ]. Range. Cairo Hotel. loss of
two B coupons A salesman, he told
the panel he had driven from Ar
lington, Va, to tavern on Bladens-
burg road seeking the aid OF friend
who was to supply names of busi-
ness prospects.
Ensign Joe Swavely. u S. N. of
1886 Allendale place NV, loss Of
one A coupon.
Woman Found Asleep In Car.
Myrtle E. McNey, 1874 T street
Sc, loss Of one A and one B coupon.
She was found asleep in her car late
at night on Leadbetter street. Alex
andria. Va. She said she had taken
the car there to have it repaired
over the week end.
Phillip Richardson. 1888 Four
teenth street NV, loss of one A
coupon. He testified he stopped in
Potomac Park to take his wife to
a restroom.
Anthony P. Zifcak. 4515 Burling-
ton place NV, loss of one A coupon.
He had gone to Potomac Park the
night of June % to cool off, he ad-
mitted.
On recommendation of John l..
Laskey, chief OPA attorney for the
District of Columbia, the panel dis
missed with warnings two alleged
violators of the pleasure driving ban.
Frank F. George. jr.. 1926 Thirteenth
street NV. and Joseph E. Bunch.
3506 Nichols avenue Sc, parked
their cars near the circus grounds.
Each had bought three war bonds
for the special circus, admission to
which was limited to purchasers of
war bonds.
Explanations accepted by the
panel, in cases dismissed ranged
from visiting a sick grandmother
regularly, going to a beach home to
repair plumbing damage and con-
Stunning the last coupon of brother
summoned to Army service.
Penalties were decreed by Board
10, meeting at 1850 Pennsylvania