Evening star., 1945-06-12
D. T.. Traffic Meetinq
favors Scientific Test
For Drunken Drivers

The first District Trafic Cour
Conference yesterday adopted
resolution favoring III principle tn,
encouragement of scientific tests t,
determine if person has driven al
automobile while under the inf1uenc,
of liquor.
The resolution was one of severa
adopted following the all-day ses.
sion in the United States Chamber
Of Commerce Building, which wa.
attended by more than 200 District
and Federal officials, representatives
of local, judiciary and professiona.
interests.
Ordinarily, 1t was said, it is diff
cult to convict a man charged with
driving while drunk unless the tests
are applied Immediately and later
submitted in court. BY the time the
case comes to court without the
benefit Of tests, the defense often
can offer convincing arguments
against the allegations.
Richmond B. Keech, corporation
counsel, disclosed that his Office /.
drafting bill. shortly to be pre-
sented to Congress, which woulc
provide authority to make tests. Un.
der the bill, tests would be made
of the suspected motorists breath
blood and urine, which would de.
termine not only the presence Of
alcohol but also the degree of driv.
ing impairment induced by it.
Greater Interests Urged.
The conference was held to pro.
mote and encourage greater public
interest in better control of trafit
and in the problems of trafic Law
enforcement, and to increase the
efficiency of, and respect for, traffic
courts and the administration ol
justice"
A second resolution advocated
greater uniformity of fines ano
penalties for traffic violations, con
sistent with the circumstances OF
each case. Under the resolution, the
penalties would be applied without
discrimination, and would be suffi
GENTLY severe to create respect for
traffic laws
A question under discussion in
volved the amount of money to be
put up by violators as collateral
Judge George D. Nelson OF Munich
pal Court contended the amount
should be determined by the courts
and not by the Commissioners. The
1urist was supported In this by
Mr.. Keech.
License Revocation Suggested.
In regard to traffic penalties
Judge Nelson termed the revocation
of driving license "a more potent
factor" than Jail sentence. Har-
vey D. Booth, secretary of the
Traf1c Court Division, NationaI
Safety Council, explained revocat ton
and suspension of driving privileges
is used effectively in other States.
A recommendation was made also
that the local Trafic Court make
greater use of conviction records in
determining proper penalties for
those who have been convicted pre-
viously.
Some 800 cases OF Juvenile traf1,c
violations, mostly speeding, were
disposed OF In Juvenile Court in
the last fiscal year. Judge Fay Bent
ley disclosed. She said this repre-
sented an increase of 1873 per cent
over the previous fiscal year, but
that most Of the violations were
made in outlying sections and
boulevards and not in coneested
trafic areas.
Juvenile Fines Explained.
Judge Bentley explained that thu
usual penalty levied against the iu.
venile IN a speeding case was a 50.
cent fine for each mile in excess Of
the legal speed limit and that thu
children had to pay the fines them.
selves as a means OF developing re.
sponsibility. . .... .'.''
The conference also favored thu
continuance of the use of all meas.
ures necessary for the elimination
of ticket fixing" and other similar
practices, and recommended thai
adjustment Of charges be made onl,
upon a hearing, and for just ane
reasonable cause. with the caus.
noted on the public record.
1t also was resolved that re-em.
phasis be laid on the Importance Of
motorists observing wartime drivine
rules and safety measures in the
interests OF conserving manpowel
and automotive materials.
In addition, a resolution approved
the present cooperation existing be-
tween the Metropolitan Police and
Army and Navy authorities in con-
nection with trafic and other Of
lenses. Inspector Arthur Miller oi
the Police Trafic Division said ex-
cept In serious cases. his department
was quite content to let the services
take care Of such cases "as q mat
ter Of form"
The conference was arranged by
the District Bar Association and
similar conferences have been held
IN cities throughout the country.
Boston U. Club to Meet
Members of the Boston University
Chlh ~ WaRhtn rtns, ,vi1I hoYa