Evening star., 1946-08-24

wednesdays, thursdays and Fri
days. Hackers are cited to appear
on Mondays and Tuesdays.
1923 Licenses Suspended.
A total of 1913 suspensions and rev.
ocations were meted out during the
month, and 80 warnings were issued
Board attaches expect the figures to
be much higher for August and cur
rently are striving desperately to
keep abreast of their work.
One clerk is assigned to the task
of preparing notices to drivers cited
but recently all employees of the
office have been obliged to help in
this work because of the increased
business"
Mr.. Keneipp, virtually all-power-
full ruler of Washington drivers as
agent of the Commissioners, is q
firm believer in suspension ano
revocation as against fines in keep
ing permit-holders in line.
The taxicab driver, In danger o1
losing his means of livelihood, is
more likely to attempt to show
cause" why his permit should not
be suspended or revoked than the
ordinary driver. The latter, already
fined or having forfeited collateral
on an offense calling for suspension
or revocation, rarely thinks 1t worth
while to appear.
District Law Is Broad,
Mr.. Keneipp is proud of the law
which, used to its limits, permits
him to withhold a permit for vir-
tually any reason he sees fit. He
feels no remorse at having forced a
number of persons whom he con-
sidered potential menaces to safety
to move away from the Capital to
more lenient jurisdictions because
they needed automobiles in their
work.
1--WE have very broad law Mr.
Keneipp explains. 1T makes motor
vehicle administrators of many
States envious. They are powerless
to act against many unsafe drivers
who would be ruled unfit here
The work of Mr.. Keneipp and
others charged with responsibility
for traffic safety here was given
general approval yesterday by the
Highway and Bridges Traffic En-
forcement Committee of the Dis
trict Division, American Automo-
bile Association.
However, the committee went on
record unanimously as opposing
automatic suspension of motorists
permit for driving IS miles per hour
or passing through a red traffic
signal.
THE public will support and ap-
prove reasonable restrictions to curb
the dangerous driver. but it will not
support restrictions that are too
drastic" the committee commented.
Speed on Projects Urged.
The committee urged prompt con-
struction of all planned highway
and bridge projects, aimed at easing
congestion at Capital trouble spots,
and called for provision of adequate
off-street parking facilities in the
downtown area.
In other recommendations, 1t
asked for a program of driver edu-
cation in vocational and senior high
schools, legislation legalizing scien-
tif1c tests for intoxication, amend
ment of the District financial re-
sponsibility law to bring it in line
with the stricter requirements of
Maryland and Virginia and engi-
neering studies of all intersections
at which there have been five or
more traffic accidents during the
past year.
Meanwhile, police today reported
arrest of 81 persons for speeding
in the "a hours ending at 8 am.
Nineteen of the drivers were ac-
cused of speeds in excess Of 80 miles
per hour, and one was charged with
unreasonable speed"
Total speeding arrests since Au-
gust 7 stood at SCI, of which 292
were for speeds in excess of 80 miles
per hour. =,