Evening star., 1946-08-17
keneipp 10 Offer Plan
OF Permit Suspensions
For Action Next Week


For Action Next Week
Short-tine permit suspension
would be meted out to motorists con.
victed Of passing red lights, failing
to give the right-of-way to pedes.
trians and violating other traffic
laws, under a plan Traffic Director
George E. Keneipp said yesterday
he will present to the Commissioner
for approval early mex, week.
This was announced at a meet.
ing of Police traffic officials with
Mr. Keneipp to discuss the progress
of the new, stricter policy against
traffic law violators.
Mr.. Keneipp, who will go before
the Commissioners next Tuesday
to review the Districts entire trafiic
problem, said he also plans two
other moves to ale viate the situa-
ton: Conferences with the city's
cab companies and drivers, and with
the safety directors of all govern
ment departments.
Five Per Cent Troublesome.
More than 100 traffic policemen
heard Mr.. Keneipp's review OF the
traffic situation yesterday, as did
Inspector Arthur E. Miller, Capt.
william C. Cunningham, of the
Traffic Division, and 1t. William
j. Liverman, head of the Accident
Investigation Unit.
THE trouble lies with less than 5
per cent of the Districts drivers" !"
Mr.. Keneipp told the traffic enforce
ment men. THE rest of the drivers
are safe and have nothing to worry
about. But we, once and for all,
will rid our streets of irresponsible
drivers. You and I will work con-
stantly to this end"
Mr.. Keneipp, referring to COM
plants that policemen spend too
much time issuing parking tickets
when they ought to be watching for
more serious traffic violations. said:
1T is criminal negligence to park
q car near an intersection or stop
sign. Keep on giving tickets to those
who park in violation of the law"
RELENTLESS Drive"
This is not a drive which will
peter out soon," the traffic director
said. This is a continuous, relent-
less drive which will end when peo-
pie drive safely in this town. I
appeal to you as husband and IA
thers to enforce the law.
Il have three kids of my own, and
some of you have children" he told
the traffic policemen. I'VE don't
want anything to happen to them"
He said installation of stop signs
and traffic lights is not the solution
to the accident problem here, ac-
centuated in recent weeks by the
Arnold Lines bus plunge August Q
and the crash at Fourteenth and
New York avenue NV. last week in
which two died. "If putting in stop
signals would stop accidents" he
said, I'VE would install them at
every corner in Washington at
once"
IL Speeders Arrested.
The Traffic Division reported that
In the 24-hour period from am,
yesterday to 8 am. today, II speed
ers were arrested, five of whom were
accused of going 40 miles or more
an hour. Approximately 100 motor
lists now face temporary suspension
of the licenses for exceeding 40 miles
an hour. a
There were also 18 accidents in the
24-hour perior. in which 10 persons
were injured, none seriously.
Meanwhile, figures showed that
the number of motorists arrested for
traffic violations recently increased,
and officials attribute the rise in
such arrests to the campaign.
Released by Inspector Miller. the
figures showed that during the week
of August 9 to August Is, total of
3,174 arrests for traffic violations
were made. as against 1897 during
the week of August 2 to August 8,
when the District accident rate
reached alarming proportions.
Arrest Figures Released.
During the August 9-15 period,
Traffic Division men made 1900 ar
rests, with other precincts making up
the rest.
In the week of July to July Is,
a comparative period last month,
1923 arrests were made. The av-
erage number arrested in the first
seven months of 1916 was 10000
month, officials said.
No persons have been killed SO far
this week as against three for last
week, and three for the week of
July %. the report stated. So far
this week there were 81 persons in
jured, as against 109 last week and
122 for the week of July %, "ob-
viously big Drop" according to
an official
Inspector Miller and 1t. Liver
man both pledged that there would
be no letup in the new strict policy
against traffic law violations.
In response to a question as to
whether the Police Department was
well supplied with copies of the
traffic regulations, Inspector Miller
said there was a sufficient quantity
of the Digest of Regulations or
hand. This booklet, he explained
contained the more important reg.
ulations. He said, however, thai
their supply of Part I of the Traffic
Regulations, containing all the reg.
ulations, was short, but that h,
had been told by Mr.. Keneipp &
new supply was now being printed
which would contain all change,
since 194l. 1t is scheduled for quicl
delivery, the inspector said.
2,8l0 Forfeit Funds.
In the traffic branch of Municipal
Court, where officials said they hac
noticed no unusual press of bust.
ness" during the campaign, collat.
eral furnished by those arrested fol
traffic violations totaled $21 ,608 ir
the last seven days, of which
sl8.737 eventually went into Govern.
ment Golfers through fines and for.