Evening star., 1946-02-19
Drunken Driving Test
Bill Backed by Local
AAA Advisory Board

Unanimous Endorsement of a bill
to provide for chemical tests for
persons arrested in the District for
drunken driving and other offenses
was voted yesterday by the District
of Columbia Advisory Board of the
American Automobile Association.
The action was taken at the
boards meeting at the Mayflower
Hotel after the group voted recon-
mendation of the following proposed
amendment to the bill-H. r. 5406-
now before the House:
"The result of the analysis by
the employe of the Health De-
partment shall, upon request, be
furnished the person from whom
the specimen was taken, or his
attorney"
A prediction that such chemical
tests as are embodied in the bill
will soon be in very common use'
throughout the country was made
by DR.. Oscar B. Hunter, member
of the boards legislative commit
tee and pioneer in the field of scien-
tiflc testing for alcohol in the
human system.
Cites Benefit to Innocent.
In advocating passage of the bill
DR.. Hunter emphasized that one OF
its most beneficial effects would be
"exonerating of the innocent as
well as accusing the guilty"
Traffic Inspector Arthur E. Miller
Of the Police Department told the
meeting passage of the bill, which
provides for testing the blood, urine
and breath of those arrested, would
result in fourfold good.
First, he said, its passage would
strengthen the position of the Po-
lice Department with respect to
charges involving intoxication. II
also would require all judges to ac-
cept results of the tests as evidence
in court" would enable the Police
Department to lay down definite
rules to be followed in cases involv-
ing intoxication, and would provide
the department with means of get
ting the necessary facilities and per-
sonnel to conduct the tests, he
added.
Constitutional Says West.
Corporation Counsel Vernon E.
West said his Office had no doubt
about the bills constitutionality, and
pointed out that its enactment would
enable us to proceed in court with
out the aid of an expert to vouch
for the facts already shown by the
tests"
The board also adopted resolu-
ton calling for construction of a
transfer station in the vicinity OF
Barnel Circle as a means of reliev-
ing the serious congestion" in the
area almost entirely due to the
presence of the streetcar and bus
terminals in the center of the
circle.
The resolution recommended that
such station would be either above
or below ground, but all on one
level, entirely off the street, ano
capable of accommodating both
Capital Transit Co. and Washing
ton, Marlboro and Annapolis We.
hicles. 1t further stipulated that
the major part of the cost should
be borne by the transit companies
involved.
Boy Hero Gets Medal.
Walter B. Guy, board vice chair
man, presented the AAA's Dis
tinguished Service Award Medal te
James Wise, II, of 1909 North Cap.
itol street, for saving a 5-year- -olc
girl from serious accident" while
serving as a schoolboy patrolmar
last January 16.
The citation accompanying thu
medal said the boy, while on sta.
ton at North Capitol street anc
Randolph place. dashed into the
street with no thought of his own
safety" and pulled Beverly Heflin oi
1923 North Capitol street from the
path of an automobile.
Washington I. Cleveland, man.
ager of the District of Columbia
Motor Club of the AAA, reported
money was available for the pur-
chase of two automobiles to be used
in the program of driver education
and training in vocational schools