Evening star., 1947-05-20
Senate Unit Expected
Ito Indorse Bill for
Drunk Driving Tests

The Districts rising highway &C,
eident toll may bring new weapor
against drunken driving in the form
Of compulsory chemical tests fol
.intoxication.
A favorable report on bill spon.
sored by the Commissioners and thu
District Health Department fol
blood, breath and urine analyses fol
the accused driver is expected tt
come soon from the Public Service
Subcommittee Of the Senate Dis.
trict Committee.
District officials and civic leader,
joined in q hearing late yesterday
to tell Of sharp rises in the highway
toll, of the merits of the new scien.
tific tests for drunkenness and OIL
loopholes In the city's present means
OF enforcing drunken driving bans
There was no opposition.
Endorsed by McGrath.
Senator McGrath, Democrat, o1
Rhode Island, head OF the subcom-
mittee, said the bill appears to be
a very good proposal" Senator
Capper, Republican, Of Kansas, an
other member, was sympathetic. A
third member, Senator Sparkman
Democrat, Of Alabama, said he
wanted to study the record but
thought it likely the bill would get
a favorable report.
senator KEN. Rebupliean, d
Missouri The fourth member, coulc
not attend the hearing and viii
receive q transcript of the testi-
Trafsc Director George E. Ken
eipp told the subcommittee acct
dents here involving drunken
drivers in the first three months OF
this year increased more than 81
per cent over the same period oi
1916. Suspensions and revocations
of driver licenses, he said, increased
223 per cent over the first quarter
Of last year. =
Because Of difficulties of obtaining
convictions under present law, Mr.
Keneipp said. many drunken drivers
here now are charged with lesser OF
other violations, such as reckless
driving, and thus escape the full
intent Of the law, including revoca.
ton of permits of drunken drivers
The District, he said, is quite
helpless" as to a license revocation
unless the driver is convicted ir
court. In addition to borderlins
cases, he said, convictions are diff.
cult now because some defendent!
use false evidence" to build success.
full defenses such as claims of beinf
under the influence OF insulin Of
other medicine, instead Of drink.
Tests mot Experimental"
Even 50, In the past two years o.
employment of chemical tests on ,
voluntary basis, cases OF drunker
driving have about doubled, he re
ported.
Support for the legislation cam,
from DR.. Oscar B. Hunter, path
ologist, an expert witness in drunken
driving cases, who serves as q con
sultant to the District. He gave tn,
subcommittee an explanation o
various chemical tests. declaring
these have been conclusively provet
in practical use.
Police Inspector Arthur E. Miller
in charge of the trafiic division, sub
mitted reports showing that, during
the last II months, SIS drivers
pedestrians and passengers velun'
tarily submitted to chemical test
for drunkenness. Seven drivers &C.
cused Of intoxication refused tn,
tests.
Health Of1icer George C. Rutland
Commissioner John Russell Yount
and Corporation Counsel Vernon E
West were among other witnesses
Pleas for enactment also came from
Mrs. George Thorpe, chairman O.
the Women's Safety Division Of tn,
American Automobile Association
Washington I. Cleveland, director o.
the District Chaptef Of the AAA
M. o. Eldridge. former trafic direc.
tor; Norman Young, chief chemis
of the Health Department, ant
Inspector Walter II. Thomas, actinf
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