Evening star., 1952-12-03
City Approves Point
system 10 Control
Motoring Permits

The Connecticut point method
of suspending and revoking drivers
permits will go into effect here
on March /.
I The Commissioners approved
this method of evaluating traffic
offenSeS with relation to the driv-
ing privilege in a unanimous deci-
sion yesterday. The proposal had
been pending nearly a year.
Under the new setup, each
traffic violation will be given a
point value, depending on its
seriousness. With the accumula-
ton of eight points, the drivers
permit can be suspended. Twelve
points means revocation.
4 Recommendations of the Citi-
zens' Advisory Council were fol-
lowed down-the-line by the Com
missioners. except for the mech
anism for appeals. The city heads
want to look more closely into this.
1 Meanwhile, the present method
/ OF having two members of the
present permit board sitting on
the Appeals Board, with one of
the Commissioners administrative
assistants. will apply.
Point ratings will be given only
for moving violations. At the end
of each three-year period, the
slate is wiped clean and the point
count starts all over again for
each motoriSt.
Appeal to Commissioners.
With the accumulation of three
points, the Vehicles and Traffic
Department sends out warning
letters. Five points means a con-
ference with hearing officers.
Within the five-day period be-
tween suspension notice and ef-
fective date, the motorist may
request hearing during which
possible mitigating circumstances
may be raised.
Whatever the intermediate steps
to be decided by the Commission
ers, motorists appeals from hear
ing officers ultimately will wind
up in the Commissioners laps.
The city heads also decided to
go along with the advisory coun-
ellis three-pronged administrative
recommendation to try to stand
ardize, among police precincts, the
amount of collateral required to
be posted; to instruct police to
exercise a reasonable" degree of
leniency where speed violations
are only slight, or where speeding
results from generally rapid
movement of traffic, and to exer-
else considerable care in selecting
hearing officers with a judicial
point of view"
Point Values.
The table of point values fol-
lows:
Failing to give proper signal or
any moving violation not listed
and not contributing to an acci-
lent, l point.
Passing red light or stop sign,
2 points.
Violations contributing to acci-
dents with collateral forfeiture or
fine amounting to under $25, 3
points; $25 to $40, inclusive, S
points; $50 to STA, inclusive, 6
points. and $75 or over, 7 points.
Speeding, 10 to 20 miles per hour
over legal speed. or unreasonable
speed, 3 points; speeding more
than 20 miles per hour over legal
speed, 4 points, and speeding more
than 40 miles per hour over legal
speed. 7 points.
Failure to report accident, 5
points.
Leaving after colliding, no per-
sonal injury, S points; with per-
Sonal injury, IL points.
Reckless driving with no in
jury, 5 points; personal injury. II
points.
Ten points each for operating
after suspension or revocation, OBJ
tanning or attempting to obtain q
permit by Misrepresentation.
physically. mentally or morally
unqualified: loaning or altering a
permit, negligent homicide or
manslaughter conviction or as
Isault by automobile: driving un-
der the influence of intoxicating
liquor or narcotic drugs.
For convictions and signed
pleas Of guilty certified to the
District by other Jurisdictions,
points comparable to the District
schedule would be assigned in
the discretion of the traffic di-