Evening star., 1952-05-02
Nelson Asks Jaycees
To Push His 9-Point
Traffic, Parking Plan

Municipal Court Judge George
D. Nelson yesterday asked the
Junior Chamber Of Commerce to
get behind a nine-point program
he has drawn up to improve the
traffic and parking situation here
Judge Nelson outlined his sug-
geStions at a Junior Chamber
luncheon in the Burlington Hotel
He declared:
My only aim is to save human
life and conserve property on our
highways. We need the co-opera-
ton of every single person in this
city"
Wants Stronger Laws.
The judges nine-point program
l. Creation of underground park
ing lots downtown and establish
ment Of more off-street parking
lots.
2. Establishment of stronger
safety responsibility laws.
3. Establishment of an unsatis-
fed judgment fund in the District.
4. Enactment of a bill prescrib-
ing the weight to be given to evil
dence Of tests of alcohol in the
body.
S. Periodic re-examination Of
motor vehicle operators.
6. Compulsory attendance at
Traffic School before a person
could get first permit
z. Opening of Traffic School to
all citizens on a voluntary basis.
8. Broadening of driver training
In the high schools.
9. Adoption of an intensive edu-
cational traffic safety program.
Judge Nelson suggested that
Franklin Park be considered for
the first underground parking lot.
He said that 1000 automobiles
could be accommodated there
without destroying the beauty of
the park.
Il think underground parking
is worthy of serious consideration
in Washington" he declared. I'VE
talk a lot; we give out tickets:
I fine them. It is time we did
something about it"
1O9,695 Tickets in Year.
He pointed out that, last year,
109,695 people got tickets for
parking Illegally.
Their greatest crime was that
they couldn't find a place to park
their cars" he said. 1T is high
time that some one cried to high
heaven for assistance for the
motorist."
He cited successful operation of
underground parking lots in Cali
fornia as proof that it is a prac-
tical plan.
He also suggested a new survey
OF possible sites for parking lots.
He commented that there are sew
eral slum areas in the downtown
section that would make fine off,
street parking places and would
not be missed by the city.
Judge Nelson said the District
needs a law with teeth" regard
ing insurance coverage of auto
mobiles. However. he said he
opposes compulsory insurance for
vehicles. He cited New York
State law that requires that own
ers Of cars in an accident who do
not have insurance must post
security or lose their automobile
tags and drivers permits. The re-
suit. he said, is that 95 per cent
Of the drivers in the State have
insurance.
Suggests Judgment Fund.
To cover the gap left in such a
situation. he suggested the crea-
tion Of unsatisfied judgment
fund. Each motorist would be
assessed a small sum when he
registered his car-say 81. Persons
who failed to pay judgments
against them in accident cases
would lose their tags and permits.
The injured party would collect
from the fund. The guilty party
could never drive again or own
car until he had made good the
money to the fund.
Concerning periodic re-exami-
nation Of drivers permits, Judge
Nelson said it doesn't make
sense" to issue a permit for life.
He suggested re-examination every
10 years as a means of eliminating
those whose driving ability has
become impaired seriously.