Evening star., 1953-02-19
Point System
For Drivers
Starts March |
Traffic Violation
Plan Seen Aiding
District Motorists
By John v. Horner

A plan known as the point
system" will be used in Wash
ington after March / to help
motorists improve their driving
habits and enhance the pros
poets Of safety.
BaSically. the idea is to keep
motorist informed Of their traffic
tranSgressions so they will take
greater care to hold on to driving
permits.
The point system will be adj
ministered by the District Traf-
flc Departments new Driver I'm
provement Section. This agency
replaces what was called the
Board Of Revocation and Res
toration of Operators Permits.
For every traffic offense that
comes to the attention of the
police, the motorist will receive
demerits in proportion to the
seriousness of his violation.
These points will be entered on
his traffic record.
Three-POint Warning.
If a driver accumulates three
points, he will receive a warning
from the Driver Improvement
Section.
All drivers who accumulate five
points will be called in for a
conference with department Off
cials. Those who get eight points
automatically have their permits
suspended. (The initial suSpen-
sion period will last from two to
Is days, but subsequent suspen-
sions will be from Is to 80 days)
Drivers who accumulate IL
points will have their permits
revoked.
Points will be scored for all
offenSes occurring on or after
March /, but will not be entered
for offenses before that date.
Three years after a point is
scored, it will be removed from
the record. Thus, it will not
burden the improved driver after
that.
Safe Driving Is Keynote.
"It is not the policy of the
department to take away per-
mits unnecessarily" said Traffic
Director George E. Keneipp. 1--WE
realize a persons operators per-
NIT means great deal to him.
Our policy, therefore, is to per-
NIT him to drive so long as his
record shows he is driving
safely.
THE department has no al
tentative but to take his permit
away when it appears on the
record that he is not a safe
driver.
Whenever possible, the de-
partment will point out to
driver that his record is getting
bad, so he will have a chance to
drive better and continue to keep
his privilege of driving"
Under the point system, the
department will score IL points
- automatic revocation - for
these serious charges:
/. Conviction of negligent
homicide, manslaughter or as
sault by automobile.
2. Driving under influence of
intoxicating liquor or narcotics
drugs.
3. Leaving after colliding,
where personal injury is in
volved.
Can't Lend Permit.
4. Lending or altering a per-
NIT.
5. Obtaining or attempting to
obtain a permit by misrepresen-
tation.
6. Operating after suspension
or revocation.
Z. Physically, mentally or
morally unqualified.
8. Reckless driving, with per-
sonal injury.
The plan calls for seven points
to be scored in these cases:
/. Speeding more than 40
miles per hour above legal limit.
2. Violations contributing to
accidents with collateral forfeit
ure or fine amounting to $75 or
over.
Six points will be scored for:
/. Violations contributing to
accidents with collateral for
feiture or fine amounting to
from $50 to $74.
Five-POint Cases.
Five points will be scored in
the following cases:
1. Failure to report accident.
2. Leaving after colliding, with
no personal injury.
3. Reckless driving, with no
personal injury.
4. Violations contributing to
accidents with collateral for
feiture or fine amounting to
from $25 to $40.
Four points will be scored for:
/. Speeding more than 20 miles
per hour over the legal limit.
Three points will be entered
under these conditions:
/. Speeding 10 to 20 miles per
hour above the limit or for un-
reasonable speed.
2. Violations contributing to
accidents with collateral for
feiture or fine amounting to less
than $25.
Two points will be scored for:
/. Passing red traffic light or
stop sign.
One-POint Case.
One point will be scored for:
/. Any moving violation not
listed above and not contributing
to an accident.
For convictions and pleas of
guilty in other jurisdictions.
points comparable to the District
schedule will be assigned at the
discretion Of the director.
Mr.. Keneipp said the point
scale may be revised as expert
ence requires. Any item that
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