Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-03-09

The reports.on the transporta-
ton system here to the Payne
Subcommittee today were divided
into various sets of recommends
tons. All the recommendations
were based on the Williams re-
port to the Commissioners on
how to improve the service here.
The Commissioners comments
to the Senate committee were
mainly on the principles involved.
The Public Utilities Commission
and the Capital Transit Co. were
more specific in their comments
on other recommendations.
Here are the highlights Of the
recommendations and the COM
mentS:
l. "Strict enforcement of traf-
fic regulations by extensive use
of selective enforcement"
District Commissioners re-
ply: "Selective enforcement is
now in effect in the District along
standards prescribed by the Ma
tional Safety Council and the
Northwestern University Traffic
Institute"
Transit Co.: Agreed with this
recommendation and all the re-
naming, except where noted.
2. Expanded tow-away and
impounding Of vehicles Of park
ing violators."
Commissioners: 1.-THE Metro
politan Police Department now
uses four cranes to tow away the
vehicles of parking violators. Lack
of police parking lot capacity,
however, has curtailed the i'm
pounding of certain vehicles. In
many cases, the vehicle Illegally
parked is towed frem a major to
a minor street and ticketed. Steps
are being taken to increase the
number of tow-cranes and ex-
pand the tow-away operation to
all-day rather than limiting it
to morning and evening peak
hours"
3. Increased fines for traffic
and parking violations which
block the movement Of traffic"
Commissioners: Fines for
parking violations on arterials
during peak hours already have
been increased from IS to $40.
The minimum collateral which
can be posted for these violations
has been established by Munich
pal Court and the imposition of
a fine for violators standing trial
is entirely within the province of
the court.
4. Qualification of the exist
ing traffic laws and greater back
ing by the courts"
Commissioners: The Commits
sioners are aware of the need
for clarifying and simplifying
existing traffic laws and have
initiated study for determin-
ing the effectiveness of various
regulations"
IS Prohibition of the stand
ing OF commercial vehicles dou-
ble-parked, blocking other traf-
fic while loading and unloading
on downtown and arterial
streets"
Commissioners: 1.-THE Com
misSioners have sent for q copy
of the Denver ordinance con-
trolling the loading and unload
ing activities on downtown
streets. It will be studied in or
der to determine its applicable
ity to the District"
A0AAtAOAIdl VI QOh Cu1 " 1OdAs
ing zones and enlargement of
existing zones and requiring all
commercial vehicles to stand
parallel and within. IL inches of
the curb while loading and un-
loading"
Commissioners: Commercial
loading zones are already under
continuing surveys. Changes
are made in accordance with the
requirements Of both moving
traffic and business establish
ments. Special consideration is
being given to the possibility of
adopting an ordinance which
would prohibit loading and I'M
loading except from q position
parallel to the curb: angle park
ing would be by special permit
issued by the Director of We
hicles and Traffic and limited to
specific hours when congestion
Is at a minimum"
az. Ban all parking Of private
automobiles on transit streets in
the concentrated and congeSted