Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-10-05
Car Seizure Urged
In Traffic Violations
Judge Nelson
Asks Study Of
Stiff Penalties

Stiff FenuIfieS
Municipal Judge George ..
Nelson recommended today that
automobiles be impounded to
penalize drivers guilty Of serious
violations In moving traffic.
Reporting for q subcommittee
of the Commissioners and Gov.
errors Conference on Metropolis
tan Washington Traffic Prob
lens. Judge Nelson proposed q
thorough study to determine
whether penalties for trafic vio-
lations are stiff enough.
The impounding Of automo-
biles was one Of the more strik.
ing suggestions advanced at the
fourth annual conference on
traffic problems IN the District,
nearby Maryland and Virginia.
AS chairman Of the conference
committee on courts, Judge
Walter M. Bastian Of the United
States Court Of Appeals, reported
p so per cent increase In fines
collected here In the first year
of the Districts Traffic Violations
Bureau.
100000 Trafiic Tickets
Judge Bastian disclosed that in
the year. ending August 10, the
bureau collected q total Of $772,-
|901. and handled 100000 trafic
tickets. ),
In contrast. in the preceding
year. the total collected from
violators was 475.000. Judge
Bastian said the number Of
traffic cases decreased about
10000 since the new bureau
opened.
Many Of these were cases In
which the party elected at the
precinct to 60 to court, and re-
Iquired the issuance of papers
and the appearance Of a police
Officer. Then the party would
fail to appear in court and
cause the time Of the court to
lbe taken up In calling for his
appearance and there was the
subsequent forfeiture in open
court on the collateral"
5-. 3
Has 10000 Records
The bureau now has records
lof traffic violations in the
District of about 1l9.000 persons
who reside in the District, Mary
land, Virginia and other States.
These records are readily avail
able to traffic court judges.
For the first time in the his.
tory Of the District q full &C.
counting Is available of every
ticket issued here, according to
1.-THE report. It was stated that
lpolice precincts Withdrew 9,135
tickets out Of a total Of 29l, SIS
issued by police officers.
The report recommended that
Juvenile traffic violators should
'Ebe required to attend traffic
school or proper, driver training
]courses. or both. at the discre-
ition Of the court.
| In recommending q study to
determine whether penalties for
traffic violations are stiff enough,
Judge Nelson's subcommittee
said inconsistent and uncertain
penalties hamper enforcement.
Should Know Penalty
Automobile drivers, it was
said. should be given some idea
of the punishment within rea-
sonable variations, that the
courts mete out regardless of q
change in judges.
| His report also urged that all
Jurisdictions in the area use
chemical tests In drunk driving
cases and that efforts be made
for the passage Of legislation
making the test reports accepts
liable in court.
Another recommendation ia
vored legislation in Maryland
for a motor vehicle inspection
program. It was stated that
Maryland has become q Dump
ling ground for cars which can
not pass tests.
Keneipp Reports
George E. Keneipp, director
Of vehicles and traffic for the
District, suggested to the meet
ing that road tests given drivers
might initially be held of the
streets. He said that some peo-
pie take the road test before
they are, ready and that his de-
partment has had occasion for
some concern as a result Of
these cases.
His committee-on driver Ii
censing and vehicle inspection
recommended that drivers liz
censes issued by foreign govern
ments and military and naval
posts not be accepted without
giving standard road tests.
Additional reports were given
Iby J. N. Robertson. District di-
rector of highways, for the Conn
lmittee on TRAFFIC Improvement:
A. Julian Brylawski, commissions
lers' Traffic Advisory Board, for
the Committee on Traffic Safety
Education, and Col. John E.