Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-03-01

PClu1AStC0 u1AdCl tCSASioUAO1 oShS
today.
The bill, by Arlington Delega
gate Frank P. Moncure and o
day, 80 to 10, after a lively de-
bate.
Removed from the bill, how
ever, was provision that per-
sons applying for permits would
have informed the Division of
Motor Vehicles whether they
would agree to take the tests. If
they had agreed. their permits
would have been stamped to in
dictate their consent.
This was the most objection
able part of the bill and caused
the most debate. Delegate Robert
Whitehead. who objected to this
feature, said:
tive never taken a drink of
hard liquor in my life, but I
don't want any such presump-
tive evidence cluttering up my
license"
Freezes Choice
He, like others, argued that
once the consent were given at
the time of application for a
license. there could be no choice
by the driver in the event Of
subsequent arrest.
Other features of the bill, as
explained by Mr.. Mann. are that
anyone accused of driving while
drunk could request, within two
hours after arrest, that he be
given a chemical test to de-
termine the amount of alcohol
in his blood. Failure to make
such a request could not be used
as evidence against him.
Standards for alcoholic con-
tent of the blood would be these:
If less than .05 of l per cent
of alcohol, the presumption
would be that the accused was
not under the influence; if be-
tween .05 and Is of per cent,
there would be no presumption
either way, and the trial would
be based on other evidence; if
there was is of / per cent or
more, the presumption would be
that he was under the influence.
Defeated by voice vote was an
amendment that would have
made the presumption of inno-
cence for persons with less than
Is of / per cent.
Requested by Governor
Mr.. Mann said the bill had
been requested by Gov. Stanley
and his Highway Safety Com
mittee.
The Senate today received a
Code Commission bill with an
amendment by Alexandria Dele
gate James M. Thomson to pro-
vide that the Civil and Police
Court Judge in his city be ap-
pointed by the judges of the
Corporation Courts.
The legislation originally was
designed to place the selection
of courts throughout Virginia on
a uniform basis. One result
would be to change the method
of naming the Arlington County
Court Judge from popular cleo
ton to appointment by the Cir
cult Court judges.
Mr.. Thomson said he offered
the amendment to make Alex
andria's judge appointive at the
request of the two Corporation
Court judges and one of the
Civil and Police Court judges.
Poll Tax Bill Passed
The Senate passed the bill of
Senator M. M. Long of Wise
requiring a treasurer to accept
poll tax payments from any in
dividual and to certify him as q
qualified voter even though the
tax previously had been paid
for him by some other person.
This bill grew out of a situa-
ton in Lee County, where Re-
publican treasurer refused to
certify the qualifications Of some
$50 Democrats on the ground
their poll taxes had been paid in
bloc. Under this bill, an individ-
ual voter could not be disqual-
flied if he paid his taxes in per-
son, despite payments made for
him by others.
Another measure approved and
sent to the House would prevent
Maryland and Virginia law en-
forcement officers from chasing
oyster and fishing boats into the
territorial waters of the other
State while enforcing Potomac
River conservation laws.