Show I tEllS LETS STOP I KIDDING Lets Let's stop kidding ourselves s about traffic tragedies There is one prime fact act so so so often overlooked which overlooked which governs all traffic law enforcement As stated by Earl Campbell director director director di di- rector field organizations National National National Na Na- Safety Council during a speech he delivered at the Governors Governor's Governors Governor's Governors Governor's Gover Gover- nors nor's Safety Safely conference at Salt Lake City in July of this year the statement is this The judges and peace officers will cut tut the cloth to fit the pattern pattern pattern pat pat- tern the people prescribe I If you want sloppy enforcement and sloppy court procedure you will get just that Its up to the people selves which they want c efficient fi enl and effective enforcement or just mediocre work Let us lS examine some of the indications indications indications in in- we have of the peoples choice here in Utah There is great disparity in court procedures We Ve have had by way of illustration the following cases during the past two years Convicted Con- Con of manslaughter a person was wast t placed on probation while another person convicted of manslaughter manslaughter manslaughter man man- slaughter was sentenced to one year in jail the maximum and the judge stated that this was not enough A juvenile convicted of I manslaughter was sentenced to six months in jail while another juvenile juvenile juvenile ju ju- ju- ju venile convicted of a moving violation violation violation viola viola- tion following foll wing a fatal mishap was was ord ordered red to attend traffic school one night There are loopholes in some of our most important traffic laws For instance any person who has had his drivers driver's license suspended or revoked may under certain conditions have the license rein rein- stated for limited use There is strong evidence that such drivers are grossly abusing this special privilege Yet it is these drivers drivers- who lose their privilege to drive because of habitual negligence manslaughter run hit-run driving and the like like like- who constitute constitute tute the most dangerous group of drivers in the state The public is not realistic about traffic enforcement There is a great demand for a crusade and stepped up enforcement Utah enforcement enforcement enforcement en en- on all levels is currently currently currently cur cur- at the greatest peak in the states state's his history ory The tools for further further further fur fur- ther effort have not been provided of The tools are greater forces trained men It is safe to say that every law enforcement agency in inthe inthe inthe the State of Utah is currently subI substantially substantially sub sub- bel below nv the minimums established established established es es- es- es I through extensive research research research re re- re- re search on the e part of such such organ organ- as the International Association Association Asso Asso- of Chiefs of Police and I Asso-I the National Safety Council These are a very few illustrations illustrations illustrations picked at random but ut we feel that they illustrate Mr Campbell's Campbells Campbells Campbell's Camp Camp- bells bell's point It is the public itself which will command improved conditions conditions conditions con con- in Utah traffic We Ve have now killed persons our oui time all-time high far above the previous record of deaths and there is still over a half a month with the holidays and much dirty weather ahead in 1952 How Ho aroused is the public We Ve have one more excellent iU stra- stra tion Recently the Utah Safety Council through the medium of the press requested that interested interest interest- ed parties send post cards to the council giving opinions on a proposed proposed pro pro- posed construction project in the Salt Lake area It was also pointed out that an estimated persons persons persons per per- sons use the highway under discussion discussion discussion dis dis- dis- dis daily Being conservative we will estimate that one of every 35 persons using the highway read th the item when i it was vas published How many post cards did these 1000 persons submit Not one Yes lets let's stop kidding ourselves about traffic tragedies There is only one group in the state which can do an effective job That group is the great number of drivers drivers drivers ers and taxpayers in the state They can help belp in two ways The first of course is to mind their motor manners The second is to get mad tell jurists police officers and legislators what is wanted Ultimately Ultimately Ul Ul- there is no other Ul-I Ul tion You Mr and Mrs Utah can do this On the other hand you can sit back in your easy chair whip out a clean fresh score card and start counting the traffic ic dead again in 1953 But remember this tomorrow or next year or the next your own name may be added add ed to the list of traffic dead |