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Show Impound the Automobile Where Reckless Driving- Has Been Proved By GEORGE M. GRAHAM, Representing the Automobile Industry. THE automobile is a benefit to civilization. It must not be converted con-verted into a menace by the small minority of owners, less than 5 per cent, who do not drive considerately. The man who cannot drive carefully has no right on the highway. Neither has his car. We believe that fines have but small efficiency as a punishment for reckless driving. The suspension and revocation of licenses are much more effective. Jail sentences are better still. Finally the use of the highways should be granted only to those who use a car wisely and fairly. Our plan calls for the impounding of cars, where, after due process of law, the offense of reckless driving has been proven. We believe that the minimum should be at least sixty days and that the period of impounding should be extended according to the seriousness of the offense. The automobile industry recommends this additional penalty. Massachusetts statistics have shown that 30 per cent of 500 motor car fatalities resulted from "driving too fast for conditions." Statistics also show that about 10 per cent of the accidents followed the driving of a car by an intoxicated person. The fear of God must be put into the murdering criminals who cause such accidents. Ve believe that our suggestion of impounding is feasible. It will reach many minor offenses for which juries now hesitate to impose jail sentences. We have not taken this step without carefully checking the legal side. It is part of police practice to confiscate that which is used to the detriment of the public We constantly see police taking away murderous murder-ous weapons, gambling devices, drugs, alcoholic liquors, and the vehicle in which they are conveyed. We believe that even under present law our suggestion is legal. If not, we shall recommend the' enactment by all the legislatures of law3 which will make our impounding plan possible. Our plan does not comprise the establishment of municipal pounds. We suggest one or two things: First, that the car should be impounded in the garage of the owner with police seals attached. Second, that the car should be impounded, at the owner's expense, in a public garage, with police seals attached. In either case, the car could not be returned to service until the police had removed the seals. We believe that many an offender who scorns a fine would be chastened by the temporary loss of his car. |