LAW ENFORCEMENT

Evening Post, Volume CXIX, Issue 134, 8 June 1935, Page 30

LAW ENFORCEMENT

POLICE AND SPEED LIMITS

The, rumpus in England over the limitation of speed has attracted worldwide attention and among other entrants into the controversy is a Californian, who writes to "The Motor" Vith a particular word to say anent trapping. [ ' '

"With some 2,021,000 registered cars here (California) we have been through the trapping mill—and licked it to a fair finish. In the early days our two motoring groups—The California Automobile Association and The Southern Californian Automobile Club —came to the rescue by offering to all members and, finally, to any motorist receiving a trapping citation, to go into court for him and fight it out at the club's expense. After a few cases went to the higher Courts trapping methods were radically changed. Now, the officer is mounted—usually on a motor-cycle—and he must follow you, clock your speed, and cite you at the time. .With , a stop-watch speedometer this makes the evidence conclusive and the law fair.

"Our speeds here are apparently more rigid than ift England. They are: 15 m.p.h. in metropolitan areas, 25 m.p.h. jn residential areas, and 45 m.p.h. on the open road, with 15 m.p.h. at all major intersections." Practically all the American States have varying speed limits, some more severe, some less than others. America quite recognises the necessity, of speed •limitation, and practically nowhere is ; there ah unlimited area. Speed on the open road in Britain is unrestricted; not so iri'Amefica. In,some of the States it is>set. as low ,as 35.miles an hour, and a national; conference with the object ■of r arriving at; uniformity has set the maximum to ;be aimed at no higher than 45 trniles an hour. I So far as trapping is concerned no doubt £ motorists by: combined : action might beat: the system. It. is .questionable, however, if the California's assertion applies other than to-the open road: 'One cannot picture either. Los 'Angeles or the San Francisco; and Oakland areas as being scenes of "speed cop" pursuits, nor: indeed any other centre of population in the' State.' One can visualise a chase by a speed cop* here on the Hutt Road, but not one'anywhere say between Thorndon and Island Bay, or Seatoun; A chase up Lambton Quay .would set the whole of Wellington agog; every tongue would be wagging and weeks would pass before one heard the last of it. Such a chase.in San Francisco,, or for that matter any city in America, would mean gangsters, not speedsters. The traffic courts of America are ofteivfull to overflowbg, but they, are not filled by "speed cops." For one person who has been chased there are dozens—indeed hundreds—who have merely been stopped and served with a piece of paper.