ARE TO CANCEL AUTO PERMITS AS USUAL

Washington Times
December 25, 1922 Home Edition

Return of Some for Christmas Does Not Mean Let-up on Intoxicated, Oyster Says.

Although the spirit of Christmas resulted in the District Commissioners restoring automobile permits to thirty-four persons, the Commissioners' policy of revoking licenses of persons convicted of driving a machine while drunk will continue.

Commissioner James F. Oyster, in charge of police, said today that those who had got their permits back had been given a lesson.

"However, I don't want it to appear that the Commissioners intend to let up in the revocation of permits," said the Commissioner.  "Persons who at the risk of the lives of citizens drive an automobile while intoxicated will receive no consideration from the Commissioners.  Their permits will be revoked upon conviction, and this revocation will be for an indefinite period."

Capt. Oyster pointed out that at the Commissioners' meeting on Saturday the Commissioners refused to restore permits to a number of persons.

"In several cases the records of men show that they were flagrant violators of the law, some of them having been convicted twice for driving under the influence of liquor," he said.  "We turned down the recommendations that these men get their permits back.

"I don't know of anything more dangerous than a drunken man driving an automobile through the city streets.  He not only endangers his own life but the life of every person who comes in his way."

The Commissioner said that most of the thirty-four who got their permits back had been deprived of them for more than six months.  Additional permits will be given back the latter part of the week, it was said.