Traffic Court USA (1956)

[Music] you are charged with exceeding the speed limit in a residential area by 15 miles per hour how do you plead guilty or not guilty guilty your honor [Music] traffic court in terms of its influence upon our people in their respect for the law perhaps the most important court in the land each year through their appearance in traffic court millions of our citizens gain their sole opportunity for personal contact with our judicial system and perhaps their best chance as they witness the adjudication of offenses against state or local traffic laws to strengthen their respect for and pride in American justice in all states modern properly conducted traffic courts can mean better observance of the traffic laws and thus greater safety on the other hand an antiquated or poorly conducted court undermines the enforcement program the violator for example may fail to realize the gravity of his offence the horse-and-buggy court breeds disrespect for the law and for the administration of justice in all courts consider the so called police court conducted amid dreary surroundings in disorderly style or even the Municipal Court that looks upon the heavy burden of traffic cases as an unimportant but necessary evil one let's study the other side of the picture a properly conducted court exerting a strong effect in promoting traffic safety this is a court those judges are properly qualified for the job either as members of the bar or as laymen who passed suitable examinations this is a court conducted with the quorum a court that recognizes the need for continuous in-service training to help prepare both its judges and prosecutors for more capable discharge of their respective responsibilities through conferences or seminars were there any legal aspects of strict enforcement of our traffic are explored in short a court with cases intelligently and expeditiously handled based on a streamlined modern court system operating under efficient rules and procedures one of these is the adoption of the uniform traffic ticket which is a model recommended for all states a numbered ticket signed and sworn to by the arresting officer with one copy for the court serving as the complaint copies to other agencies concerned and the last copy for the traffic violator thus requiring that the disposition of each ticket be a matter of public record this helps to stop ticket fixing now let's see how such a court system works citizen housewife Jane Doe has received a ticket for overtime parking the uniform traffic ticket notifies her that this being a non-hazardous violation she may waive her right to a court hearing by delivering this summons to a traffic court violations Bureau pleading guilty and paying a fine according to a schedule set by the court thus in certain non moving violations the Bureau saves the time of both the court and the driver but citizen John Doe has been arrested for speeding a dangerous offense that compels his personal appearance in court tell you to appear on the day and time noted on the ticket would result in prompt issuance and serving of a warrant but John Doe does appear pleads guilty and after his offense is described and previous offenses noted by the court receives a penalty he may also decide at the courts suggestion to attend a traffic court school conducted under supervision of the court where he and his fellow traffic violators are schooled in traffic laws and the importance of obeying them meanwhile the conviction is reported to the state motor vehicle department to be noted on John doles individual driver record adoption of the uniform traffic ticket establishment of a violations Bureau and a traffic court school and jurisdictions where the volume of cases warrant all part of an efficient streamlined administration of justice today it is time for America to take a new and courageous look at many of its traffic courts time for every state to modernize these courts in pace with our pyramiding problem of highway safety your interest and support are needed for that job your interest as a good citizen your support expressed through the activities of state and community organizations to which you belong target for tomorrow a modern traffic court system in every state ensuring prompt and fair administration of our traffic laws a major factor in obtaining compliance with the traffic laws are helping to instill in the public respect for the law thereby taking another step in the action program for traffic safety