Newspaper Page Text
State Begins Crackdown On Drunken Drivers
A “hard-nosed crackdown”
on drunk driving went into
effect Sunday, Col. Ray Rope,
head of the State Department
of Public Safety, reported.
The new approach to the
problem means tliat no person
whose driver’s license is
suspended for the first time for
drunk driving will be able to
have it reinstated for at least
six months.
Heretofore, a person
convicted of driving while
under the influence of
intoxicants (DUI) could get his
driver’s license back within 30
days because of a loophole in
the law.
This procedure was allowed
despite the fact that state law
specifically says that the
license of a person convicted of
DUI will be suspended
automatically for one year.
More than 3,000 Georgians
last year had their driver’s
licenses revoked for a year
after DUI convictions, but
were out legally driving again
in 30 days.
As Pope began his drive to
ban drunk motorists from their
cars for a longer period of
time, it also was learned that a
three-year-old point-system
program aimed at getting other
unsafe drivers off the streets
has virtually been a failure.
“We’re simply not
suspending the number of
licenses that we did before the
program went into effect,”
State Patrol Capt. J.B. Dailey
said.
Under the new system,
motorists get points chalked up
against them for every traffic
violation—except for DUI,
which brings an automatic
license revocation.
If a driver gets 15 points
within a period of 18 months,
his license is suspended. He can
get six points for driving more
than 25 miles per hour over the
speed limit or for unlawfully
passing a school bus.
SNAPPER
Riding and Push
LAWN MOWERS
and TILLERS
—See Them at—
Crawford
Hardware
LYERLY
RE-ELECT
EARL
“BILL”
SELF
SOLID AND DEPENDABLE AS
THE N. GEORGIA MOUNTAINS
TENNESSEE
Bill Self hos ।
served the people i
of the Lookout »
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Circuit in his pres- । i V CAMB
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ent office for the si
past 19 years. He be- $ i
lieves in fearless **
and determined * ।
prosecution of law ।
violators, but with »Wp PAID POL ADV
fair play for all and paid for by
malice toward none. earl urn .elf
Other examples arc four
points for improper passing on
a hill or curve and three points
for driving 10 to 25 miles per
hour over the speed limit or
disobeying a traffic officer.
Some lesser offenses carry a
two-point punishment.
Dailey said that in
1968—the last full year before
the point system went into
effect---there were 2,734
driver’s licenses suspended for
moving violations other than
DUI.
In 1970 there were only
607 such license suspensions
under the point system. Last
year there were 731.
Under the old system,
Dailey said, a driver's license
was suspended if he had two
moving violations within a 12
month period.
Under the point system,
motorists receive warning
letters from state authorities
after they receive nine points.
There were 8,534 such letters
in 1970 and 9,794 in 1971.
However, Dailey doesn't
think the warning letters are
having much effect on the
motorist.
State Patrol accident reports
seem to back up his belief.
In 1968 there were 83,168
traffic accidents in Georgia,
with 1,790 fatalities and
27,686 persons injured.
In 1970, with the point
system in full operation, there
were 118,742 accidents, 1,802
fatalities and 33,866 injured.
This rose in 1971 to
131,027 accidents, 1,814
fatalities and 37,084 people
injured.
In regard to his get-tough
policy against drunk drivers.
Pope said, “I’ve been
neglecting my duty and I
intend to correct it. I’m
convinced I’m not living up to
the obligation put on me by
the General Assembly.”
In addition to the one-year
license revocation for drunk
drivers, the law also says the
head of the Department of
Public Safety may approve the
reinstatement of a license
within 30 days if the driver
proves “financial responsibility
for the future,” and takes a
driver’s examination again.
A driver can do this by
taking out a new liability
insurance policy under what is
known as the S.R. 22
procedure.
“But from now on,” Pope
warned, “any driver is going to
be wasting his time trying to
get his license back before six
months after he has had his
DISTRICT
ATTORNEY
Lookout Mtn.
Judicial Circuit
A Experienced
A Capable
A Dedicated
A Honest
first drunk-driving conviction.”
In the past a second
offender on DUI charges could
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SENATE OFFICE BUILDING
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20510
(This week UJS. Senator David H. Gambrell answers your
questions about catastrophic health insurance and earning limi
tations for Social Security recipients.)
Dear Senator Gambrell: A good friend of mine hax recently
died after suffering a long and expensive illness. It was sad
enough for his family to endure his death but the bills and debt
which he has left behind to his family is heart-breaking. It
seems to me that the Congress should do something about this
situation and soon because hospital and medical care expenses
are continuing to rise.
Last month 1 cosponsored a bill offered by Senator Russell
Long of Louisiana which would prevent the total financial col
lapse that often accompanies lengthy illnesses such as the one
you describe. Our legislation provides for the Federal Govern
ment to pay 80% of all medical costs over $2,000 and for 80%
• of all reasonable hospital charges for hospitalizations of over
60 days. This would be funded through a social security type
payroll tax and administered through the same channels as med
icare. This bill is currently pending before the Senate Finance
Committee.
Dear Senator Gambrell: / retire next June with a very limited
retirement and with a daughter about to go to college. I am in
excellent physical condition and have an opportunity to work
full time, however, / will have to waive my Social Security bene
fits if I earn over the present limitation of $1,680. Please see
what you can do to have the limit raised.
I have already cosponsored a bill, S. 639, which would raise
the earnings limitation for Social Security recipients from
$1,680 to $3,000. This would seem to me to be a more realistic
level of earnings for those who, like you, are willing and able
to continue working after their retirement.
As you may know, I proposed just such an earnings limita
tion increase last October as part of an eleven point welfare
reform program which I suggested to the Senate Finance Com
mittee. Several of those reforms, including the one to which
you refer, have been enacted into law or are the pending busi
ness of the Senate.
FOR SALE
★ 4-Bedroom house in Lyerly, large lot, the old
J. S. Owings property.
★ 3-Bedroom house on Raymond Street. Loan
approved.
★ 3-Bedroom Brick V. on Peach Orchard Road.
Bath and Half Bath. Loan approved.
★ 3-Bedroom house on Peach Orchard Road.
Loan approved.
★ 2-Bedroom house just off Lyerly Road.
HOLLIS REAL ESTATE
Phone 857-3117 Nites 857-2545
To the Voters Off Chattooga County
I have tried my best to see as many people as possible during this election. On July 7th in my
official capacity as a member of the Legislature, I was at Fort Stewart Georgia near Savannah
inspecting the Georgia National Guard, who was on 2 weeks of active duty. While being there I
received injury to my back in an Army Vehicle, which has kept me confined to the Hospital and
my home, which is the reason you haven’t seen me in action.
I went to the doctor this past Friday. I will have to continue to wear my brace on my back
for several more weeks and use my crutches for at least 4-6 weeks, but I am in good health and
this can be verified by Dr. James A. Kauffman, a specialist in Atlanta, Georgia, by Dr. James
Kelley, a specialist in Rome, Georgia, and by Dr. Gary Smith of Trion, Georgia.
We have kept our campaign going by advertisement, letter and phone. We hope you see fit to
go to the polls to vote for me James “Sloppy” Floyd on August Bth.
All people of Chattooga County know where 1 stand and how I stand on all issues. I have
never tried to dodge any situation which confronted me and have always carried out the duties
prescribed by law which a Legislator should do.
I have tried in my humble way to work toward good government for our county and our
state. I know in doing this I haven’t pleased everyone, but my position is, if you try to please
everyone, you are a failure. Sometime you have to say no on certain issues to some of your best
friends.
I will keep you well informed on all of my positions and on all of my votes. The only
promise I have to make to you is I will try to represent all the people of Chattooga County and
not just a few.
It is certainly an honor to me to be Chairman of the Appropriations Committee, which is the
No. 1 Committee in the House and the most powerful Committee, but you are the people who
have made this possible and I think I have demonstrated since I have been in the Legislature that
I have never turned my back on Chattooga County. Everyone in Georgia knows that I was born,
raised and educated in Trion and I dearly love Chattooga County and I do have a burning desire
to make our county “second to none.” If I go back to the Legislature I will be sth in seniority
out of 180. Lots of people may not understand this, but it’s most important in getting things
accomplished for your county and for your state.
I ask you for your vote and your support. Make sure you go to the polls on August Bth and
cast your vote for James “Sloppy” Floyd.
VOTE FOR
JAMES “Sloppy” FLOYD -
(Paid for By Friends of James "Sloppy" Floyd)
get his license back after 60
days. Pope said that under his
new policy there will be a
minimum wait of I 2 months.
Pope said he had informed
all of his top State Patrol
officers last week that he
planned to put into effect his
new policy of not coddling
drunk drivers.
Just last month the public
safety commissioner had
declared:
“Frankly, no punishment
that the General Assembly
? * A
I B W E "L A
AN II mill A
BILLY S. WILSON
and Five of the Reasons He is Dedicated
to a Better Quality of Life for the 53rd.
Senatorial District.
M FOR MORE COMMON w w
* “ SENSE IN GOVERNMENT *
ELECT
BILLY S. WILSON
STATE SENATOR
Subject to August 8 Primary
(Paid Political Advertisement)
could come up with would be
too harsh in my opinion. These
stinking drunks who slaughter
thousands of folks on our
highways every year ought to
get six months in the electric
chair as far as I’m concerned.
I’ve got absolutely no
sympathy for them.”
The best thing about most
stage productions is the ending.
The Summerville News, Thurs., Aug. 3, 1972
Circle Meeting
Dates Listed
For August
The women of the Summer
ville Presbyterian Church an
nounce the following circle
meeting dates for August:
Circle No. 1 will meet at 10
a.m. Aug. 14 at Riegeldale
Tavern, with Mrs. Ruth Alex-
fg™
I
JAMES “SLOPPY” FLOYD
YOU CAN COUNT ON ME TO STAND UP
FOR YOU AND I WILL CONTINUE TO WORK
FOR ALL THE PEOPLE TO HELP KEEP A
PROGRESSIVE COUNTY!
ander as hostess.
Mrs. William B. Farrar will
be hostess for Circle No. 2 at
10:15 a.m. Aug. 14. Mrs. Baker
Farrar is co-hostess.
Circle No. 3 will meet at the
home of Mrs. Bob Cook at
3:30 p.m. Aug. 14.
Mrs. Jim Hunt will entertain
Circle No. 4 at 7:30 p.m. Aug.
7.
Children need models more
than they need critics.
Joseph Joubert
7-C