One might think that traffic could not have been a serious problem in 1920 Tucson. After all, how many cars could there have been?
Perhaps the lack of driver education made Tucson streets a bit more hectic in those days. Pima County did plan to enforce a law requiring license plates, in part, one assumes, so that perpetrators of traffic violations could be identified.
From the Arizona Daily Star, Wednesday, May 26, 1920:
Stiff Fine Imposed For Violating Traffic Rule
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Further steps toward the enforcing of the law requiring automobiles to carry current license plates were taken by the county authorities yesterday with the imposing of a fine of $25 on Dr. D. M. Shulman by Judge Pease, justice of the peace, and the filing of a complaint against D. B. Campbell for the same offense.
Dr. Shulman was charged with running an automobile without a license plate on either the front or rear of the car. He entered a plea of guilty.
Sheriff Rye Miles has announced that sufficient time has been allowed the people to obtain the 1920 licenses and the law requiring the cars to carry them will be rigidly enforced.
People are also reading…
On the same page of that day's paper was a notice of an automobile crash.
TRAFFIC POLICEMAN IS RUN OVER BY AUTOIST; INJURIES NOT SERIOUS
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Officer Finley Taken to Hospital; Small Bone in Right Hand Is Fractured
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Dr. Ben W. Izard involuntarily assisted a speeder in escaping yesterday, by colliding with Motorcycle Patrolman Finley while the latter was giving chase to the speeder. Finley was going out North Sixth avenue behind the car. When he reached Sixth street, Dr. Izard turned his automobile around the silent policeman and ran into Finley, who caught the handle on the windshield and clung to the car, escaping what might have been dangerous injuries.
Finley was taken to the hospital in Mr. Elias' car where it was found a small bone in one of his hands was fractured and his knees slightly hurt. His injuries are not serious.
Dr. Izard immediately went to the police station and reported he had run into a man on a motorcycle, not knowing that it was a policeman.
The Morgue Lady wonders why Dr. Izard didn't remain at the accident scene, but perhaps not enough information was given here.
The lesson of the day is license your car and watch where you are going.
