Advertisement

Cambridge Police Plan No Immediate Ticketing Drive

Auto Registration Deadline Today

There will be no immediate crackdown on student parking on the streets of Cambridge, acting Chief of Police Patrick J. McCarthy revealed last night. This decision will not be altered by the fact that the deadline for automobile registration within the University is less than eight hours away. The deadline is 5 p.m. today.

An unexpected snag in the anticipated cooperation between the University and the Cambridge Police Department was uncovered yesterday afternoon when McCarthy told the CRIMSON that he know nothing at all about the University's plan for automobile registration.

When told of the project by a reporter yesterday, McCarthy was visibly surprised. "If there have been any conferences between the University and the Department, I guess I should have been is on them. After all, I am the chief."

Confusion in Department

The confusion on the matter of registration seems to have occurred high in the ranks of the Department. Edward Reynolds '15, administrative vice-president, who is handling the University's parking set-up, claimed that he told the head of the traffic division about the planned registration less than ten days ago. At that time, according to Reynolds, he invited him to use the University records for any information the department might need.

Advertisement

Reynolds could not identify the man he talked to other than as "in charge of traffic." This official would be Captain Edward P. Maher. Maher handles the general traffic situation in Cambridge, but McCarthy, in his regular, position as Captain of the city was, and is, in charge of all night parking. Maher left the station early yesterday, and could not be reached last night.

"We won't do any towing this year until we've given the students an even break. I know how it in over there," McCarthy said. "We'll give the students a chance to get settled." McCarthy was uncertain about checking with the University to identify student offenders, commenting, "they'll probably be very helpful."

No Weekend Tags

"We're out to give the students a break," McCarthy reported. "I only hope they give us one. Our job is 90 percent judgement and ten percent law," he continued. "We know what the students are up aginst, getting settled and everything. For example, we don't intend to tag on weekends, because we realize the problem guests have with their cars."

Reynolds said yesterday that the number of people who had signed for the new parking lot was less than he had thought it would be, but he still wasn't disappointed."

The University has for several years officially disfavored the ownership of automobiles by students. Cambridge ordinances at present prohibit overnight parking on all streets.

Advertisement