Caught speeding? Maybe you are suffering from a mental disorder. In 1922, a judge decided to have all people sent to his court for speeding checked out by a psychiatrist.
Auto Speeders To Be Examined For Sanity, Detroit Judge’s Order On Trials In His Court
Has Physician Ready to Make Mental Tests; If Deficient Will Be Sent to Asylum for Treatment Provided for the Insane
Detroit, Dec. 20. — Mental tests for automobile speeders to determine their degree of sanity were inaugurated by Judge Charles L. Bartlett in the Recorder’s Court here today. Judge Bartlett recently set a precedent by taking drivers found guilty of speeding to the Morgue to view bodies of victims of automobile accidents.
Under his new plan, which he announced just before going on the bench today, Judge Bartlett will remand persons adjudged guilty of violating speed laws to Dr. A. L. Jacoby, psychiatrist of his court, for mental investigation. The examination will be conducted in open court, and if Dr. Jacoby decides that those examined are mentally deficient Judge Bartlett will order them to an asylum to be treated in the same manner as other insane persons.
Persons ordered to take mental treatment will lose their operating licenses and a report of their case and mental condition will be filed with the Secretary of State. These violators will never by permitted to renew their licenses and if ever again arrested for driving an automobile will be subject to a long term of imprisonment.
Judge Bartlett bases his authority to order mental tests on Section 3 of the Public Acts, which reads:
“The court shall also have power to make provision for psychopathic investigations of persons coming before said court.”
“No method is too severe to prevent death,” Judge Bartlett said in outlining his mental test plan.
“I believe this new method will stop thousands of accidents each year. Police Commissioner James W. Inches has told me that under my plan of sending speeders to jail, and notwithstanding the fact that there are many thousands more automobiles on the streets this year than last year, there were 3,301 less accidents, and that reckless driving has been cut down from 50 per cent to 80 per cent. If this is the result under my jail sentence plan, what will it be under the mental test plan?”
Source: The Evening World (New York City, NY newspaper). December 20, 1922.
