Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1897-06-01
UYIFoRM BIoYOLB Law.
Passed February &c, 1897.
Takes effect May &c, 1897.

West Virginia
SECTION 1. Whoever. without the
permit provided for in section three of
this act, rides in a street square or
park, in an incorporated city contain
ing FIVE thousand inhabitants or more,
bicycle at rate of speed exceeding
twelve miles an hour, or rides such
machine on sidewalk, or rides such
machine in the streets squares or parks
of any city when the same is not pro-
vided with suitable alarm bell adapt>
ed for use by the rider, or after sunset
rides the same in any public way,
square or park, whether without or
within the limits of city, when such
machine is not provided with such
suitable alarm bell, shall be punished
by fine not exceeding twenty dollars
for each offense, and shall be further
liable for all damages occasioned to
any person by such unlawful act.
SEC. 2. The term Sidewalks" as
used in this act, shall mean any side
walk laid out and maintained as such
by city or town for the use of pedes
trians. 1t shall not include cross walks,
nor shall it include footpaths on por-
tions of public highways outside of the
thickly settled parts of cities and towns,
which are worn only by travel and not
improved by such cities or towns or by
abutters, The term bicycle" as used
in this act, shall be deemed to include
all vehicles propelled by the persons
riding the same, by foot or hand pow
er. The term "park" and squares"
as used in this act, shall not include
spaces under the control of park COM
missioners, or of park board or a
special park department of town or
city having power to make regulations
relative to such spaces, and this act
shall not in any way abridge the pow
ers of such commissioners, board or de-
partment.
SEC. 3. The mayor or council of a
city or town may in his or its discre-
ton, upon any special occasion, grant
permits to any person or persons to
ride such machines, during specified
time, upon specified portions of the
public ways of such city or town, at
any rate of speed; and may annex
such other reasonable conditions to
such permits as they shall deem proper.
The council of a city or town may also,
under such conditions as they deem
proper, permit the use of velocipedes
or other similar machines by children
on any sidewalk in any public way,
square or park in such city or town.
Sec. 4. Proceedings for the enforce
ment of the penalties imposed by this
act shall be Instituted within sixty
days from the time the ofense is COM
mitted.
SEC. 5. No city or town shall have
power to make any ordinance, by law
or regulation respecting the use of BIZ
cycles except as provided in section
three of this act and, except as pro-
vided in section three, no ordinance,
bylaw or regulation heretofore made
by city or town in respect to bicycles,
shall have no force or effect.
SEC. 6. No person except as author
lied by ordinance, order, regulation,
license or permit of the council of any
city or town within, or the county
court without such city or town, and
for some public purpose or use, shall
drop, place or throw and suffer to re-
main or cause to be dropped, placed or
thrown and suffer 10 remain upon any
highway, road, street, alley, lane,
square or other public place, any glass,
scrap iron, nails, tacks, wire, paper or
offensive matter of any kind.
SEC. Z. Whoever violates any pro-
vision of this act shall be liable to a
penalty of not more than twenty dol
lars for each and every offense.
SEC. s. This act shall take effect
ninety days after its passage.
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