Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-04-28
AUTOMOBILE Rules
Commissioners Formally APP
prove, New Regulations.
PENALTY PRESCRIBED
EACH VIOLATION TO INCUR FINE
NOT EXCEEDING $40.
Every Machine to Be Provided With
Lock Suitable to Confine
Starting Lever.


Starting Lever.
The District Commissioners today for
mally approved and promulgated the new
regulations governing the operation of auto
mobiles within the District of Columbia
The regulations consist of nine sections ana
will become article "a Of the police regula-
tons. The rules were drafted by Commits
sioner West, who has supervision of the
police department., and have the approval
not only of his observation-disclosures, but
the corporation counsel the superintendent
of police and the judges of the Police Court
as we'll Corporation Counsel Duvall says
he believes the regulations they stand at
present to be in good form and effective
The new laws will be in force thirty days
from the date of their formal publication by
the Commissioners. This publication will
be made within the next few days. The text
| of the new regulations follows:
Section /. 1t shall be unlawful for any
person or persons, with the exception here
matter named, to operate any motor We
hicle of any kind. the motive power for
which shall be electricity, steam, gas. gaso-
line. OIL, naphtha other similar source
of energy, whether such vehicle be used as
public hack. truck or for hire, or for private
read locomotives and electric cars, until
such person has first made application in
writing and presented himself. or herself
for examination before a board of exam
irers. to be appointed by the Commissioners
of the District of Columbia, who shall ex-
anime such applicant as to his or her COM
potency to operate the specified vehicle and
make report of such examination to the
said Commissioners, who, II they are salts
fled the applicant is qualified to operate the
specified vehicle, will issue q permit there
for.
Licenses Recognized.
Persons licensed by the board of exam
1ners OF steam engineers previous to the
adoption of these regulations will not be re-
CURED to undergo another examination but
within thirty days from such adoption each
such person shall register his or her name
with the secretary Of the board Of Commits
sioners in order to receive the permit num-
Der mentioned IN section of these regula-
| tons: Provided, however, that these regula-
tons shall not apply to any person learn
ing to operate motor vehicles, in case such
learner Is accompanied by licensed opera
| tor. who shall be held responsible for the
strict observance of these regulations by
such learner.
Section 2 Each permit issued hereunder
shall be numbered, and shall contain the
name and address of the person in whose
raVor 1t Is issued, and shall describe def
nitely the kind of vehicle to be operated
hereunder. The number of such permit
shall be conspicuously displayed upon the
rear of the vehicle. so as to be plainly
visible, the figures to be separate Arabic
numerals, not less than three inches high
and the strokes not less than three-eighths
of an Inch in width. Numbers shall not
be transferred from one vehicle to an
other, nor shall permit numbers be loaned
from one person to another, shall fic-
titious numbers be used.
Section 3 Each vehicle to which these
regulations refer shall be equipped with at
least two suitable lamps, to be approved
by the Commissioners of the District of
columbia such lamps to be carried at the
front of the vehicle, one each side.
There shall also be a lamp attached to the
rear of such vehicle, placed as to throw
white light upon. and thus make plainly
visible, the permit numbers and to show
| red light to the rear. The said lamps
shall be kept brightly burning from one
half hour after sunset as long as the We
hicle is used at night.
Lock for Each Vehicle.
Section 4. Each vehicle to which these
| regulations refer shall be provided with
| lock suitable to lock the starting lever,
throttle or switch by which the vehicle is
| set In motion, and person shall allow
| any motor vehicle operated by him or by
| her to stand or remain unattended on any
| of the streets, avenues, roads, alleys high
| ways, parks parkways other public
! places without having first locked the lever
throttle switch by which the vehicle
| may be started.
Section 5. Motor vehicles moving north or
| south shall have right of way over motor
| vehicles moving east or west but this
| right of way shall not be construed as re-
| heving the operator of any motor vehicle
having such right of way from exercising
| due caution to prevent collision with other
vehicles or with pedestrians.
Section 6. No person shall operate or at
| tempt to operate any motor vehicle while
| such person is in state of intoxication or
! is in other respects incapable of properly
| and safely operating said motor vehicle
Section Z. No person shall operate or at
! tempt to operate any motor vehicle on any
| OF the streets, avenues roads, alleys high
| ways, parks, parkways, or other public
places, In careless Or reckless manner so
| as to endanger the life, person or property
| Of any other users of such public places
| Section 3. Each person shall exhibit his
| or her permit to any police officer or to any
| member of the above mentioned board of
| examiners, when demand for such exhibit
| is made.
| Penalty for Each Violation.
| "Section o. Any person attempting to op-
crate or operating any vehicle covered by
| the provisions of these regulations on any
| of the streets avenues roads, alleys, high
| ways, parks. parkways, or other public
places within the District of Columbia
| without first obtaining permit so to do, or
who shall otherwise violate any of the pro-
| visions or requirements of these regula-
| tons. shall be punished, on conviction
| thereof, by a fine of not more than $40 for
each and every violation