Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1905-04-26
The Automobile Law.

/ SCluclcfy III tulS CllV.
The Automobile Law.
TIE following is a synopsis of the
statute regulating the use and opera
ton of motor vehicles upon streets
or highways in the state of Iowa
The law applies the same to all
cities and towns in the state, and
will be of interest to readers in this
community on account of the in
creasing use of automobiles here.
Every owner of motor vehicle
shall for each such vehicle owned
by him file in the office Of the secre-
tary of state statement of his name
and address, with a brief descrip-
ton of the vehicle to be registered
and upon the payment of filing
fee Of one dollar the secretary Of
state shall register such motor and
assign it a number.
The secretary of state shall issue
to the owner of such motor vehicle
a seal Of aluminium or other suit
able metal, which shall be circular
in form not over two inches in
diameter, and have stamped therein
the words registered in the office of
the secretary of state for the state
of Iowa, under the motor vehicle
law No. --," with the registration
number therein, which seal shall
thereafter at all times be con-
spicuopsly displayed on the motor
vehiclesto which such number has
been assigned.
Every motor shall also have the
number assigned to it displayed on
the back of such motor vehicle in
such manner as to be plainly visi-
bic, the number to be in Arabic
numerals, each not less than three
inches in height and each stroke to
be of width not less than one-half
inch.
No person shall operate motor
vehicle on public highway at a
rate of speed greater than is reason
able and proper having regard to
the traffic and use of the highway,
Or SO as to endanger the life or
limb of any person, or in any event
in the closely built up portions of a
city, town or village, at a greater
rate than one mile in six minutes,
or elsewhere in a city, town or vii
lage at greater rate than one mile
in four minutes, or elsewhere out
side OF city, town or village at
a greater average rate than twenty
miles per hour. Upon approaching
a crossing of intersecting public
highways, or bridge, or sharp
curve, or a deep descent and also in
traversing such crossing, bridge
curve or descent. person operating
a motor vehicle shall have it under
control and operate at rate of
speed less than hereinbefore speci-
fed, and in no event greater than is
reasonable and proper, having re-
gard to the traffic then on such
highway and the safety Of the public.
Any person operating motor
vehicle shall at request or ON signal
by putting up tho hand, from per-
son riding or driving a FESTIVE horse
or other draft or domestic animals,
bring such motor vehicle Immediate
ly to stop, and if travelling in the
opposite direction remain stationary
so long as may be reasonable to al
low such horse or animals to pass,
and if travelling i'll the same direc-
ton, use reasonable caution in pass
ing such horse or animal, and the
operator and occupants of any motor
vehicle shall render necessary as
sistancc to the party having in
charge said horse or other draft
animal in so passing.
Every motor vehicle while in use
on public highway shall be pro-
vided with good and efficient brakes
and also with suitable bell, horn
or other signal, and be so construct.
ed as to exhibit, during the period
from one hour after sunset to one
hour before sunrise, one or more
lamps showing white light visible
within a reasonable distance in the
direction toward which such vehicle
is proceeding and also q red lighr
visible in the reverse direction.
A violation Of any of the provi
sions Of this act shall be deemed {
misdemeanor, punishable by flint
not exceeding twenty-five dollars
for the first offense and punishable
by a fine of not less than twenty
five dollars nor more than fifty dol
} lars, or imprisonment not exceeding
thirty days in the county Jail for
second or subsequent offense.