The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-02-08
SCARRITT on AFRO LAWS.
President OF the 4. G. s. Outlines BIZ Ia
Remedy Existing Evils.

winthrop f. Scarr.tt former president Of
tho Automobile Club OF America. delivered
an address before that organization last night
on Automobile Legislation" He advo-
Gated law which would require owners and
chaufeurs 10 secure licenses from the Score
tary of State. the licenses being reyocable
for stated periods as part of any penalty for
violating speed limits He also suggested
that all public garages be licensed and that
they keep records OF the cars stored. and
not allow them TO be taken our without a
written order from the owner. He has been
working for some time on a proposed law
! which embodlcs his ideas OF Just automobile
regulations Mr. Searritt's remarks were in
! part as follow
AS automobhsts We have rights on the
road which inNolse duties and responsible
( tiles to other users of tie highway \ few
| Automobiles misuse their rights and run
| reckless over the rights Of others but the
1 abuse OF thing L. no argument against tho
! few. The tension between the public and the
| motorist grows tighter with every accident
| upon the highways Disaster which u will
] take years to remedy VIII result unless the
/ responsible users will themselves undertake
/ to control the irresponsible users
1T IL a grave question whether special
J autOmoble legislation IL constitutional. Why
should We be singled out Of the community
and put into the criminal class with con-
spicuous number attached TO our vehicles ?
Tho motorphobe replies YOU put yourselves
I iu the criminal class whom you drive your cars
/ in excess Of The legal limit Accurate rec
I o
/ and Fifih avenue. show ed that every one
/ of i37 horse drawn vehicles exceeded the
4 Why should the law be enforced against one
/ class OF citizens and the same law be entirely
/ ignored as To another class;
4 take ii that the oh cot Of sound legisla-
| ton is 70 pro tect the public and vet not be 20
! drAst that II viii retard the development
OF this new and important industry. such
4 law must be definite In its provisions. easily
I understood. aud the penalties must ~ the
/ offence. ! must be- fair. 50 hat II will have
Z hnck OF II the power OF public sentiment
/ / think that experiences automobilsts who
/ are fair and openmindcd are far better quail
/ fed to draft such n law and one that viii be
I practical In its workings than those who
/ KNOW nothing Of the automobile
"Ana!vzing the sitnntinn We ind that ~
ner cent OF tho Automobiles are careful in
] the use OF their cars on the public highways
/ ard do not need the restraining iniiuenCe
/ OF any law. The 10 per cent who bring us
I part OF two classes First. the rich. reckless
/ driver 70 whom the imposition Of me IS no
hardship and seeonb W. 5eoH ~ hr' m
I seeing how reckless and spcD taCular he can
/ be Therefore no law VIII ever be effective
! that docs not have special regard to these two
! clnsscs at offenders Public sentiment viii
! not Justify locking these meu mp lor hr-t
/ oie6ce where no actual damage has re-
/ minutes aftorWard How, then, are the g
! Two classes OF fragrant violators 10 De reached
? believe that the result may be Obtained
( by % rcvocnbie license.
/ First. lct every driver Of car receive
/ certificate or license from nc secretary Of
State on CONVICTION, va audiuoh 10 oiher
! pcualilc5 for first offence, let the certificate
/ So rcv okcd for a period OF fifteen dats, III"
/ irini Magistrate Iudorsing OF me certhcite
Z surh revocation Tor second offence q
revocation OF thirty days Tor % third offence
/ -,-c,atiou al one wear For The rich owner
a., a.. I,t,i,cd of tine ilse Of his car in this way
/ ,rouId be h'lniliuiug indeed. Every owner
/ of n motor ear realizes The chief pleasure of
ch .rirrit youid b" exceedingly careful
1 NOT TO lay himself liable 10 a second or third
/ a reckless chauffeur be- would he ont OF cn-
/ uloymcut and his means oi lN"llhood p"
! nixon from him, so that he. the most prolific
I for NOT getting INTO difficulty. The scnti-
I NOM Of tho entire con mmity would back
IN such a law rs this
VI. sSecond Public garages should he under
I tho supervision OF the laH ga hey should
b., REQUIRED 10 take ont license ihl To
Z cxart time II was taken out and the exact
time IL was brought back. to- me duplitat"
4 OF his record should be i'lrnl1he9 me owner
of the ear once week ldl 10 aIlow no
/ machine TO 40 out without written order
ron itd Concerning chaureurs the follow
! tho re0uirements fnl To take out n license.
/ III To keep a record Of the car Wien II leaves
and when it returns TO the garage tcl To
I when II becomes disabled
Fourth Al cars above horse power
| eboUid be required TO have two separate
/ brakes. one Of which should be double acting.
"fifth-No car should be- permitted 10 run
l with the mu ner open IN the corporate limits
/ of village town or CITY. .
-Sixth~The speed within corporate liu-ts
/ .ho1id be - miles an hour, except IN
thiniy populated sections, where y
/ "a m lies per hour in the open country.
30 speed should be allowed greater than
. il cons-tcnts with condition or franc on
: the highway These, ~ the man. would,
Lake II he the general provisions OF sane
+ and sensible law. one that m its practical
,yorkinRs would II fairly and honestly en-
| forced. protect the public and do no violence
10. the new industry. -s--.---.------ '--.-----