Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1906-05-23
Board of Supervisors Adopt an
Automobile Law


and other vehicles whose motive
power is other than animals. The
act was approved March II, 1905
and becomes operative June ID
1905. Following are some of tn,
provisions of the act:
Every owner of a machine shall
register the same with the Secre
tary of the Com monwealth. Upoi
the rear Of every machine mus
appear the number, painted in
Arabic numerals, net lees thar
four inches high. Every machine
operator must have displayed from
one hour after sunset to one houI
before sunrise at least one white
light throwing bright light at
least one hundred feet in the direc
ton in which the machine is going
and also shall exhibit on the rear
of the machine one red light, which
shall effsctually illumine the mum
Der tag on the rear.
The rate Ofspeed in the corporate
limits of any city or town shall
not exceed twelve miles an hour.
Outside the corporate limits Of a
city or town a speed Of fifteen
miles an hour is permissible, except
in going around curves, down
steep declines, or at the intersec-
tion of any crossroads. or over
crest of hills, or in passing other
vehicles or riders on roadways,
when a rate of speed that will tend
to avoid danger must be observed.
A speed of only eight miles an
hour shall BIZ maintained around
curves or bends or where the
roadway is not plainly visible for
a distance of two hundred feet
ahead, and at the intersection of
prominent crossroads when such
road or highway passes through
the open country; where a street
or highway passes the built-up
POI tiOns of a city, town or village;
at points on any public highway
when there is a gathering of horses
or persons.
The owner, operator, conductor,
driver or occupant OF any such
machine shall keep careful look
ahead for the approach Of horse
back riders or vehicles drawn by
horses or other animals, and upon
the approach Of such riders or
vehicles shall Glow up, keep his
machine under thorough and
careful control, give ample road
way to such rider or vehicle, and
if signalled by such rider or
occupant of such vehicle, or be
otherwise requested thereto, shall
Immediately bring his vehicle to a
full stop and allow ample room and
time to allow sueh rider or vehicle
to pass. And if requested so 70 do
by the said driver or the occupant
of said vehicle, the owner, opera
tor, conductor, driver or occupant,
if male, of any such machine shall
lead the horse past his machine.
Should any horse ridden or driven
in an opposite direction to that
which the machine is travelling,
give evidence OF fright then tho
duty of the driver shall De the
same as il he had been signalled
to by the rider OF the horse or the
occupant of the vehicle.
When the operator, owner,
occupant, conductor, or driver of
such machine overtakes a horse or
travelling in the same
direction with himself he shall slow
down his speed, signal for the road
by bell or gong or horn, and II
the horse or other vehicle stop,
shall pass at rate of speed not
greater thtn four miles per hour,
Should such vehicle or ridden
horse not stop and the said opera
tor, owner, driver, conductor or
occupant of said machine desire to
pass he shall dc SO at rate OF
speed not greater than may be
necessary, and shall in eli cases use
due diligence and care not to
brighten the hOrse, or horses.
Every machine shall be provided
with a good and sufficient brake,
or brakes and shall also be provided |
with suitable bell, hoIn or other
signal device. Every machine
snail also be provided with a lock,
key or other device to prevent its
being set in motion, and no pers IN
shall allow any such machine
operated by him to stand or remain
in any public highway
or public place without fret lock-
ing or making fast the machine as
above provided.
Failure to comply with any pro-
vision in this act will subject the
vioiat0r to a fine for each otfense
Of not less than ten dollars nor
more than one hundred dOllars, or
in jail not less than
five nor more than thirty days, or
10th, in the discretion Of the
justice of the peace before whom
the case may be tried. An appeal
may be taken to the circuit court
Of the county or corporation or
hastings court Of the city. In
addition to such fine and imprisC n
ment, the violetor Of any of these
provisions shall be liable for