The Jersey City news., 1906-07-03
new AUTO LAW
NOW IN EFFECT
Sunday Was the Date Set
for the Beginning Of Reg
istration
POLICE AID REQUESTED
COMMISSIONER SMITH ASKS CO
OPERATION FROM THE HEADS
OF ALL FORCES IN THE STATE
Special 10 'eThe Jersey city News"

Special to 'eThe Jersey City News.")
TRENTON, July 3. 1906.-After sew
eral months of preparation for the en-
| forcement of the new Frelinghuysen au-
tomobile law, which went into effect Sun
day. State Commissioner of Motor
Vehicles, j. B. r. Smith, has the new
department well organized and in readi-
ness to go on with the business for
which it was created by the Legislature.
| In anticipation of the taking effect of the
| law Sunday, Commissioner Smith sent
out circular letter to the police depart
ments of the various cities in the State
asking their cooperation in enforcing the
new act. This letter which treats the
subject of automobiling in New Jersey at
considerable length, is as follows
July / is the date set by the statute
| for the Frelinghuysen motor vehicles law
| to 90 into full effect, and because OF It's
near approach and in pursuance with
| the provisions Of the thirteenth section
of the act, which reads ana
said commissioner shall be empowered TO
| communicate with the police departments
and peace officers in the State for the
purpose and with the object of the prop
| or enforcement of this act trust l
am not taking an unwarranted liberty
/ in offering to you this departments most
hearty cooperation in the efforts which
| vou will make in your municipality to
secure an honest and substantial compll-
ance with the spirit of the act. may
! also at the same time present to you
/ some of the observations We have been
] able 70 make since the department has
been established. and which may serve
as a basis for future and frequent in
terchanee of opinions and ideas between
us. with view Of adopting progressive
and perhaps uniform rules of action, to
/ the end that this new, but rapidly deyel-
oping means of transportation may be
wisely and justly regulated.
"We have been greatly pleased with
the evident desire on the part of thought
full motorists to secure a wise enforce
ment of the law, as we'll as for their
| kindly offers of assistance, and we be-
iieve that large majority of motorists
are of this class. But the great in
crease in the use of motor vehicles, with
its necessary increase in the number OF
| thoughtless operators, has demonstrated
| the necessity for the enactment OF legls-
lation making more easy the enforce
ment of proper regulations. Thoughtful
non-users of motor vehicles are also
| coming to realize the value of the motor
\ vehicle when its use is not abused, and
| they too are asking for such regulation
as will most effectually stop the abuses,
1 Dull not WOTk luCItdclHS AdANoAAP " ~
| climate and lawful users.
Unfortunately, however, there ap-
pears to be too many persons, both
among the users and non-users, who hold
different views. Those from the first
/ class look upon all legislation affecting
their conduct upon the road as an un-
inst and unwarranted limitation of their
| liberties. while those from the second
| class will admit the existence Of no
rights, and would deny IN privileges to
| motor vehicles. The one is supported oy
a realization of the temporary q power
! their vehicles gives them; the other by
some advantage of position on the high
way. or perhaps by some improper exer-
else of a legal power or privilege. They
are neither of them, in most instances,
| intentional law-breakers, but each, IN
their zeal to sustain their own misguided
conceptions Of personal liberty, indulge
in conduct directly at variance both with
| the express provisions of the statute and
i any reasonable conception Of the rights
of others.
s'We have deemed it to be the duty Of
this department, as far as within its
4 power, to see that the people of both
classes are death with firmly, but fairly
and in strict accordance with the very
just an equitable laws Of our State,wh ich
have so long offered equal protection to
/ all citizens, and which have lately been
supplementary the act under which we
are now working, and whose provisions
must not be allowed to Become ineffective
| through a failure to secure a reasonable
enforcement.
I st will probably be found opportune
at this time to call attention to few
Of the important regulations in he new
| law, especially to that clause in section