Los Angeles herald., 1906-07-01
BRITISH AUT0ISTS
ARE UP IN ARMS NOW
ORGANIZE TO FIGHT "BOBBlES"
WHO SNARE THEM
Police Find 1t More Lucrative to Ar.
rest Speeding Chauffeurs Than to
Run Down Murderers, as Magis-
trates Give Captors Share of Fines
Special Cable to The Herald.

Special Cable to The Herald
LONDON, June 30.-Ascot is over. 1t
is a significant fact that this meeting
will go down as automobile Ascot" So
many automobiles never were seen on
the famous heath before ntr even
thought of.
What's more interesting still is that
the woman of the period has asserted
herself in the automobile question. She
insists on utility car that is known in
France as the limousine, so that her
pretty frocks shall not be spoiled and
she shall arrive fresh and dustless at
her destination.
London goes slowly, but the boom in
automobiles has established itself on all
sides. Companies are springing up with
large capital for the purpose of fur
nishing superior automobiles for hire
and one and all are doing a roaring
business.
Meanwhile battle royal is going on
between the automobile association and
the police. The latter, aVailing them
selves of what is known as the motor
car act. have set a web of what are
known as traps throughout the country.
The fines imposed for speeding are
handed over to the local authorities.
who, in view of the easily gained
revenue. give considerable perquisities
to the police on convictions which are
obtained easily at the hands of motor
hating magistrates The result is that
large forces of police that ought to be
protecting the interests of the public
are to be found lying behind hedges all
over the country with stop watches in
hand.
1t has come to such pitch that when
inquiries were made as to the absence
of police in the district where the no.
torious Camberwell murder took place
it was found all the available local con-
stables were engaged in setting motor
traps in Ripley road. The murderer is
still at large and is little likely to be
caught.
Meanwhile indignant automobiles
rapidly are rallying to the assistance
of the automobile cha -ffeurs from un-
due persecution. The association
has a daily increasing list of members
and its banking balance is constantly
being augmented.
Almost everywhere an automobilist
goes along roads wher it would be
tempting to make a triile extra speed he
is likely to be met by a bicycllst who
unfurls a white flag on which are the
letters "A. A." which signifies that
police trap is near at hand.
The automobile association announces
that this form of protection, after hav-
ing been established all over England,
now is being extended to Scotland also.
1t is further proposed to make the
agitation still more effective by insist
ing that all fines imposed on motorists
for excessive speeding shall be paid in
to the imperial exchequer. 1t is con-
tended that the motor car act never
contemplated putting into the hands OF
local executives a weapon by which
they could compel all motorists ito
stand and deliver" Irrespective of com
pliance with or breach of law. That is
what. under the present conditions of
the law, the motorist asserts is being
done every day
The man with a motor car is regard
ed popularity as a rich man. A e5 or
el0 note is a trihe to him, and he
needs only to be halted and commanded
to stand and deliver" in proper legal
form for the money TO be forthcoming,