Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-04-16
AGE OF AUTO OPERATORS
COMMISSIONERS TO PLACE LINZ
TATIoN AT EIGHTEEN YEARS.
q. S. District Attorney Bakers Sug-
gestions Regarding Accidents Re-
sulting From Inexperience.

The Commissioners are contemplating the
PRONUNCIATION Of police regulation that
will prohibit persons under eighteen years
of age from operating automobiles in the
District. The adoption of this regulation
will be with a view to public safety. a
number of accidents of a serious nature
have resulted, it is declared, from the run
ming of big automobiles by irresponsible
boys.
Daniel W. Baker United States District
attorney. in a communication to the Com
missioners yesterday called attention to
the fact that the grand jury of the Dis
trict had recently called to the attention
of his Office the danger Of boys opera ting
machines and recommended t! t mini
mum age limit of eighteen years be fixed
for motor vehicle operators
The automobile board of the District has
on several occasions in the past recon-
mended the adoption of such regula ton.
claiming that persons younger than eigh-
teen years of age are physically unable,
if not otherwise disqualified, to .,erly
operate such vehicles. The board of Com
missioncrs favor such a regulation. and
the matter has been referred to Corpora
ton Counsel Thomas of the District for a
legal opinion. This regulation will not be
promulgated until that is Received
May Re Exceptions.
It is likely that when the Commissioners
adopt this regulation they will not consider
the applicants as classes. but units. and
It will be possible for person under e!gh-
teen to obtain a permit to operate a vehicle
who is known to be as skilled and compe-
tent to operate one as persons who are
over the age indicated This question has
not yet been definitely decided upon.
Secretary Woodward of the automobile
board of the District who has supervision
over this matter and who examines appli-
cants and issues permits. is opposed TO
this provision He does not believe any dis
tinction should be made. He declares there
is not one boy in one hundred who is fuzzy
competent to handle machine In ught
places and in times of danger when cool
head and sense is required. no matter now
Skillful the boy may otherwise De-
Thought It Unwise.
When this matter of prescribing a limi-
tation of age in granting automobile per-
mits brought to the attention of the
Commissioners four years ago, the late
a. b. Duvall then corporation counsel OF
the District in reporting upon it stated
that the Commissioners have the authority
to promulgate such a regulation. but that
he was of the opinion that it was not cX-
pedient for them to adopt an iron-clad
rule. He reported that to refuse per-
nit to every under eighteen years OF
age would manifestly prevent the use of
motor vehicles by many persons who are
competent as others who are older.
Secretary Woodward, in speaking of the
proposed regulation today, stated that he
heartily approves it. and he believes the
members of the Washington Automobile
Club will do likewise. He said the privi-
lege is now abused chiefly by merchants
and business concerns, who can hire youth
full operators cheaper than men. He stated
that in the majority of states throughout
the country persons are not licensed 10
operate automobiles unless they are OYER
eighteen years old.