The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1907-10-30
Regulating the
Motor Vehicles.
Efforts New Jersey Has Made to
Save Lives and Property and
Protect Rights of All.

Trenton Oct ~. Always true to It's
Obligations 10 project equally the
rights of all its citizens without re
gard To class or fortune. the Republic
an party in New Jersey promptly. upon
the advent of the new and unknown
motor vehicle, SET out 10 devise legls-
ation whereby It's abuses might be
restricted without Interfering With its
legitimate uses or the equally cher
iShed rights of It's users The leglsla-
tive acts of 1903 and 1909 were purely
Republican measures and clearly dem
onstratcd the sincere desire of the
party 10 deal cquitahly with novel
subject.
The results, however were not alto
gethrr satisfactory. aud the party In
lao6. true Ia It's traditions moi TO rest
until II has accomplished its purpose,
cndcaVorcd To frame I'M automobile
law which would be effective with the
result that the law known rs the IRE
linghuysen act not only stands today
In The forefront Of restrictive motor
vehicle regulation. hut is universally
recognized bN Intelligent and fair
minded men MS the most equitable and
all around Just automobile law ever
enacted
tnder Its provisions aud because of
the efficient manner in which II has
been enforced excessive speeding has
been reduced more than 30 per cent.
and HE number If accidents occurring
within the state ms compared with
those of other states and the number
of vehicles in use In the respective
communities shows IN even greater
percentage of reduction. Under this
law The police authorities of the 10
calilieS are given ample power for the
enforcement Of It's provisions, and If
u substantial enforcement Is not Sc
cured the fault must lie with the 10
eal authorities.
Getting After Violations.
But more important is that provision
which created II central head 10 whom
all violations might he reported for the
purpose Of Investigation and when
necessary for prosecution, and. in add
ton 10 the proceedings In the local
jurisdictions. the department has di.
rcetlN handled nearly 900 complaints
of the llagrant clnss. besides multi
tudc of minor cases. Legal action was
brought When necessary, but the more
tion of licenses, either permanently OF
for II limited time, was more frequent
ly reSorlcd to- And that tile depart
meut has been administered withou
fear or favor Is attcstcd by the numbc
of prominent eases that have come he
fore II, involving some of the urges
automobile manufacturers and som,
of the most prominent politicians an,
men of influence of the country.
Perhaps til" most important featur,
of this law WIS that provision Whicl
charged the commissioner of motor We
hicles with Investigating motor vehi
Gle conditions and legislation In othe
states and countries with II view o
advising the legislature wherein tn,
present laws are defective and rec
ommcnding measures for their correc
tIon,
The peculiar conditions brought
about by The sudden introduction of
the automobile on our roads presents
perhaps one of the most important
sochl and economic questions of re-
cent times. The iualiennblc rights OF
life aud property while on the public
highways were placed in jeopardy by
the unlawful use of the new vehicle,
thereby eurlalling also HE rightfu'
liberties of our people Tie unrcstrct-
ed use of the automobile was rapidly
driving from the highways other users
Lives We're In Danger.
Farmers were practically denied the
legitimate use Of the roads. their wives
were afraid To travel either on foot OF
with horse, and II WAS becoming I'M
possible for children to ga To school
without being In constant danger OF
bodily harm Aud yet all these con
dilions had 10 be met and remedled
without doing violence Ia the equally
inalienablc rights of those who desire
to use the motor vehicle properly aud
lawfully, aud HE state, through its
officially created department, not only
sought to effect immediate remedies
for ali these evils, but 10 investigate
and determine with the highest pos
slble degree of equity aud Justice the
relative rights al MI users of the high
ways and a. suggest To the legislature
such measures as would most surely
secure these rights and AT the same
time preserve In the highest degree the
Individual liberties Of all who have
occasion to use the roads.
In pursuance with this duty the mo
tor vehicle department last year pre-
scented Ia the Legislature n preliminary
report which for thoroughncss ant
conpfeltenSiHcucss Is conceded to III
The best anywhere yet presented OF
the subject, and II Is safe 70 say tina
when next years report becomes pub
lie Fl Will be Of such nature rs Il
enable the legislature, IL not to speal
the last word on this important aues
ton. to Mt least advance &eW Jersey.
standard SIN further nad maintain hrl
position ia the front If progressive
states and nations.
Revenue to the State.
Another important feature Of tht