The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-07-28
BLOW TO THE AUTO CATCHERs.
New Law Reserves Speed
Regulation u the state.

Hartford, Conn, July 28.-Farmers
throughout Connecticut who have amused
themselves in thu last two summers by
passing special ordinances at town meet
inss limiting the speed Of autos In their
territory n hen have spent their Sun
days lying In wait to catch the violators
Of their auto laws have lost their jobs, for
thu new auto Law passed by the Connecticut
General Assembly provides that boroughs
and towns annot hx the speed limit.
Automobile interests apparently were at
work at the State Capitol. for the new auto
law makes recklessness the real test Of
speed. 1t also provides. however, that
excess over twenty-five miles an hour for
the distance OF an eighth OF a mile shall be
prima facie evidences that the person oper-
atipg Is reckless The rate Of speed must
always depend. according to the new pro-
visions, upon the condition Of the highway;
that 10, width, traffic and use Of the same
and the liability Of danger TO person or.
property. By this provision In criminal
as we'll a. civil actions the burden is placed
upon the defendant to show that he WI
not improperly operating his car.
The farmers. however. and the enemies
OF the auto get their innings in the next
section, which provides that drivers or
leaders OF horses or any other animals can
hold up autos and that the latter must re-
main stationary in the highway until the
"a sctious man or animal gets ready to give
the word TO pass on. Upon approaching
a bridge or q sharp turn the driver OF .
oar must signal with his nor
A severe penalty is imposed by the new
law upon an intoxicated person caught
uinning a car. Just VINO shall decide that
the driver Ia intoxicated is not provided.
Connecticut legisla tors figure out that
the State will derive a steady income OF
more than CSC, 900 q year from the drivers
Of automobiles in registration and license
fees as we'll a. fines. Fines for the violation
Of all the provisions Of the new law have
been greatly increased, until now a second
offence In breaking the speed laws in this
Commonwealth may mean q fine OF $500
and imprisonment for sixty days.
BY the new statute all fnes and penalties
and one-half Of all forfeited bonds in the
town courts 60 into the State treasury for
the maintenance OF the roads OF the state.
StyiCter enforcements arc required under
the law In regard to the ~licensing Of motor
vehicles. Fash separate vehicle in this
State has 70 be registered annually. while
under the present Aw only the owner il
registered FOR q limited time. Ten dollars
10 required as q registration fee for every
vehicle having a rating OF 30 horsepower or
| more. and the scale 10 then graduated o
until the owner Of q machine of 20 horse
power or less viii pay the state only s5.
Eighteen years 10 the age limit 6xed fora
liconoe here to run a car and a Zee OF 81
for each license In required. After three
convictions for exceeding the speed laws
here tho Secretary OF State IL required
under the law to revoke the drivers license,
and the latter cannot get q new license in
less than three months and then only at the
discretion Of the Secretary Of State: Nom
residents Of Connecticut can travel through
the Nutmeg state for ten days without
complying with the Law. but IL caught
speeding they must register.
No car can sail through this State COW
cred With numbers to confuse the guardians
Of the peaoe. for the new law provides
specifically that no car shall have displayed
upon 10 moro than two sets OF registered
numbers and non-residents must display
only the idsnti6cation plates OF the State
In which they reside. The nw' goes into
eYe0t September ., 1907.