Los Angeles herald., 1908-08-09
CONSIDERS MOTOR
LAWS RIDICULOUS.
CHARLES TERRY SHOWS PRES
ENT LEGISLATIVE FAULTS
Says Farmer Is Not as Hostile to
Automobile as Represented.
Laws IntolerabIe In
Some States

"The condition of the motor vehicle
laws throughout the United States IS
both intolerable and ridiculous, says
Charles Thaddeus Terry of the Ameri-
can Automobile association in an inter-
view on the subject of "Automoplle
Legislation" .bo,p
inconsistent and contradictory pro
visions. and they are intolerapIe pc
cause Of the fact that no two states
have been able to agree upon reason
able and sane law. which would regu-
late the automobile as it should be
regulated and at the same time con-
serve the rights of pedestrians ana
users of horse-drawn vehicles.
esWithout fair laws good roads are OF
no use to the automobilist. In thirty
one states we find registration of motor
vehicles is required. In each state there
is different requirement and the tees
range from 25 cents to go. IN SIX
states the local authorities may re-
uuire registration in their particular
localities. In ten states a Incense TO
operate is required in addition 10 re-
gistration. In eight states the registra-
fion and license laws of the other states
are entirely disregarded, and non-resl-
dents passing through are required 10
reregister their vehicles and pass an
examination as to their competence TO
drive In four states non-resldents'
exempt from the registration provisions
of state laws, are not exempt from
registration and license requirements,
acted by local authorities. In seven
states non-residents are exempt Ior
periods of time, ranging from twenty
four hours to sixty days.
s'The most striking Illustration OF
ridiculous and intolerable state enact
ments is to be found in the eastern
states. In matters of speed and rules
Of the road the automobilist is not only
harassed by the divergent and contra
dictory state laws, but in most states
he is subject to restrictions imposed py
local authorities The speed limitations
range from four TO twenty miles an
hour. changing according to locality
and the automobilist, without the
slightest negligence or danger to other
users of the highway may violate the
speed laws six or eight times IN run
of sixty miles.
s@Tbere are only two states which at
the present time have reasonable or
sensible speed limitation provisions.
They are Connecticut and Florida On
the whole our motor vehicle laws form
a most striking demonstration or the
extreme provincialism of our most I'M
portant states, and 1 have found, after
thorough examination and after ap-
nearing before many meetings of farm
ers and residents of small places that
the cry of the state legislatures to the
effect that the farmer Is hostile to the
automobile and that he demands these
radical provisions in the law are with
out truth. The kick is not from the
farmer, but rather the chief polltloan
and demagogue, who is ever ready 70
make capital out of the nearest avail
able MATERIAL
'"The salvation for the automibiltst
and also for the average citizen is the
enactment of a federal automobile reg
istration bill such as has been drafted
and presented to congress through the
American Automobile association, and
there is not the slightest question Il
my mind about it's becoming a law, be-
cause it is recognized as the only right
and expedient means through which all
interests may be adequately and equit-
ably taken care of.