The San Francisco call., 1909-10-11
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INTERNATIONAL
LAW FOR AUT0|STS
Conference Will Propose the
Adoption OF Regulations to
Be Recognized by Nations
Scheme VIII Greatly Increase
Adoption of Rules to Be Rec
ognized by All Nations
By r. R. L'HoMMEDIEu

The invasion Of America by foreign
automobiiists and the increased growth
of automobile touring throughout Eu-
rope has caused steps to be taken. to-
ward a conference at which system
Of international recognition of driving
licenses and registration numbers will
come up for serious consideration. The
plan. if successful. will greatly simpli-
fy touring and will add much to its
popularity.
In the United States, some sort OF an
interstate law has been advocated for
some time. but without any visible
results. Each state has its own regu-
iations on the subject and in many
cases the registration number of one
state carries no weight In another. A
separate license to drive OF course, IS
not required for each state. but in other
ways there are drawbacks to touring,
which, IL removed, would stimulate
recreation of this kind.
The suggestion for the conference
was made by the German authorities
two years ago It was that the French
government should call together dele
gates from the various countries hay-
ing Important automobile traffc in or
der to consider uniform regulations
Every country OF Europe, without a
single exception, signified a desire to
take part.
When the delegates meet this month
they will endeavor to devise automo-
bile regulations applying to all ma
tions. Failing In this. the effort will
be to arrive at an understanding in
order that the automobile laws in one
~ t~ry M = = 4 -
ers. The latter scheme, II carried out
will. 1t is said, leave much TO the honor
OF the contracting parties. National
touring organizations and automobile
governing bodies in such an event will
be held responsible for the actions of
their members. and will be obliged to
suppress any effort to take adva ntage
OF the liberal treatment that will en-
sue. Under such an agreement. the
arivingf licenses of any country in Eu-
rope would be recognized outside of
It's borders. At present a driver is
compelled to apply for several differ
ent licenses. Belgium does not re-
quire nor issue license, while Eng
land gives permit to drive merely
on payment of a registration fee. Near
ly all the other countries. however, i'm
pose a practical test of efficiency in
driving. Germany admits the French
license when countersigned by one of
her co7suls; France accepts the certii-
cate of the Royal automobile club and
the Motor union az evidences gof driv-
ing efffciency, and -ins two or three
other countries. the French license is
recognized. The interchange, however,
is not general.
To adopt international regulations II
will be necessary for Belgium to intro
duce a general licensing system, while
England will be called upon to give
some guarantee as. to the ability OF
it's license holders. All this, it Is hoped.
can be adjusted, II not at this October
meeting at come future time. With
regard to the general recognition of
registra tion numbers. little trouble is
anticipated. Under the system at this
time 1t is necessary to register in every
country and to carry the number issued.
a most unsatisfactory method. because
so many hastily attached tags are lost.
In other cases the numbers are used
BY different machines.
The touring club OF Italy will press
the adoption of system OF interna-
tional triptychs. enabling the owner to
deposit the highest amount OF duty Of
any country he desires to visit. the
amount to be returned on proof that
the machine has. been brought back
TO the country OF it's origin. This
would allow the holder to pass from
one country to another with little for
nlality, instead of being Obliged 10 OBJ
tain a -riptych for each different coun-