New-York tribune., 1909-02-14
fnTSCUSS NEW AUTO LAW
mHzT THE BILLS MEAN.
nfotorists Hope That Their Path
Dau Be Made Easier.


-, ~. introduction OF Eve bills In the New
= e,sts Assembly last week motorists nope
=. ,h.ir path msy be made easier In the future
tnst US .,hs- a conferences correspondence with
Aite- -,,-,her OF autouobslists throughout the
-,e law committee Of the Automobile Club
sA.s - prepared these bills. which ain 70 have
O 1---s.ed into the law only those points on
H. al motorists and the conservative public ara
- leaving 10 the future those questions on
EsIe, 1.s.-a might be a divergence OF opinion
- - op.st.ou covered by these five bills. intro
I"s - Assembly Robinson. IS the concentrated
o-.eson OF unanimous opinion Throughout not
ehl' % xsvr York state. but the entire East and Is
o-Nl n cove- the main grievance OF The motor
= -, s-s defects OF the present law
f - known Tnotorist. who has made e closs
- the question. explained the bills and their
t,9.s,,ou yesterday as follows:
ps erst bill amends the motor vehicle lew with
% exemption OF certain nonresident own
TesV' es-,s 10 put sIl residents OF New York on
e.s - hsss and contribute the same registration
- - = the state At the present time New
- rnsv take out New Jersey registration
-. register at all IN New York. with the re-
a. -. rat Neg Jersey gets its fees and New York
h1' -. while New Jersey is IN position to
Ie.s 90 su New Yorkers 10 register IN New Jersey,
.s+ting the fees no motorist from New Jersey
..-r,re5 to register in New York
ssTFa present Law, according TO the law commit
- the club, IS thus unfair both ways. and 1t
in this bill 10 recognize only the licenses
-.s.ss which reciprocats IN the recognition OF
New York licenses -
-. -sznecf 70 speed limit. This VII abolish any
.1-,se miles per hour. treat everybody alike. and
-, .v.-v driver On the highway responsible for
80 of creed zeasonabIs and proper under the
-ss,lons OF the road. whatever they may Be-
1,rS,r th.s provision four miles an hour may be
ss--,s under certain conditions. and the driver
-vould be held responsible, whereas ohoeF ths eA-
,s.rr lsw he might not Be-
sT115e- the present law the u1otorist may drive
- .-.,r,ohiie Il ten miles hour and be decent,
,,z.sbsainr citizen. matter what happens. and
-. mex. minute he may drive It at the rate OF
-, and one-half miles for distance q three hun
ss feet only and be arrested. obliged 20 give bail
,rd be punished in every instance By hne. and even
sr.p-sonment although person or property has
been injured or affected
hundreds OF eutomohGlists have been arrested
fhe .sst season for except that they were
travelling for few hundred feet st rate greater
thaa Ten miles al hour n some city or around
sons curve. Some country justices. and many po-
,ceuen In this city have used this technical stu
s.ion as q means Of extensive grating.
Tbs third bil provides thai al fines. penalties.
etc for violation Of the motor vehicle law shah be
pejd over 70 the Secretary CT State. be used for
maintaining sood roads This IS right ana proper,
and It Is in harmony with tbs provisions OF ike
character IN other states. particularly IN New Jer
q
VIII tend largely 10 stop graft BY compelling tbs
local magistrates to account for them and turn them
into ne stats treasury. instead OF putting them
into their eEa pockets. has frequently bean
the case
'The fourth ana nfth bills are amendments 70 the
Penal Code place unauthorized 10y riding hy
chsureurs ard others within the reach OF the o-fn-
!nsl courts. Should these Bills pass g VII brand
the Esa who takes anothers car without perrnis-
sion THE. making him guilty of larceny, while
any cne injuring or tanpering with g car without
the owners consent is guilty q nlisdeneanor and
punishable eccordIngly
IT is to De noted that these htAs 60 not touch
upon senls questions On which legislation VIII
doubtless be asked tn the future. as for instance:
AZ to whether automobiles should be specially
taxed by increased registration fee and also
with respect 70 further restrictions upon chauf-
fsurs BY means Of rsvoeable license provisions
IT was found that many ertonobsiists had no
objections 70 contributing 10 tbs maintenance Of
Eooc reads. but there was q strenuous objection.
Is matter OF principle. 70 the imposition Of
special tax On automobiles which did not include
al other vehicles IN proportion 10 the extent OF
their use of the highways
With respect 10 revocabls chauneurs ncsnsss
Nhis al sutouobllists united on the PROPOSE
Ten that severe penalties for careless OF danger
Gus speed ct any time piacs should be imposed
On al drivers q automobiles the same restric-
tons should apply 20 the drivers Of all vehicles
N-e-S u e l-i-cI psTlcularGy IN CROWDED
Streets II cities IN reckless driving OF horses and
even streetcars ot automobiles. the driver OF
oas kind OF vehicle should not be penalizsd while
athsrs escape
The present arbitrary speed limit Of ten miles
ta norT may under certain circumstances be too
nigh Wills under many other circumstances It is
a'tesether TOO low for reasonably safe speed; at
ne same tine the twenty miles an hour Limitation
nay De too high under many conditions IN which
Il is now lawful and too low under others. Fol-
AoNlng the model OF the Connecticut law and the
Proposed federal Law. which was introduced at the
request Of the same committee OF the Automobile
Ni1S q America which prepared the new bills
'ast introduced IN New York is intended TO make
sh5 speed unlawful which Is dangerous under the
e0naiuons Of time and place. and 10 make the
eF'Fer responsible. whether II be four miles an
ho1r only or twenty In case OF accident or dam
eee ne driver OF automobile must show sf-
. ...lastseiy that he was not exceeding reasona-
ss tpeea, II being left 70 the courts determine
A sdeh instance the facts and the proper punish
lasnl distinguishing reasonably between accident
eno injury and damage as the result Of careless