Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-07-10
AMENDMENT wEAKENs AuToMo
BILE ORDINANCE.

by tmenuink INC PtoVo'S~ -
iofaobi,e ordinance so as to fix the
soeed limit at twelve miles an hour,
the common council weakened whft
.originally appeared to be an excellent
rneasure. The amendment weakens
the ordinance because a speed limit
81 twelve miles an hour never will be
observed, and. while other sections OF
the measure are desirable they VIII
nof be productive of the good results
that could be obtained II the police
were given a law that they could en-
force to the letter upon all occasions
Fifteen miles an hour, the limit FIX
ed In the original ordinance as pre-
scented by Mr.. Fellows and recon-
5nGkded by the ordinance and police
eonmittee, Is not fast rate OF speed
for an automobile. As a matter OF
zsu7t Il Is a very moderate pace when
m automobile Is running on street not
crowded with vehicles or pedestrians
This can be proven so easily, that
The Daily Press Is convinced that
the councilmen who held out against
the fifteen mile limit and compelled
the advocates OF the ordinance to ac-
cepf an amendment In order to get
the measure through at all. will
change their minds IL they will go for
= ride In machine carrying a speed
ometer. There is hardly an automo-
BILE In the city that can be kept run
niuR continuously within the present
speed limit OF eigh. miles an hour.
therefore the public has not expected
the police department to make an ef-
fost to enforce the existing ordinance.
Ehoa = man has been caught running
~ machine at an unreasonably high
~ of speed he LIS beer arrested or
1uDnoned to the police court Prob
ao11y In no case. however. has q con-
41c&1on been secured, or even an ar
1T made. unless the offender was
f11Elng from fifteen miles an hour up
Hord- Thus II may be seen that IN
<optte of what the ordinance book says.
Re measure introduced by Mr.. Fell
)oWs did not increase the speed limit
b The city. IL merely fixed q speed
sluh. and prescribed regulations gov
ernlns the operation OF automobiles
ard other power machines on the
streets As far as speed Is concern
~. the conditions viii remain practi-
caiIy unchanged IL the board Of alder
9len concurs IN the action Of the low
~ branch No policeman can swear
70 The difference between twelve and
Q:tcen miles an hour. and ss long as
m automobile driver runs his machine
- rcst appears to be moderate ana
6<5cfect rate Of speed he viH not be
1n<erfered ~ffh by the officers.
q OF course there are times when a
E{krcn nile rate Is too , fast. And
11e<e are times when an eIeht-ms.e
xz@e OF aay rate at all is too fast 10
. street IL crowded; u ladies' o. CHI
~" 80 ~ N-o N@g VI ~ loI sEI olL-
- reason Il II dangerous to move
z1p1dIy OF Al ALL the driver Of an auto
]1ob.i> - supposed 70 sss discretion
nc rev ordnance provides q penalty
: f<r reckless running. and under GER
ts<z Circumstances Il would be rcck.
- and IN vic;<ticn Of the Law to
90 - an Tbs maximum limit n ~
- A regulating ordnance 10 pre-
<<n< -scorchinx- on the less fire.
serr-f streets Of The city. ans n
80 rs< ri>cc1 N sh> original '>ssurc
go ~ ~s~~ q cpn-cv;nz 10 ssfo-
1c1<.n< re 80 nat ck<y have a
~ % 5oo fhro1sh q street. thssn<ce