New-York tribune., 1909-06-13
SYMPTOMS OF Joy RIDING. -

When a car stopped at a tavern and the passen-
ger instead Of the chauffeur began to crank the
machine, agent preSumptive evidence that
the owner vas not present In another instance
costly touring halted before a shabby road
house, and the occupants went in imbibe beer
and invest in cheap cigars The patronage of cheap
refreshment places is sure sign that the emplOye
is emulating his master a reduced scale. 4
party of negroes loling on expensive leather cush-
ions does not leave room for much doubt in the
mind Of the "spotter-" There are. indeed, some
fine distinctions TO be made. between the out
ing Of hilarious owner and his typewriter and
that Of a chauffeur accompanied by young wom-
an friend The typewriter and the chauffeur's
friend look dress and act about the same, as do
their male companions. The legitimate excursion
lists noisy and unseenlly the 10y riders
1t requires the utmost care on the part Of the
agent not to make bIunder in his deductions.
and when he sends in his report TO the office OF
the society the question OF its transmission the
owner is more than delicate. No owner cares to
be informed that he was mistaken for his en-
ploye ION a lark If the report is made by tele-
phone his home. the wrong member of the fam
lily may get hold of II, and there may be another
action listed in the divorce court Here is where
the society official needs discretion II the voice
at the end OF the wire says. Yes. my husband
was out with the machine last night Who was
with him. please? woman the official must
somehow evade the situation. for he is not in the
business of furnishing divorce evidence
Reports of all Joy riding cases observed are
sart N Owners whether the latter are members of
the society or not and in the great majority OF
cases the replies show that the agents are cor
rect in their diagnoses. BY keeping on file the
automobile registers of New York. New Jersey,
Pennsylvania, Massachusetts. Connecticut and
Rhode Island the society Is able TO look up the
nans and address of any owner In these states
Az nresent the discipning Of a wayward chauffeur
- ,aft 20 his employer When the Hill law goes
,+ a,ect the 10y rider will be guilty Of lar
ceny and liable TO arrest
Most of the agents work is done at night which
q, rho favorite time for unauthorized spins with
.,Iovars. cars On a clear night eight or nine
80 ora detected by the half-dOZen seuths dis
tributed in likely places within greater New York
while stormy night yields scahtler results SUMS
- tta ogents go afoot. while others have motor
,,astisaton changes from Ocean Parkway IN BROOK
~. 80 Rivsrside Drive. from Jerome avenue 10
49,, 'Ra, Park and includes the less familiar
a ,,au as the favorite haunts of Joy riders
O1rrers who trust the mileage records OF me-
tore or even 10 padlOcks and chains as guards
a,rst the unauthorized use of their machines fail
- osidar that a chauffeur is usually enough Of
a.banic TO be able to manipulate an odometer
80 ~ nick a lock There was the case of man
ubo bought new machine for 5000 and used 1t
80 ard a half weeks society agent reported
the machine miles away from home at a late hour
or the night The owner when informed could not
t,,aa the report for when the machine left the
go. of night for the garage the odometer regis
,srAd 1s7 miles and on its return in the morning
Tho dial stood at los plus just the round "Trip dis
rance between house and garage. Nevertheless. the
agent was not mistaken: he had positive marks or
Identification besides the number 1t clear that
the chauffeur had tampered with the odometer al
tho garage. SO that would not register ths mile