The star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1908-1909, 1909-03-20
NEWARK GIVES
TO STATE FINES
AUTO|STS PAID
Check for 81 ,83z.05 Turned
Over to the Motor Vehicle
Department.

The question of jurisdiction over the
automobile fines collected within the
Newark city limits, over which there
has been a difference of opinion since
the Frelinghuysen law went into effect.
was definitely concluded last Wednes-
day, when the city officials ~relinquished
all claim to fines collected from motor
lists, and paid over to the representa-
tive of the State department of motor
vehicles a check in full for all such fines
levied in Newark since the spring OF
1908.
Inspector Anderson Shinn, of the mo-
tor vehicle department, has been to
Newark several times on the matter,
but 1t was not until last Wednesday
that his work was definitely concluded,
he at that time receiving from Treas
urer Albert T. Guenther and Auditor
George Forman. of Newark, a check for
1882. 05, the payment representing the
fines collected from motorists n held
by the city pending a settlement.
There has never been any disposition
on the part OF the city officials to try to
keep the automobile money in the city
treasury any longer han was necessary
to determine the question of ownership,
as many believed that under local ordi-
nances Newark was entitled to all fines
of this character collected within its
borders, the negotiations for settle
ment have been carried on with the
friendliest of feelings on both sides.
This was one of the cases In which
the New Jersey Automobile and Motor
Club worked in conjunction with the
State department. the big motoring or
ganization having taken up the matter
with Commissioners of Motor Vehicles j.
B. r. Smith last winter and furnishing
through it's system of tracing cards the
specified individual cases upon which
the State could base a claim.
As soon as the matter was placed be-
fore the city officials, q thorough nves-
LEGATION was started in all of the city
courts to ascertain what fines had been
collected in automobile cases and as
soon as the text of the automobile act,
providing that all such fines should be
turned into the motor vehicle depart
ment for the repair and maintenance of
the highways was called to their atten-
ton, these fines were Immediately set
aside and were this week turned over to
Inspector Shinn without further ques~
tion.
The officials of the New Jersey Auto
mobile and Motor Club some time ago
came to the conclusion that there we're
many cases where fines had been col
lected from motorists throughout the
State and not turned into the fund for
road repairs, as the receipts from this
source by the motor vehicle department
were very small, indeed, and proved be-
yond a doubt that either through n
misunderstanding of the requirements
Of the law or through design, many JUS
tees of the peace and some municipali-
ties were withholding the fines col
lected.
A card index system was inaugurated
by the club, and every member was re-
quested to report to the secretary the
full particulars of all fines paid by him
while operating his car in this State.
The result was that cases of in
dividual graft and dishonesty practised
by some justices in the rural districts
were Immediately brought to light, and
the evidence was turned over to the
State department, which promptly
acted in the matter with the gratifying
results that in a short time the graft
ing system was practically eliminated
and the guilty brought to justice.
Where no fraud was intended, as IN
the case of Newark, a demand for the
money was made and the case followed
up until settlement was obtained.
The system has resulted very salts
factoriIy, the State revenues from this
source increasing materially and the
petty graft almost entirely disappear
ing, so that the club has every nope
thats during the coming summer the
Iaw-abiding motorists may use the
highways without fear Of running into
the carefully laid traps maintained for
them by the Mars and Waldvogels and
other modern h~ighwaymen masduerad-
ing under the name Of justice.
Word was received sthis week thai
the state department had also closed
un the cases that the department mao
under investigation at Asbury Park.
and that nearly $500 had been collected
from a certain justice in that locality