The Newark star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1909, 1909-04-17
AUTO|STS PLEASED
At BILLS PASSED
BY LEGISLATURE
New Jersey First State to Re-
quire Lights on All Vehicles
at Night

Motorists all over. the State were fig
uratively hugging each other yesterday
when word came from Trenton that in
the closing hours of the Legislature
their pet bills correcting many of the
unjust provisions in the motor vehicle
act had passed both houses and would
o be signed by the governor. The
New Jersey Automobile and Motor Club
did yeoman service in helping to pass
the various bills. and the legislative
committee of the { 3 was at all times
in close touch with the situation at
the capital.
The big local club has always advo-
Gated five principles in automobile Leg
islation, viz: Lights on all vehicles
using the highways at night, the aboli-
ton of the so-called speed traps, the
admission to the State of nonresident
motorists on a tourist permit, the ex-
pending of the license fees for the re-
pair OF highways only, the placing
of heavy penalties on Joy riders" in
toxicated drivers and speed maniacs.
AN OF these principles are recognized
In the various bills that were passed
this week, and although the new Iegis-
lation may fall somewhat short of the
ideal automobile law, it is such an i'm
proveinent over the old statute thai
motorists are well satisfied with the
progress made as a result of the cam
paign of education ,waged so strenuous
ly all winter through the medium of
the Board of Trade, the manufacturing
interests and me various automobile
clubs.
A brief summary of the results ac-
complished is given herewith:
House bill No. us, Colgate-Reauir-
ing all vehicles TO display a white light
at night.
House bill No. 120. Colgate-Makes it
a misdemeanor to drive an automobile
without consent of owner, while IN
toxicated, for a bet or wager, to break
a speed record, or after license has been
revoked, also for failure to display
registration numbers or to fefsely dis
play registration numbers.
Senate bill No. 325, Frelinghuysen-
Amends the present automobile law so
as to give to non-residents the privi-
lege of coming into the State for eight
days or four periods of two days each
in any one calendar year upon payment
of a certificate fee of 81.
Senate bill No. 1872. Bradley-Prac-
tically eliminates the speed trap evil
by placing the fees of justices of the
peace at a very nominal figure and
throwing the costs of court or of an
appeal Upon the justice of the peace.
unless charges are sustained. Also pro-
vides for the abolition of the require
ment to carry numbers on lamps and
increases the legal speed limit in the
open country to twenty-five miles per
hour.
Senate bill No. 245, Frelinghuysen-
Releases moneys ta3at have already been
paid in to the State treasury from au-
tomobile feees. licenses. etc. so that
they can be Immediately applied to the
repair of highways.
Senate bill No. 246. Frelinghuysen
Giving the State highway commits
sioner two additional assistants, who
shall be licensed engineers, under whose
supervision such moneys shall be ex-
pended for the Improvement of such
highways as the commissioner may
designate.
New Jersey can pride herself on being
the first State to pass a law compelling
all VenICleS TO carry iBnlS at night.
The increase of the legal speed limit to
twenty-five miles In the open country
is also good policy. as almost every
motor car driver under the old regu-
lations was compelled at some time to
unwillingly break the law. Although
the 81 clause for the tourists privilege
is to be regretted, yet the Frelinghuy-
sen bill is a long step in the right
direction, and may eventually lead to
the entire withdrawal of the barriers
which have so long prohibited out-of-
State motorists entering New Jersey.