The Newark star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1909, 1909-04-24
SMITH ISSUES
INSTRUCTIONS TO
STATE INSPECTORS
Motor Commissioner Insists ON
a Full Enforcement of
the State Laws.

day in the Office of Chief Inspector
johnson in Jersey City and issued to
them instructions concerning the en-
forcement OF the new automobile laws.
Practically every paid inspector in the
State was on hand to meet the commits
sioner. Those present were Inspector
Boutillier, of Essex; Alderman, OF Hud-
son: Sawyer, of Passaic; Kincaid. Of
Norris; Shinn, of Burlington, Pedigree,
of Camden; Thompson, of Somerset;
Baldwin, of Hudson, and Edward john
son, the chief inspector.
After discussing the provisions of the
new laws, Commissioner Smith ssued to
tons.
Some extracts from these Instructions.
which are filed with good common
sente and logic. follow:
1T is the desire of the department to
make the enforcement of the law this
year more efficient than in any previous
year. While l think we nay be con.
graduated on the work already done,
there is very much yet to do before 81
reasonable degree of perfection may be
said to have been attained. The
changes in the law this year also win
make the work more difficult.
1.-THE new tourists license feature
will undoubtedly present many COM
plications. 1t is quite evident that tho
public has. as yet, a very IN
derstanding of the features of this act.
1t will become your duty to enforce its
provisions strictly.
"A violation is not only punishable
under the motor vehicle law for driving
under a false registration, but, also, by
the new act, is made a misdemeanor,
which means an indictable offense.
While we do not want to deal harshly
with ane one. we must deal firmly, and,
unless this. law is strictly enforced, IL
will. no doubt. be greatly abused
Enforce the Rules of the Road.
Perhaps the greatest injury to users
OF the Dad comes from the failure OF
motorists and non-motorists alike to
accord to other users their legal rights
A motorist with a high-powefed rapid
ly moving car uses his power to com
pei other users to sacrifice more Of
the Dad than the law requires. On the
other HAND drivers of heavily loaded
muscularly propelled vehicles are
sometimes found equally. arbitrary
when the power which they possess
may be exerted to interfere with the
lawful use of a motor vehicle. While
you have nc power to compel obedience
to the law in such cases you do have
a moral right to interfere on behalf OF
the motorist. Police officers have q
power and a duty which sometimes
they are ignorant of. or at best do moi
realize, of compelling obedience to the
law of the road.
Speed Regulations.
with regard to speed regulations.
must again emphasize that the para
mount duty is to protect equally thu
rights of all users of the road, and tina
no speed shall be maintained at an,
time whether within or without thu
maximum limits which will interfere
with such rights. This Is our law ant
n which should be strictly enforced
While maximum speed limits are fixe,
It does not mean that maximum spec
limits may be maintained by motto
vehicles at all Zines. 1t is often foun,
that a rate even of five miles an hour
or perhaps no rate at all, under Ger
tain conditions, is dangerous, and there
fore, under the provisions Of the motto
vehicle act unlawful.
Nor does 1t follow that 10 excee,
the maximum speed limits when n
INJURY can possibly result thereby,
such an offense that punishment i
inherited. The maximum speed limit
are provided for the purpose of pro
tecting equally the rights of all user
of the highways-not for the purpos
OF establishing a means of punishment
for some particular person.
Examination of Licenses.
1.-THE department has found this yea
an apparently increasing disposition OF
the part of motorists TO use false reg
hstrations. An act making such use
,misdemeanor is now in force.
DO not hesitate to max compliant
and have v~iolators of this law boun'
over to h grand jury, when the cas-
appears to be willful.
watch very carefully Joy riding
and driving by intoxicated persons. A
suoh cases coming under your atten
ton should be promptly reported an
sct down for a hearing,
Reports.
Tn making your reports to the de
partment be as explicit as possibl,
Present such evidence as would be az
eepted in a legal trial. Also present a
length you own impressions togethe
with such recommendations as ma
seem prope to you. Do not allow I'll
Impression to gain currency that yol
principal business is to do patrol dut,
The absurd notion that eight inspet
tors are able to patrol the entire publ
road system of the State is still at
hered to In some localities.
Enforce the law in such a way thu
it will be respected, not Stunned or al
tagonized by honest-thinking person
Make, II possible, those who are a
fected by the laws provisions i
friends. not it's enemies. Make the
a feel that the law is for their prote4
ton when they do right and for the
guidance In avoiding wrongdoing. Nal
them assistants in enforcing the la
rather than enemies bent on the law
violation and destruction.
Punish when necessary, and puni'
hard; but in determining on punisl
ments, look we'll to the motive as we
as to the actual violation or injury; al
remember, the principal and most of
cicnt instrument in your hands for t
accomplishment of this end is comm,
sense.
1T is the purpose of the departing
x develop more perfectly thar heret
fore the policy established elsewhere
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