Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1909-01-09
NEW AUTOMOBILE
LAW is PROPOSED
Law VIII be More Favorable to
the Owners Of Cars.
EFFORT TO BE MADE
TO HAVE The BILL PASSED

The law is Patterned Largely After
the Law Now in Effect In oho--A
License Of $500 for Each Car and
a chauffer Will be Required to Pay
Registration Fee Of $500.
The legislative committee OF the
West Virginia Automobile associa-
ton fsas completed the work of fran.
ing bill providing for the registra,
taon, identification and regulation OF
motor vehicles, operated and driven
Upon the public highways Of the state,
which Is to be presented at the com
fnE session Of the Legislature. The
members who framed this bill, which,
Il passed, is to be known as the West
Virginia State Motor Vehicle Law
are w. Fl. Hearne and J. G. Ewing, OF
Wheeling, Frank Chapman, of Wells
burg. The bill in many sections is
copy OF the Ohio automobile law
which was passed at the last session
of the Ohio legislature
The antomobilists seek to secure a
lower license and also to have what
ever money possible resulting from
fslae provisions of the bill used In the
Improvement of the state roads. Rel
stave % tire licensing of motor We
fcIes the bill provides that every ma
chine shall be registered upon the
payment of SO as a registration fee
"a the office of the secretary of state. !
In applying for registration the appli- ]
cant must give brief description of
she vehicle to be registered and the
name of the ownertsurte. 33$ebpl !
4p1me and address of the owner. Upon
SAe payment OF the registration fee
gRse secretary OF state shalD issue the
applicant a registration certificate ami
also shall igsGe distinctive number
2s an Identification mark This bill
Ens5vides for these numbers to be sim
xar To these issued by the state at
rresent Further provision is made
sar the secretary of state to furnish
ave clerk i'm every county of the state
a-Sth a list OF the registered vehicles. I
a distinction is made in the cars of
maUn'ac. uqers and dealers, they being
charged $40 for registration.
: ~. Must Have Brakes.
The proposed PAW requires for every
vehicle to be fitted up with adequate
s,ahes, a suitable device for signaling
Tor lights in the front and rear and
ssfsr measures for the protection oil
wsers of the highways.
As does the Ohio law the bill pro-
ys4es for the maximum speed in
WHICH car shall be driven both in
pae city and country district, this part
of the bill saying:
ssTn no event shall any automobile,
mvotor nvcle or other motor vehicle be
operated at a greater rate of speed
shsa y miles an hour in the bust
ness and closely built up portions OF
sny municipality in this state. or more
gsan rs miles an hour in the other
vJrnions of such municipalities. no
msre than 20 miles an hour outside of
such municipalities. which rate OF
ss,eef shall not be diminished nor pro
AEbbted bv any municipality, board or
ssfser public authority. but municipal
rites may by ordinance define what
sre tire business and closely built up
xurtbons OF such municipalities"
TIE bill provides for the DOING
nway with the licensing of non-resi-
DENT owners. provided that such non
zezsfdent owners are from states where
me law is practically the same as the
West virginia law and they have com
uaied with the provisions of the law
NV the state in which they reside.
Registration of chsuffers.
Provision is also made for the reg
ashatian OF chauffers. any person de
SIZING to operate a car as chauffer
Bsasng required TO file an application
aad pay registration fee of $500.
The automobiles aim TO take the
waiter of legislation out OF the hands
Ns local authorities as much as pos
szsle as is explained in section 81
nj the bill, as follows:
NO local authority shall have any
yasVAr, except as herein otherwise ex-
fsgessiy provided, to assess any IL
esnse baX. or to make any ordinance,
xg4aw, or resolution, respecting mo-
emr vehicles, or their speed upon or
ase OF tine public roads or highways
M this state, and no ordinance, by