New-York tribune., 1910-01-23
PLEA FOR AUTOLAW
views OF Mr.. TERRY.
of a Uniform
Measure Brought Ont.

Charles Thaddeus Terry's plea for unis
formity In automobile legislation before the
convention OF the National Civic Fedora
ton in Washington last week struck
popular chord. AS chairman of the legis-
lative board OF the American Automobile
Association, Mr.. Terry has devoted perhaps
more study to the question of uniform auto
mobile legislation than any other investi-
gator in the country. He drew up few
years ago the uniform state vehicle law.
the salient provisions OF which have been
adopted by several states. and he also
drafted the bill for a national registration
law, which Is to be reintroduced in Con-
gress at the present session
Mr.. Terry, In view of his familiarity with
automobile legislation in the United States.
was invited by the officers of the National
Civic Federation to explain the necessity
for uniformity in this respect The i'm
portance of the subject was emphasized
by Mr.. Terry's statement that thirty-six
states Of the union have general statutes
regulating motor vehicles and no two OF
them are alike.
Mr.. Terry's speech virtually outlined the
fundamental objects OF the coming national
legislative convention TO be held under the
auspices of the American Automobile AS
sOClatlOn IN w NdSlllEklOn Oh cdr udIy ios
Is and IL. to which the Governors OF ali the
states have been invited TO send as dele
gates their accredited representatives in
charge Of the enforcement of their respec-
tive automobile laws. Mr.. Terry said
There are thirty-three states which have
separate. distinct. and. in many respects.
very different, motor vehicle regulations
When you consider this. and the further
fact that even within the borders of
single state in 10. a few instances the sep
arate counties. towns. villages and cities
have passed motor vehicle ordinances pc
culiar TO such localities and differing ono
from another and all differing in some re-
spects from the motor vehicle law appli-
cable to the state in general, you get as a
net result confusion worse confoUnded-
There are two ways in which this par
ticular evil may be cured One is by the
enactment by Congress of federal regis
tration automobile bill. providing only. in
substance. that, upon registration at a bu-
reau of the national capital after registra-
ton has been had IN the state of the resi-
dence Of the owner of the motor vehicle.
his license TO operate and use the vehicle
shall be recognized by every state in the
Union, and thus freedom in the use of the
vehicle secured. without further license and
without payment of further fees. The other,
by the enactment of all the states OF a
uniform motor vehicle law. exemptins non
residents from its registration provisions.
as does. for example. the law of the State
of New York.
mo one will dissent from the proposition
that unfformi3 In motor vehicle regulation
is not only expedient but in the highest de-
gree desirable. II is conceded that more
about by lack of uniformity of the laws OF
the various states than by imperfect or
even bad laws in special instances. No
where Is this better illustrated than in this
case of travel upon the highways
To take concrete example, suppose
that one were TO start in his motor vehicle
at New York to make trip TO his national
capital at Washington to transact business
with his government He will have no
sooner left the ferryboat on the Jersey
shore before he will be stopped and notified
that he can proceed no further He will
find that what he had always assumed to
be his natural right to use the highways OF
the country, so long he scrupulously re-
Garded the rights Of others upon the high
way, has been erected into privilege, to-
be purchased only by the payment OF
money and the expenditure of time and
trouble in seeking out one of the govern
ment officers and paying fees for a so
called license. He must find the proper
officer at the place where these fees ars
received, fill out and sign an application
blank, pay his money and receive four
tags each one OF which is good for two
days enjoyment of this grand privilege OF
using the highways; and after he has done
all these things he will find that the state
Is not yet satisfied. He must, before he
may proceed. fill out and execute regu-
lar power of attorney. making the Secre-
tary Of State his agent 10 receive process IN
any proceeding which may be brought
against him while he is enjoying this So
called inestimable privilege
When he reaches the borders of the
state of Maryland he will be again held up
and Obliged. before he will be allowed to-
continue his Journey. to go through very
much the same process as he did when hs
attempted TO cross the borders of New
Jersey He will be put to pretty much the
same annoyance, inconvenience and ex-
pense when he attempts TO cross the line
into the District of Columbia. and 1T will
be very likely that when he reaches the
seat of his national government he will bs
so incensed as to have entirely forgotten
the business upon which he came. and be
possessed only with the idea that there
should be some power in the national gov
,rnment to remedy the evil of which he
has been victim. and that IL there is such
power IL should be speedily and effectively
applied
There seems TO be no reason why regu-
ations applicable IN one section of the
country should not De equally applicable to
very other section OF the country, why the
provisions of law adequate for one state
should not be equally adequate for every
,ther state. 1t would seem that IN this
country of ours. IL We are really a nation.
here Is no reason why a license TO operate
| motor vehicle good in New York should
lot be equally good in San Francisco and
n every portion of the highway between
hese two cities, and why one knowing
the law under which he has
ecured such license should not be able to
roceed from New York TO San Francisco
n the perfect confidence that IL he ooeys
hat law he will not be violating the law
highway upon which he travels
THE automobilist claims no special priv
eges but he claims the right 10 fair treat
nent and 10 that end that the laws which
egulate the use OF his highways shall oe
O plain and reasonable that he who runs
N automobile may read them. and may
hey them, and still may travel with COM
ort and freedom from intolerable exactionS
nd needless burdens"