The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-06-22
Secretary Rogers and Attor ney General In Consulta- tion Find Something Must Be Done Birmingham Says:
 "I'll Help But l
 Need Motor Police" Automobile Fatalities Are Increasing and Disobedi ence to Motor Vehicle
 Law Is Appalling
Few. Days of Grace Will Be Given Then Lawbreakers Will Be Arrested With out Fear or Favor-Ac- tion Necessary to Safe guard Rights of Public In Highways.

Secretary of State Matthew H. Rog- CTS, after consultation with the attor- ney general. has decided to take prompt and drastic measures to stop violations of the automobile law. which have already caused some fatalities and threaten others.
 At the office. of the secretary. in Hartford. today, the following state ment was made to a representative of the Farmer by Secretary Rogers:
 'In a conference held today in the office of the Secretary of State, be- tween the secretary. deputy secretary and the attorney general. the violation of the motor vehicle laws was dis cussed. It is generally known that the several provisions of the law en- acted for the safety of the public are generally and consistently disregarded and violated. and that our highways are becoming unsafe for the general public use. In many instances own CTS of cars are operating them with out having the registry of their cars renewed. Frequently cars are oper- ated by unlicensed persons. or by boys under 16 years of age. The restric- tions as to speed are quite generally disregarded by operators of both for eign and domestic cars. The muffler provision of the statute is quite gen orally ignored.
 Several recent fatal accidents have not been reported to the office of the Secretary of State. Penalties for vio- lation of the statute are not being en- forced by the local authorities in diff ferent sections of the State as required by law. Inasmuch as it seems inn possible to procure a proper enforce ment of the law through local authori- ties, an attempt will be made through the State police to enforce the motor vehicle statute and protect the pub lic."
 And. indeed. grave reason exists why the State automobile department should do something to enforce the law. One fatal accident has followed, within a few weeks. close upon an other.
 Within a few days there have been three automobile fatalities in the State, all of which could have been avoided by strict observance of law and the use of due care.
 A stream of complaints of violations is pouring into the office of the secre- tary.
 The number of we'll to do men who have refused to register their machines these have been notified by telephone, or by letter, and have still omitted to obey the law
 The automobile department now is convinced that patience is not virtue and those who do not conform to the motor vehicle laws will be arrested.
 The failure to comply relates to many matters besides registration Drivers have not procured the license which the law requires. MufflerS are cut wide open and high powered machines FasS through quiet village streets and the highways in residential sections of cities making noises like inferno let loose.
 Especially derelict in disregarding local laws are the drivers of foreign cars, coming in from other states. And to these especial. attention will be paid.
 As to the failure of the local authori- ties to enforce the motor vehicle laws the automobile department is much concerned.
 But the laws are not enforced and hence the state police have been called in.
 The state police will not. it is under stood. go to work for several days yet, it being the intention of the secretary to give delinQuents one more chance to obey the law. But when the period of grace has expired arrest will be made without fear. or favor.
 Secretary Rogers said. this morning: "The automobile department is receiv- ing a multitude of complaints of auto mobile violations. So many fatalities are occurring that it is necessary to do something for the safety of the public. l am convinced that the great majority of automobile owners desire to obey the law. Probably 95 per cent. do and the lawleSSness is the product of less than five per cent. of owners. And of drivers I have little doubt but that 75 Der cent. desire to observe the statutes, but p per cent. are careless, reckless and source of much danger to them selves and the public. This 25 per cent. must be made to obey the rules formu- lated for the public welfare.
 ''In ths work which the automobile department is about to undertake as a matter of necessity and solely for the public good. The Secretary hopes that the department will have the fullest coooperation of all officers everywhere and of all owners and drivers of auto mobiles.
 But the department will repress with firm hand all lawless use of auto mobiles and will endeavor to make the highways of Connecticut as safe for the general public as they can be made
 Superintendent Birmingham will welcome the State Policemen if they come to Bridgeport to help enforce the automobile law. It is one of the