The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1910-06-10
new MOTOR Law JULY |.
MANY CHANGES IN REGULATION OF
AUTOMOBILE TRAFFIC.
Licenses, Speed, Horns, Joy Riding
And Other Subjects Included
In The Enactment.

The new automobile law passed BY
the last Legislature will 90 into effect
July 1, when all the chauffeurs' Iicen-
ses and certificates Of registration I'M
der the old law viii have to be ex-
changed for operators, licenses under
the new law.
Mr.. John q. George, Of Queen Anne's
county, Commissioner under the new
law, has opened Offices n the Union
Trust Building and vii be required
to give all his time and attention to
the work. His salary vii be $4,000
per annum.
Mr.. George will obtain from the
Secretary of State all existing records
of motor vehicles and licenses of
chauffeurs, including the names OF
addresses of the owners, name of the
makers of the machines. the mannfac-
turers' numbers and the horsepower
of each machine. These records
henceforth will be kept BY the Com
missioner of Motor Vehicles
In addition to these duties the Com
missioner is required to enforce the
law SO that motor traffic IN the State
shall be reasonably and efficiently
regulated.
Under the old Law It vas held that
firms, associations and corporations
could not obtain certificates of regis
tration, but licenses had to be obtain
ed by individuals. Under the new Law
the term owner Is made to EN-
brace persons. firms. associations and
corporations.
An interesting feature Of the new
law is a provision which permits the
surrender of a certificate Of rgistra-
ton at any time during the year and
the collection of the proportlonate
part of the registration fee for the IN
expired portion of the year.
Fees for Licenses.
A radical change has been made
concerning the Issuance Of licenses 10
operators. Under the old law owners
of motor vehicles and other persons
except chauffeurs, we're not Obliged to
obtain licenses 10 operate machines.
Under the new law no person Is per-
mitted to operate a motor vehicle IN
less he has an operators license the
only exception being in the Gaze Of
person accompanied BY licensed
operator.
The following fees must be paid for
licenses to operate motor vehicles In
this State
Glass A. Six dollars per annnm for
each motor vehicle With 4 rating Of
twenty horsepower or less: twelve
dollars per annum for each With n
rating of more than twenty hofsepow-
er and not more than forty horsepow-
err, and eighteen dollars per annum
for one with a rating Of more than
forty horsepower.
Glass B. Three dollars per annnm
for each certificate Of registration of
a motor vehicle used only for trans
portation Of merchandise.
Glass c. One dollar and eighty
cents per annum for each certificate
of registration of motor cycle.
Glass d. Twenty-fouf dollars per
annum for each certificate assigning
a general distinguishing number Of
marks TO a manufacturer Or dealer In
motor vehicles other than motor
cycles.
~. Speed and Accidents.
According to the new Law the rate
of speed of motor vehicles shall not
be more than Il miles an hour In the
thickly settled or business section of
IUb city 10 IIllffh III tn 1nAaaiIk Ain-
tricts, or more than p miles In The
open country. It Is no longer IN Of
Tense, according TO this law. 10 simply
exceed a speed limit as formerly. but
the speed limits are set merely As
prima faele evidence. leaving tie con-
viction largely 10 the sound discretion
of the magistrate.
The law also requires IN the case Of
accident the operator Of the machine
must stop and give his name. resi-
dence, and the number Of his license
TO operate on demand. and render such
assistance as may be reasonable and
necessary.
Only such horns for warning signals
can be used as operate BY hand pres
sure. Motor vehicles are not TO be
tempered with by the bad boy OF the
inquisitiye man under penalty of fine.
Joy riding Is prohibited and ehanf-
feurs will be heavily fined for taking
their owners cars without permission.
The fine may be $500 OF imprisonment
for 80 days. or both.