The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-07-31
Automobile Laws
 Much improved Attempt to Bring About Uni
 fOrmity Favorable Comment For New Connecticut Speed Laws AUTO LEGISLATION OF VARIOUS
 OTHER STATES.

With the passing of each legisla-
 tive year the campaign conducted by
 the American Automobile Association
 for uniformity and reasonableness in
 automobile legislation is more fruit
 full in results. The Legislative Board
 of the association five. years ago be- gan this campaign. It seemed at that
 time as though automobile touring through the States, would ever remain an inconvenience. No one could ob- serve the different and contradictory requirements of law to which the mo- tor vehicles were subject. It was gen. erally felt at that time because of the prejudice against the motor ve- hicle that more stringent provisions would be adopted and that conditions would grow worse instead of better. But the prejudice which existed was lessened and tempered by reason and now it would seem that the goal sought for is both possible and prob able of attainment.
 During the past legislative year" states Chairman Charles Thaddeus Terry, "the results have been particu- larly good. In the State of Connec- ticut new motor vehicle act has been adopted which in many essential fea- lures follows the line of the uniform act suggested and drafted by the A.
 a., N Connecticut law there is no arbitrary speed limit. The only speed limit in the act is that of reasonable and proper rate at all times, having re- gard to the width of the road and traffic on the highway, and having regard to the protection of life, limb and property.
 Instead of providing that twenty five miles an hour is the speed limit the law provides that a speed in ex- cess of that shall be prfma facie evil denoe of a rate that is not reasonable and proper. This means that a viola tion of the act is a question of fact to be determined upon the evidence, and that if the rate exceeds twenty five miles an hour the automobilist has the right to show that under the circumstances he was not negligent Or operating so as to endanger the life Or limb of any person. Such a provision is the only fair and reason able one, and the time is coming when it will be adopted in all States.
 "One of the excellent features in requiring that all fees and fines for violations of act be turned over to the Secretary of State and expended under the direction of the Highway Commissioner for the maintenance of the State Highways without specific appropriations by the General Assem- bly. This is a provision which should be contained in every State law
 ''The Legislative Board had such a provision adopted in New York and many other States, and the adoption of it by Connecticut, whose roads are used frequently by automobilists is a strong evidence of progress. Connec- ticut is not the only State in which great progress has been made in the past year.
 ..In Alabama the Legislature adop- ted with few exceptions the present motor vehicle law of New York, which is in fact one of the foundation stones laid by the A. A. A. Legislative Board for uniform legislature. The special provision of the present New York law was incorporated in Alabama in toto, providing in that State for the first time the standard of reason as the only arbitrary speedlimit.
 "Similiarly in the State of Maine in the past few years a new motor ve- hicle act was adopted which shows the results of the campaign of the Legislative Board for uniformity. The basis for the payment, of feeo is fixed by the horsepower in accords ance with the A. l.. A. M. rating, tho only generally satisfactory plan. n still another state, Illinois, during the last year the arbitrary speed limit was abolished.
 'When we consider that four years ago only one State in the Union, and that Florida, had the reasonable and proper rate as it's standard speed linn it the results attained can be better especially when you see now that this provision of law has been adopted in such leading States as New York, Connecticut and Illi- nois The work has been difficult and laborious, but results have been reached beyond the expectations of the most hODefIl1 !"