Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-06-15
CHANGES MADE
IN AUTO LAWS
STATUTE WHICH BECOMES Eff.
FEcTIvE JULY 4 OF VITAL IN.
TEREsT TO JOY RIDERS.
FIX LICENSE RATES
Yearly Fee Dispenses With all. Other
Taxation-Present Levies Must
be CanceIIed-Rights of
Autoists Defined.

! The new automobile law passed by
the last general assembly, which be-
lcomes effective July 4, is most radical
in it's changes and places stringent
rules upon fast drivers. The license
rate which has been fixed abolishes
all other taxation on motor vehicles
and 1t has been ordered that the levies
| for this year be cancelled. The statute
also provides for the placing Of a
number on the front of the machine
as we'll as behind Autoists must slow
down when approaching pedestrian
and should they run over anyone 1t
shall be considered as a felony should
they fail to stop and give their names
to the injured party or an officer. If one
is present. There are other points of
Importance in the law which in sub
stance follows:
! License Rates.
| For gasoline automobiles, So for ma
chimes of horse power up to twenty,
and 40 cents for each additional
unit of horse power above twenty;
electric and steam vehicles, SID;
motorcycles, So; dealers demonstra-
ltion numbers, SIS. Buyers OF ma
! chimes have the privilege of operat-
ling their new autos fifteen days I'M
/ der the dealers number while await
ing the issuance Of their own IL
cense numbers.
| The new law which becomes eff
fective July 4 requires that number
plates be displayed on the front as
well as the rear of motor cars and
they shall be hung in such a man
ner that they cannot swing or sway
| The Most Radical Change.
| Perhaps the most radical change
lin the auto laws is the provision
| that the license called for shall
i take the place of other taxation on
motor vehicles and the funds so col
lected shall go to the permanent i'm
provement of the roads of the state.
The new law specifies that the IL
cense collected by the secretary OF
state shall take the place OF other
taxes of any nature on motor vehicles
and directs that the taxes levied this
year shall be cancelled. For the year
1911 only one-half the tax or license
will be collected.
Under the law motorists are re-
CURED to exercise somewhat greater
degree of caution in driving than mas
hitherto been demanded and the man
on foot is given one chance Tor MS
life by the provision that autoists shall
slow their machines on approaching
a pedestrian and the fact that a motor
running at speed in excess OF twenty
five miles an hour is made evidence
presumptive of carelessness and lack
of proper precaution on the part or
the driver.
Is Made a Felony.
II is made felony for any driver
OF a motor vehicle which has run down
or injured any person or caused any
accident on the public highways to
leave the scene of the accident without
stopping and giving his name and ad-
dress to the injured party or to an Of
fcer of the law, If one be present. This
lis about the most drastic feature IN
the new law and while most auto
mobile drivers do far more for the
victim than merely to give him their
names and addresses, the clause mas
heen inserted on account OF the nu-
merous occasions where JOY riders
have injured or killed other persons
and sped on without stopping.
On the other hand, the new law
estah,ishes the rights Of the motor
vehicle on all highways, and, fol
lowing the law Of the high seas, makes
the more speedy machine responsible
for the avoidance of accidents. 1t mas
long been marine law that the ocean
liner shall take the precautions Wnen
meeting a sailing vessel on account
Of the greater ease with which the
swifter vessel can be maneuvered.
This principle is now applied to autos
on the roads of Iowa and Is expected
to reduce to the minimum accidents
resulting from careless driving.