The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-01-06
UNIQUE CASE WITH
 STATE SECRETARY
Among Most Technical Heard by Motor Department

The state secretary yesterday re- ceiVed a letter from Alexander l.. De- Laney of Bridgeport containing the action of the city court of that city in the case of Harry D. Gates of the Fairfield Auto Company of Bridge port, who was before the court on a charge of duplicating the markers is- sued from the state secretary's office to registered dealers. Gates was fin ed $10, but upon request of his law yer the execution of judgment was suspended
 manager of the company. He was given a hearing before Colonel Rog CTS November 29. Testimony pre- sented by State Police Officer Virelli disclosed that the company had pur- chased last years markers and thought it all right to paint the nu- morals red. VirelIi first observed the car bearing the handmade markers in the first part of October. Arthur Fffoot, in charge of the department, testified that three sets in addition to the six sets issued regularly for deal CTS had been sent in 1909. Gates tes- tified that he had two 1909 markers painted over The state secretary re- served his decision at the time to see what action the court would take. He might have revoked the license. The company applied for six sets of 1911 markers in 1910 and the markers have been forwarded. It is said that there are automobile dealers throughout the state who let other people use their markers, and the people operating the car with the dsaler's number on it do not comply with the law in get ting a license. They are dealt with az soon as discovered, but this case is different. The markers had been rlislaid.
 1akk .It-~ Delaney follows:
 ''I beg to inform you that Harry D. Gates of the Fairfield Motor Com pany was to-day brought before the city court of Bridgeport and charged with having used improper markers On his automobiles, and was fined $1O and costs. The execution Of the sen tence was suspended upon the recom- mendation of the prosecuting attor- ney, and Gates received severe rep rlmand and the court stated that any subsequent violation under section 4 of the automobile law would be se- yerely dealt with by this court''
 Before this case was heard In tine state sacretarys office, the deputy sec retary received an opinion from the attorney generals office, which was given as follows:
 In your favor of yesterday you ask, ''Is there any penalty under the mo- tor Venlcle law for substituting a counterfeit plate for a destroyed or Inutilated plate, as permanent marker. instead of applying to the secretary for new number plate. as provided by section f, of said law?''
 There is a penalty for such an of fense under section 15 of the motor vehicle law Any person .who fails to display on a motor vehicle the number plate ana the register num- Der duly issued therefor. shall be fn- ed not more thar $10O. or Imprisoned not more than ten days or both.''
 You further ask: ''Is there a penalty for renting dealers markers to own CTS Of private motor vehicles?" Yes. you will find a penalty under section b. Any person who attaches Or per m1ts to be attached to a motor ve- nlcle number plate assigned by the secretary to another vehicle" shall be fined not more thap sl0o Or imprison- ed not more than len days, or both