The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1912-01-24
" No SPEED LIMIT
ON OPEN ROADS,
MARYLAND COURT
Recent Decision in Garrett
County Interests Washing
ton Automobiles.
BY HARRY WARD.

Motorists Of this city who use the
Maryland roads will be interested in Il
decision recently handed down by the
circuit court Of Garrett county. Mary
land, holding that on q free highway,
where no one Is endangered. practically
no speed limit exists. and that an ar
rest cannot be made even II the mo-
torist is going 100 miles an hour.
During the last term of court tho
case came up IN which the owner of an
automobile had been arrested for ex-
cecding tho speed Jaws on the new
State road, near Oakland. At the
time of The arrest the owner took an
appeal from the magistrate to the ctr
cult court.
The officer. In making the arrest,
claimed that under the law any speed
exceeding twenty-five miles per hour
was a violation OF the law. and subject
to arrest and fine. The officer testi-
Ned that the motorist was going at the
rate on sixty miles an hour, while the
automobile driver claimed he was going
only between twenty-three and twenty
five miles an hour.
Judge Henderson, in handing down
q verdict of not guilty, decided there
was virtually no speed limit outside
Of cities, towns, or villages. and that
and did not endanyer life. limb, or
property of others he was not liable
to the penalties imposed by the law.
The decision 10 o; great importance to
Washington motorists, as well as those
living In MARYLAND. as many have been
arrested and fined for exceeding twenty
Ave miles an hour on the highways by
local magistrates
People are coming more and more to
he NJ
said Ted" s.. Johnston, of the Buick
Motor Company AT the recent Gar
den show our New York branch re-
ceived orders from agents IN that terri
hundred and seventy cars in all, to be
delivered by March 10. This is more
than 80 per cent In excess OF the num-
Der ordered for delivery by the same
people are getting ready to start in very
early this year, whether spring weather
arrives early or late. And II Is not a
bad barometer of the condition of the
automobile industry"
Motorists in all parts OF the country
will be interested In Congressman Vol
stead's Federal automobile bill, intro
vides, in effect, that for the payment OF
SO a year the Good Roads Bureau, OF
the Department of Agriculture, shall
issue a Federal automobile license to
any person applying IN Soou idi'i' dIto
giving his or her name, residence, and
postoffice address, and the assurance
| that the automobile for which the II.
cense Is requested shall not be operated
! for hire.
The name of the automobile and Its
maker, the manufacturers number, and
| the horsepower of the machine mus!
also be set forth. Persons who intend
, to operate machines for hire must nile
with their application two photographs
| of 7themaelyes and two affidavits oil
1 character Extremely severe penalties
going as high as $500 fine and one years
| imprisonment are provided as punish'
ment for persons who give false testi'
/ mony In securing a license to operate
an automobile. or who transfer such
| license without authority.
] sort have been complex and lavish OF
| details. the Volstead bill is simple y
| the extreme, and for that reason will
| have, II, Is Understood, the support oil
many members of both branches OF
| Congress.