The evening world., 1913-04-15
AUTOSCAN SPEED
At 20-M|LE RATE
: ON CITY STREETS
Aldermen Adopt Ordinance
That Increases Limit From
4 Fifteen Miles.

~ . unanimous vote to-day the Board
a Aldermen adopted the revised speed
NV oedinanoes sfIeotins driving of mo-
eoss1Ftvsn vehicles through any public
hA0hway IN ne greater city. and pro-
veo1ng Tor Q speed Of twenty miles an
bon. A COPY Of the ordinance will be
go 60 che Legislature In the fnal adop-
S9sa of . STATE measure applying to
900 REGULATIONS which the Board Of
Aldermen hes no power to enact into
lev.
wlth he presentation to-day Of the
report Of the special committee of the
board appointed In 1912 to investigate
gpesd conditions, Chairman Ralph Folks
explained that the present city ordin.
ances are Anticipated. ineffective. In
adequate and unsa ttsfa Glory both to
the public and those who have to do
with the enforcement Of law" Origin
ally an ordnance was suggested pro-
va1inS for . strict fifteen miles an hour
uaAtatiop IN tho built up sections Of
the city.
'Th1s fifteen miles an hour feature"
sAys the report Of tho special committee.
has been changed In accordance with
ths Vractics obtaining in practically all
Of ne cities In the United States. max
ting any speed in excess Of fifteen miles
per hour prima facic evidence OF reckless
driving. The committee has seen nt,
however. 70 add . strict Limitation Of
twenty miles.
tue prima facie rule makes impos-
sihes an arrest At any time for exceed
ting Aftsen miles per hour and there II
= legal presumption Of guilt on the part
Of Tie defendant unless hs oan demon.
straks to tho satisfaction OF the Court
thai there was no reoklessness. The
sped permitted on country roads and
outlying sections Of the city remains
twsnty-nve miles per hour. the same as
previously reported.
tho committee has made no change
IN ne severe penalties for reckless driv-
ing. which apply under all circum-
stances and conditions, regardless OF
the rate Of speed. whether It be four
or hfteen mltss per hour. These pen
altiss alone shOuld discourage speeding
and, taken together with the prims
fa1lo rule and the Limitations prescribed,
should provo effective for all purposes.
"The committee has also slightly
changed tho provision A. to protection
OF -assenEers who are getting on and
on street cars. A space of at least
eight feet shall be preserved At all
times between . street passenger car
which has been stopped to receive OF
discharge passengers. and any vehicle
II the space Of eight feet cannot BE-
preserved the car must be brought tc
. full stop.
The penalties provided apply to any
violation OF the provisions Of the ordi.
nance and are:
"For the hrst offense not less thar
SIS nor more than 800. or by imprison.
msnt not to exceed fifteen days. OF
both.
'The penalty for the second offens,
within ono year IL doubled and tn,
penalty for the third offense within
ono year Is . fine Of 500. or impris
onment for q term not to exceed sixt!
dayU or both.
Tho state law substantially limit
the Jurisdiction OF the Board Of Aldor
men to questions OF speed and for thi
reason the ordinance does not includ,
other regulations which have beeI
heretofore suggested by the commit
tee last July. and some of which arr
receiving consideration In the Stat
legislature"
Under the ne wordinance an owne
present In his cor at the time of [
collation. Is held to be liable.