Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-12-20
VIRGINIA ROADS OPEN
TO D|STR|CT AUT0|STS
Commonwealth Attorney Mackey
Relieves Apprehensions of
Excursionists.
Motorists May Use Highways Under
Easy Restrictions Without
Payment of License Fee.

Apprehensions of Washington motorists
desiring to make short or even long ex-
cursions into the state of Virginia that
the absence of a Virginia license tag
rendered them liable to arrest have been
relieved by announcement just made by
Commonwealth Attorney Crandal Mack
ey of Alexandria county 1t has been
currently reported that such persons were
likely to be fined Immediately on crossing
the Aqueduct or Chain bridge into Alex
andria county, but such is found not to
be the case. it is declared.
Section 10 of the acts of the Virginia
legislature. under date of March IL, 1910,
which is the latest law on the subject, it
is declared. says:
ANY owner or operator not a resident
of Virginia, who shall have complied
with the laws of the state in which he
resides requiring the registration of motor
vehicles, the licensing of operators
thereof. and the displaying Of identified
ton or registration numbers on Sucn
and who shall cause the identifi-
cation numbers of such state to be dis
played on his motor vehicle while used
or operated upon the public highways Of
Virginia, may use such highways not
exceeding two periods of seven consecu-
tive days in each calendar year without
the payment OF a license fee.
Applies Also to District.
1t is noted that this law refers to resi-
dents of states. However, section of
the Code of Virginia provides as follows:
THE word state when applied TO
part of the United States. shall be con-
strued to extend TO and include the Dis
trict of Columbia
1t will be seen, therefore, it is de-
clared, that permission is explicitly grant
ed to Washington automobiles to visit
the state of Virginia, under certain re-
strictions,. without the purchase of a
license.
Crandal Mackey. commonwealth at
torney OF Alexandria county. said today
that he is frequently called on the tele-
phone by officials and business men of
the city TO find out whether or not they
can drive their cars or business trucks
into Virginia without first procuring a
license.
The above statute said Mr.. Mackey
ito all practical purposes, throws the
highways of Virginia open the year
round 10 District motorists, inasmuch as
such persons always claim that they are
utilizing the first of the two periods of
seven days each allowed them. and there
is hardly a practicable way of disprov-
ing sucn statements.
The policy OF the county is to throw
open its roads as much as possible. in
that automobile owners are q desirable
class of visitors and. in many cases, are
likely to become interested in real estate
in that region. We want such people,
and it is the desire OF the people of the
county that these laws be construed az
literally as possible. We cannot, you
can readily see. wish to have merchants
from whom we purchase goods and who
make deliveries of such by motor trucks
harassed by any over-strict Interpretation
Of the law.
License Needed FOR Daily Trips.
'.Of course. a man whose business takes
him day after day into the county by
automobile should. and is expected to-
provide himself with the proper license
Any person who needs such license should
write to the secretary of the common
wealth at Richmond. The cost Tor
machine OF less than twenty horsepowel
is but 50 and for an average truck SO.
Mr. Mackey said further that the IN
coming governor, Henry Stuart, wht
takes office January l, viii be urged 10
and probably Will agree TO enter lntt
an arrangement of reciprocity with every
other state, so that all automobiles car
use tie roads OF Virginia the year round
which, under the law, ne has power to do
No license is required for any motor
vehicle going TO Fort Myer or Arlington
as the United States government a few
years ago aequireG fee simple title in the
road leading thereto, which acquisition
has been confirmed by the courts.
Under this seven-day privilege" added
Mr. Mackey, "the President. members o.
the cabinet and many people in officia
and business life of Washington can and
do visit the Washington Country Cluf
of Alexandria county, and il is only
right that they should do So