New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-01-07
ALDERMEN CUT AUTO
SPEED TO Is MILES
Pass the Folks Ordinance to
ForestaII Purposed New
CaIIan Law.
PENALTIES ARE DRASTIC
Owner of Car Equally Guilty
with Driver if Riding in the
Vehicle at Time When
Accident Occurs.

Vehicle at Time When
Accident Occurs.
! Without a dissenting vote the Board OF
Aldermen yesterday passed the Folks or
dinance regulating the speed of automo-
biles and other vehicles within the city
| limits. The board was jolted into quick
action by the preparations that have been
made TO amend the Callan state law,
which it was thought might interfere with
| the rights of the board TO regulate the
| speed here.
| The new ordinance fixes fifteen miles an
hour as the maximum except on few
! thoroughfares. where eighteen and even
| twenty-five miles an hour may be made.
| What is considered the best part of the
ordinance by those who are interested in
preserving the lives of children and 9TH
/ ers, which are endangered daily by a con-
stantly increasing number of swiftly NOV
ing automobiles. is the provision made for
penalties
The penalty for a first offence is fine
of from SIS to 500 or fifteen days in JAIL
or both For second offence within a
year the penalty is a fine of from $50 to
800. or thirty days In Jail. or both. For
the third offence within the year the pen
atty is 500. or sixty days in Jail, or both.
/ The penalty is applicable not alone to the
driver but also TO the owner, II he be
! riding In the car and not driving.
Many Streets Exempted.
The exceptions 10 the ffteen-mile limit
are as follows:
The ordinance provides for a maximum,
speed of ten miles an hour In passing q
public school between the hours OF 8 a.
m. and 4 p. m, and that vehicles ap-
preaching from the rear an electric car
that has stopped for passengers shall
come to a full stop not less than six feet
away.
| W. w. Miller. chairman Of the law and
ordinance committee OF the Automobile
Club of America. said last night that be
was surprised To hear that the ordinance
| had been passed. THE ordinance, as
proposed" he said. was most carefully
! considered by the governors of the Auto
mobile Club ! addressed communica-
ton TO Alderman Folks setting forth GER
also asked for hearing.
| Provided. however, that rate OF speed
| of eighteen miles an hour may be main
! tanned. but not exceeded, on the follow
| ing highways, namely: In the Borough Of
Manhattan. Broadway north OF 18th
street. and Amsterdam avenue north OF
| 18th street In the Borough OF The
Bronx, the Grand Concourse and Boule-
ward In the Borough OF Brooklyn, At
/
teenth avenue and Kings Highway. And
| provided, further. that a rate of speed OF
twenty miles an hour may be maintained.
| but not exceeded. on Queens (HoffmanD
| Boulevard. In the Borough OF Queens
| And providing further that speed OF
| twenty-five miles an hour may be main
! tained, but not exceeded. on public high
| ways where the same pass through coun-
| try sections which are substantially unde-
veloped and sparsely settled.
| In his letter TO Alderman Folks. Mr.
| Miller objected to the provision making
the owner, II riding. liable to punishment
as well as the actual driver Of the car
IF II is adopted" he declared, some
of our influential citizens who are auto
mobile owners will doubtless exert press
ure at Albany TO restrict the freedom
of the city to make its own speed laws.
and any such conflict would, OF course. be
undesirable. Furthermore. II would doubt
less end in litigation which would be a
considerable cost to the city,
| Objects to Speed Limit.
| Mr.. Miller also objected to restricting
the speed to fifteen miles an hour any
where. declaring that IT would be better
! TO leave the power speed TO travel at TO
\ the driver, with the understanding that
IL should not be more than twenty miles
an hour He criticised the provision for
speed not to exceed ten miles an hour in
passing schools. declaring II was unneces-
sary, because policemen were stationed at
crossings near schools 10 provide for the
| safety OF children. Objection was also
made to the provision for stopping be-
| hind cars taking on passengers.
Colonel Cornell, Of the National High
ways Protective Association. was strongly
in favor OF the ordinance. He said in
part:
We have got to have a fixed speed limit
| I'm New York City, and fifteen miles an
hour is, In my opinion suitable. Proyi-
sion should be made, however, Tor modi-
| fication of the ordinance 10 meet trafiic
| conditions in particular localities, wher-
| ever this II found necessary; the need
for such modification can only be deter
| mined by experience. II might be well TO
have the limit vary with the traffic condi-
| tons, which, on Fifth avenue. for In
| stance, change considerably with the time
| of day Such variations would be con-
sistent, think, with the safety OF pedes-
| TRANS and the convenience of motorists.
| One thing I would strongly urge, how
ever. and that Is that the city provide
| signs designating the streets adjoining
public schools on which the limit is ten
miles an hour, and also the streets on
which the limit is eighteen miles an
hour for II is obviously unfair to ex-
pect strangers. or citizens. for that mat
ter. to know the exact location OF our
public schools With these provided the
ordinance promises to be the best of its
kind that has ever been passed In New
| York City.
II signed by the Mayor. the ordinance
will go into effect on March 1.