Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1913-07-24
AUTO LAW MADE
MODEL IN STATE
important Changes in ReguIa-
tion of Motor Cars. Rrovis-
ions More Strict---Cut-outs.
and Needless Noises are Ia
booed--City Ordinance Can
not Conflict.

booed--City Ordinance Can
not Conflict.
The changes in the Wisconsin auto
mobile law which will become effec-
tive as soon as the governor signs
the A. E. Martin bill which has pass
ed both houses without a dissenting
vote, all tend, according to James T.
Drought, president of the Wisconsin
State Automobile association, further
to curb the reckless use of automo-
biles and '.joy riding"
President Drought has compiled in
brief from the vraious changes made
at this sessi on. Among the important
amendments are:
1. Increasing maximum penalties
for second violation of speed laws in
any ONE year or while intoxicated to
$500, or sixty days in Jail, and in
cases where the driver of an auto
mobile runs away upon causing an
accident without giving aid or dis
closing his identity, the maximum
penalty is raised to 1000 fine and
not less than three months nor more
than two years in Jail.
2. Speed is reduced to eight
miles per hour in parks and ceme-
terieS and while passing school
grounds.
g. Reducing speed and stopping
of automobile while street cars are
taking on and discharging passen-
gers.
4. Automatic traffic regulation at
all places where no traffic police Of
ficer is directing same by providing
that all vehicles shall have the right
of way over all other vehicles ap-
preaching from the left on cross
streets.
5. Reduction of speed to fifteen
miles per hour upon meeting any We
hiele upon a highway the travelled
track Of which is Less than twenty
feet wide, and requiring all vehicles
to meet to the right and pass to the
to give to the other vehicle one-half
the road.
6. Muffler cutouts prohibited in
cities and villages.
Provision for adequate warn
ing signals similar toathe ordinances 4
which have proven so successful in
Chicago, St. Louis, Cincinnati and
other large cities.
8. Prohibiting unnecessary noise
signal and prohi biting use of the dis
tinctively siren horn on vehicles ex-
cept by fire and police departments,
fire insurance patrols, and ambulan-
.ces.
9. The right of an owner to re-
tain any set of number plates during
the entire year and to transfer same
to any new car purchased during
such year by payment of fifty cents
to the secretary of state for such
transfer. The fee of $500 for each
registration remains the same as
here tofore.
TO- Prohibiting the driving of au-
to..lCt ,es at might without sufficient
lights or at a speed in excess of the
ability of the operator to stop his
car, with the aid of such lights, with
in a distance in which he can see an
object the size of person in time
to avoid striking same.
IL. Severe penalty for Joy rid
ing'' by providing:
Amy person who shall take, use
and operate any automobile or mo-
torcycle without the consent of the
owner thereof shall upon conviction
thereof be punished by Imprisonment
in the state prison not more than five
years or by imprisonment in the
ounty jail not more than one year
or by a fine of not more than 1,000.'
u. Minor changes relative to the
printing and distribution of the reg
istered lists of owners to county
clerks, sheriffs and city and village
clerks, and relatives to~the employ
ment of help in the secretary of
states office to care for automobile
registrations.
IS. Registration fees for dealers
raised from S. to SO and sundry
minor changes are made relative to
the issuance of and use of dealers
number plates.
IA. Local ordinances which vary
in different cities are prohibited.
All in ALL said President Drought
commenting upon this legislation,
''Wisconsin's new automobile law is
model which can with profit be
copied by sister states as being the
most flexible, and at the same time
most protective to the pedestrian
public, of any state IN the middle
west -