Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-01-23
MOVEMENT FOR
UNIFORM STATE
VEHICLE LAWS
IWHuA
Mc(iinnis Resolution Would
Standardize Ordinances in
All New Jersey.

An effort is being made by the
State department of motor vehicles
to establish uniform State ordinances
having general supervision over the
vehicular traffic in the State, and sub
jeet to enforcement by both State ana
city officials.
With this end in view, Senator
Peter J. McGinnis, of Paterson, has
introduced in the Legislature a con-
current resolution providing for the
appointment by Governor Fielder OF
q commission Of three men to inVes-
tigate vehicular conditions within the
State, and to frame a bill for the
uniform regulation of all vehicles.
1t is the intention OF the depart
ment to require the horse-drawn ve-
hicles TO abide by the provision OF
the uniform ordinances. as well as the
motor-propelled cars.
The resolution introduced by Sena-
tor McGinnis was drafted by Job H.
Lippincott, assistant secretary of
state. 1t was introduced by Senator
McGinnis at the request of Mr.. Lip
pineott. It is based on recommends
tons included in an official letter sent
to Mr.. Lippincott by Public Utility
Commissioner Philander Belts, who
has been making q personal inVestl-
CATION of the yehieular conditions
within the State. and the conflicts be-
tween the State and city ordinances
regulating traffic.
Mr.. Belts declares that the state
department should have general Jur-
isdietion over all the traffic on the
roads and highways and that the Jur-
fsdietion should not be limited TO reg
ulation of automobiles only. His let
ter to Mr.. Lippincott is as follows:
As YOU probably know. my duty
takes me into all portions OF the
State I frequently travel by auto
mobile, driving my own car. This
takes me through portions OF almost
all the towns and cities of the state
as well as along practically all OF the
main highways, and l feel that l am
especially competent to make the
comments which / give below
My observations indicate that
(ffrst) your department ought to have
general Jurisdiction over all the traf-
fic on the roads and highways, and
that the Jurisdiction should not be
restricted to that over automobiles
only. The drivers of automobiles are
particularly offenders, both with re-
gard to the speeds travelled and with
regard to entertainments upon the
rights of others. but 1t very ire
uuently happens that drivers of other
vehicles try to hamper and annoy
automobilists in getting about, and
their slower speed enables them to
do this very readily.
Another way in which the ordt-
nary horse-d drawn vehicles are Sc
rfous menace to the proper use Of the
streets and roads, by other drivers as
well as automobiles, is due to the
general lack of the observance of the
law requiring that all vehicles carry
some form Of light when using the
roads at night. Many of those who
do carry lights use a bicycle lantern
attached to the dash. This lantern is
located in such a way that vehicle
approaching from the rear must pick
out the horse-drawn vehicles by
means of his own headlights.
THE second point I would like TO
comment is that there are employed
by the State in various capacities in
dividuals whose duties take them
sbout the State and whose duties are
! uch that they are constantly OBJ
e rving the traffic along the roads and
Is .hways. This observation is some |
An es critical and needs to be so be-
aAu. We of the particular duties of the
er's, ,ns referred to. I have in mind
arti. eularly the engineers and super
is0rsA of the State highway depart
Ientl, whose work is. of course, pri-
IarIly construction work, but who
re pa Tticularly concerned in the
rope Z use and maintenance of the
1ais. = have in mind also the in
necto. rs of the Public Utility Com
ifssfoa l, and particularly the inspect
RS N 10 look after street railway
raff7c and whose duties are con-
erne17 wi tn bridges and with grade
rossdng $.
INV hought is that you should be
bic to appoint as inspectors in your
eparrsEs mt, without extra conlpen-
alton. 8 UGH persons whose duties
ow talk them upon the roads and
highways in the ways that I have
,iyerf ab ove. My thought is that
hese apr ointments will not neces-
arily IN my way interfere with the
Illrfes no, performed by them in
heir resp, active departments. They
vould perl laps be furnished with
hanks npo n which reports would be
made to I'd ur department from time
q time wln n attractions of the rules
AVE been observed. 1t would be
heir duty when occasion arises to
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