The Richmond climax. (Richmond, Ky.) 1897-1914, 1914-06-17
New Automobile Law.

New AutOmODll0 Law. :.
The automobile law enacted by the
last Legislature became eff ective
yesterday, June 10th. Motor vehicles of
all kinds are included. We publish for
the benefit of our readers in this issue OF
the Climax a synopsis of it. We have
not looked carefully into the provisions
of the law and are not prepared to ex-
press an opinion as to whether or not it
is good law. Certain we are that some
legislation is needed. Few drivers of
automobiles pay any attention to speed
limit and have come to think in many
cases that they own the pixies, or surely
have the right of way and a perfect
right TO run over your dog, your COW or
anything else that comes in their way.
Richmond has been particularly fortu-
nate in few or, in fact, practically no
serious accidents, so the law is perhaps
not as much needed here as in many
other places, yet it may save life and
prevent trouble in other ways if owners
of automobiles and chauffeurs will ia
miliarize themselves with the law and
carefully observe it.
One can scarcely pick up daily paper
without being confronted with head
line-''Killed in an Automobile Acct
dent" A careful adherence to the law
and strict enforcement of it will at
least serve to improve conditions.
The law forbids the driving of any We:
hicle al a speed greater than is reason
able and proper. The following are
limits placed as reasonable and prop
err, any greater being prfma facia evil
dence of unreasonable and improper
speed. In closely built-up sections OF in
corporated cities, ten miles DIN hour: in
residence districts, Is miles an hour;
hig hways outside of the business and
resid ence sections, 20 miles an hour. On
a curve, corner or crossing, where the
operators view is INSTRUCTED, eight miles
an hour is the limit.
A driver must come to full step in
passing frightened horse or near
a street Car taking on or dscharging its
passengers. Any city may, however,
pass traffic laws that place the speed
limit lower than the statute.
The trainers of the law were generous
in providing fines and equally unselfsh
in finding acts which can be punished
Some of the law infractions and theil
penalties are:
Fine OF $40 for fictitious chauffeur.
badge.
Fine of SIS for employer of unlicensed
chauffeur.
Fine of 80 for unlicensed chauffeur
Fine of SIS to $50 for intoxicated ope
rator of motor vehicle.
Fines OF $40 to 800 for use of fcti
tious automobile license.
Fine of SIS to 500 for person rndel
l6 who drives car without parent Oh
guardian.
Cancellation of vehicle license fol
owner who fails to report discharge oil
chauffeur on accocnt of drunkenness.
Two to five years in the penitentiary
for taking machine without consent Of
owner.
Forfeiture of chauffeur's license on
conviction of drunkenness.
Fine of $40 to $50 for violatian of any
section not specifically enumerated
This may be augmented by to 30 days
in Jail.
The new license prices are as follows
For vehicle and % horse power or less,
90; between % and 5Os sli and above sc
horse power, 800 A motorcycle regis
tration fee is So. -
The examination for .chauffeur's to
establish their right TO license are to be
held as follows:
! Louisville, first Monday in December
Lexington, first Monday in February
Maysville, first Monday III April; Bowl
ing Green, first Monday in JULY Padu
cab, first Monday in September; Coving.
ton, first Monday in May.
Until then the Commissioner of Motor
Vehicles at Frankfort will have the
right to issue licenses.