Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1915-12-30
MODEL IITNEY
BILL PLEASES
IITNEY OWKtnO
Measure Prepared by New York
Attorney Does Away With
Liability Insurance.
MAY BE INTRODUCED AT
NEW JERSEY LEGISLATURE
Will Be Recommended to Mayor
Raymond for His APP
proval.

OoHldllttIB HTDP1S1OIS WDlcl are
very favorable for jitney owners The
model" jitney bill, prepared for the
National Automobile Chamber Of
Commerce. and which is intended to
be introduced into several State Leg
islatures. New Jersey included. this
winter. has been received in this city
1t was drafted by Charles Thaddens
Terry of New York, professor OF law
in Columbia University. while its
principal advocate in this State at
present is William J. Morgan, of this
city. Mr.. Terry the author, is chief
counsel for the National Automobile
Chamber of Commerce and the Amer
ican Automobile Association.
The proposed law requires that
every jitney must be licensed, the cost
thereof to be s. and that a monthly
payment OF fifty cents be paid for in
spection by the municipal authorities.
Every jitney driver must have a GER
tificate of fitness which shall cost 81
year. The bill applies only to
busses operated in cities.
Insurance and Routes Cut.
There is no reference to liability in
suranee or to the authority of the
governing body to fix the routes to be
followed by jitneys. In yetoing the
Works and Common Council regu-
lating the jitneys, Mayor Raymond
expressed the opinion that the in
surance clause was not pecessary.
The jitney men fought the ordinance
most strenuously because of this
clause, which they claimed would put
them out of business, and the clause
relating to the fixing of routes by the
municipality.
A jitney is defined by the proposed
law as a motor bus engaged in the
transportation of passengers for hire.
A taxicab or motor vehicle used
solely in livery" is excluded. A taxi
cab, for the purposes of the act,
means any motor vehicle having a
meter or other device by which the
charge for hire is mechanically calcu-
lated
A motor vehicle used solely in
livery is described as a vehicle hired
for service for a fixed fee by the day
or hour. The word ssperson'' as used
in the act means any individual.
firms plrt4sifzhip. association, cor
poratl0n or otffAf legal entity en-
gagged in the jitney business.
The second section provides that
.'any person" operating a bus must
obtain a license from the city au-
thorities, who shall have authority
to pass upon the merits OF the appli-
cation. When the license. is granted
the license fee OF s. must be paid.
The third section states that mo
person shall operate a motor bus
unless he has been examined and IL
censed as a motor bus operator by the
city authorities" This examination
shall include ability and knowledge
as an operator, physical qualifications
4@r.
hieles and their parts
If such examination proves salts
factory a certificate of fitness shall be
given the applicant, which shall cost
81 and shall be good for one year.
All jitneys shall be subject at all
times to all the provisions of the
State motor vehicle law and all the
provisions of city ordinances with
reference to the operation Of motor
vehicles"
Can't Overload Cars.
Unlawful acts are described as fol-
lows
Operating an unlicensed bus: op-
Grating bus carrying more passen-
gers than il has seating capacity for,
or carrying any passenger on the out
side; driving bus without a
sign that can be read a distance of
100 feet
This sign must state that the ve-
hicIe is motor bus and it must give
the amount of fare charged. A sim
liar sign must also be displayed on
the inside of the bus.
Another unlawful act is described
as operating a bus when the equip
ment or brake are in need of repairs,
or when the surfaces of the street
are wet, slippery or Shiny, unless the
tires of the two rear wheels thereof
are equipped with tire chains"
Any license granted under the act
must be revoked for gross careless
ness in the operation of the bus or in
its maintenance. A hearing upon five
days notice must be given before the
license can be revoked. 1t can be sus-
pended pending the hearing.
A violation OF the act would be a
misdemeancr punishable by a fine
not exceeding 500 or imprisonment in
the city jail for not more than thirty
days, or by both fine and imprison-
ment.