The Washington times., 1916-10-28
BY COL E. AUSTIN BAUGHMAN,
Commissioner of Motor Vehicles of
MARYLAND.


Part 3 of the automobile law takes
UP the registration of motor vehicles
and their operators. This section of
the law is the most important of all,
as the individual cannot use his car
until he has complied with the pro-
visions of this part and displays the
proper tags and the State receives IT'S
revenue for the upkecp OF the roads
under It's provision.
Every owner OF motor vehicle must
fiji in and file with the commissioner Of
motor vehicles an application blank for
his license and pay the correct fee In
order to secure tags.
He must, Of course. register his We
hicle In the proper class, as to have
II improperly registered Is as much a
violation of the law as not to have IL
registered at all. These classiflcations
are entirely new In this law
The old merchandise class has been
done away with, and now all vehicles
except those used FOR the transporta-
ton of persons for hire. and those rum
ming in fixed schedules or routes. arc
classified according to the kind of tires
on the wheel.
carrying capacity-$S for the first ton
and IS for each additional ton. Pneu-
matic-tired vehicles for private use are
horsepower or fraction thereof.
Should Follow Formula.
In applying for licenses the appli-
cant should I'm all cases be governed
by the formula printed In the back OF
Pamphlet Law" which is furnished
on request by this office.
Another radical change in the charge
for licenses Is that the monthly change
OF rate is done away with, and here
after all licenses issued prior to April
] are charged for the whole year and
all before July l three-fourths of the
Zee. and prior to October onerhalf
When the license Is issued n certificate
of registration is furnished, and this
must at all timeO be carried in the car
in order to determine whether or not the
proper tags are on the car while being
operated.
In the case Of motor vehicles used
for hire an entirely new class has
been established. These cars must dis
play tag with the letter III on 1t.
which signifies a hiring license, and pay
at the rate of 81 per horsepower per
year.
This entities an owner to transport
people for fares whether he has pneu-
matte or solid tires on the vehicle. II
does not permit him, however. to oper-
ate over a fixed schedule or route. In
this event the car must he registered
with the public service commission and
pay a stated amount per passenger seat
per mile that they are operated.
Must Have Two Sets.
This section also provides that dealers
hereafter will pay at the rate of $40 fol-
each set of tags and they are required
10 buy at least two seta. These tags car
be used on any vehicle owned by said
dealer except those used for hire. These
must be licensed as explained above.
Section AZ takes up the transfer OF
ownership of licenses. as this is part
that Is not generally understood. In
the case of a person having a car al
ready licensed and buying a new car
the same tags can be used provided q
transfer Is made. This Is done by filling
out an application for transfer aud
sending il together with the old regis.
tration certificate and payment of the
proper fee. A new certificate is ther
issued emitting the person to use his old
tags on the new car.
The Maryland law also provides thai
every operator must have a drivers H.
Censc. An individual driving his owl
car for pleasure obtains perpetual
license costing 81. This is good for ope
rating any make of car
An individual operating his car FOL
hire or as an employe in any capacit!
OF the owner of the car must take on
chauffeur's license costing 50.
Clerk Must Have License.
This license Is good for one year from
date of issuance. Under this provision
clerk in the store must take out i;
chauffeur's license to operate the pro
prletor's car whether he is employed
10 do this or not. Garage mechanics
must also have this kind of license 70
Testing out cars This section also limit
The age of persons to whom license
may be issued.
An impression prevails that ANYONE
can operate a car If accompanied by
licensed operator. This Is entlrel!
wrong, as the law only allows such ope
ration while the person Is learning, 5u
In no case permits anyone under eight
ecn to operate an automobile. The limi
for motorcycle operators is fourteen
years. In next weeks article l will
take up the operation of motor vehicles
the equipment necessary, and in WIN