The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1916-09-30
WHAT WILL
BE DON E
TO BOYS?
Ordinance FOrbids Boys or Girls Under
Eighteen Years to Drive Motor Cars
Within City Limits


City officials are confronted With 4
problem which win require study and
good judgment to solve and will likely
result in the repeal OF the ordinance
which provides that persons under
eighteen years OF age shall not drive
automobiles or motor propelled vehi-
cles within the limits Of the city OF
Chickasha
The impression has prevailed chat
this law affected only those under six
teen, which age limit was mentioned
by Councilman DuBose when he inquir.
ed Of the council Thursday night what
course would be pursued in the matter
Of permitting kids to run cars with
in the city limits Children OF tender
years are often permitted to handle
the steering wheel, he said, and when
they get out on the country roads they
whoop it up. While that was not 4
mater OF moment to The city council
he was Interested in knowing what
steps would be taken to execute the
law in Chickasha.
/ Mayor Coffman stated at the meet
ing that an ordinance was now in ef
feet limiting the age at which motor
cars might be driven by persons in
Chickasha and that an examining
board had already been created by or
dinance but had not been active. . A
discussion arose as to the expedieiicy
Of the ordinance, some councilmen
stating that boys under sixteen were
oftentimes more capable drivers than
their elders.
The mayor asked until the next reg
ular session to appoist an active board,
one competent to pass upon The quail
fications Of chauffeur
Investigation at the city hall this
morning revealed the fact that an age
limit of eighteen is prescribed by the
ordinance instead Of sixteen and that
th penalty for its violation is fine OF
not under $5 nor exceeding $25 for
every violation. This matter will not
be pushed by the traffic officer, how
ever, until further and definite steps
are taken by the council.
This ordinance was passed several
years ago when there were not doz-
en- automobiles in the city. BY the
time the number Of cars reached ap.
preciable proportions the ordinance
was forgotten. AT present many boys
and girls under eighteen are driving
cars and many of them are competent
TO eliminate them as drivers would
work an inconvenience on many faith
ers in Chickasha for whom their chill.
dren call after business hours and who
drive them down to their offices in the
morning. returning the car to the gar
age where il is placed at the disposal
Of the family during the day II is
pointed out that girl OF sixteen or
seventeen is almost Of age and that
many boys under fifteen are good driv-
ers, and although not possessed OF the
mature judgment Of adults make fairly
safe drivers and often sit at the wheel
when accompanied by their parents
What seems to be the most probable
course that the council win pursue ac-
cording to those who are Informed ia
the premises. is the confirmation of a
competent examining board to be ap
pointed BY the mayor and the repeal OF
the present ordinance so that only
those who can pass examinations as
competent drivers may be permitted
to direct motor cars within the city
limits reasonably irrespective Of age
In determining upon the qualifica.
tons of such drivers the members Of
, the board will be shown" by the ap
pIicants and not vice versa 1t viii be
no part Of the duties of the board to
instruct drivers but to judge whether
applicants can handle their cars with
out endangering the safety Of the ger
eral public. Thereafter no one will oe
+ permitted to drive a car without a IL
cense should such legislation be en-
acted.
Another fact which has developed in
the discussion az the matter is that no
law at present exists for the punish-
ment in the city court Of boys under
sixteen in case Of accident.