Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1916-05-30
As to the Speed of Automobiles.
SOME PROVISIONS OF LAW THAT ARE NOT
GENERALLY UNDERSTOOD.

Ufd you ever suspect THAT Wnon yOu
jog amiably around the corner Of Odd
Fellows Block at the moderate speed Of
say twelve miles an hour, you are laying
yourself liable to the penalty of the law
for overspeedlng, without any other evil
dence necessary than is sufficient to es-
tablish your rate Of speed?
Since the first of last July the win
dows of the Democrat Office have looked
out on scores Of motor cars driven
around that corner at q rate anywhere
from twelve to twenty five miles an hour.
OF that number probably three-fourtbs
of the drivers had no idea that they
were exceeding the speed laid down by
the statute, and the other one-fourth
didn't care boot, anyway.
II has been urged upon the Democrat
that it is its duty to publish something
relative to the matter of overspeeding
automobiles. Now 1t should be under
stood that no obligation rests upon q
newspaper to attack either public or pri-
vate evils, but there Is hardly paper
which Is not constantly engaged in point
ing out something which needs remedy
ing, and the overspeedipg Of automobiles
is Q thing that is like the poor, because
we have it always with us, when the
roads will permit.
Furthermore, as animated above, 10
may be strictly news to many people
that q speed of more than eight miles an
hour around street corner where the
view Is not clear, makes the driver
liable to the penalty Of the law.
Here are the main provisions OF the
law relative to the speed of motor We
hicles-Chapter 1872, Public Laws Of
1911, as amended by Chapter POT, Pub
lie Laws of 19l5-which will very likely
be amended again by the Public Laws Of
1917, before IL is distributed in the Re
vised Statutes:
Section .. The rate Of speed upon any high
way, town way, public street, avenue, driveway,
park or parkway, by any person operating mo-
tor vehicle In this state shall not be greater than
twenty-five miles an hour In open country out
side Of cities and villages, and within the com
pact or built-up portions Of any city, town or
village not greater than fifteen miles an hour.
The compact or builtup portion Of any city, town
or village shall mean the territory OF Q city,
town or village contiguous to any way which Is
built-up with structures devoted 70 business,
or where the dwelling houses are situated less
than one hundred and fifty feet between them
for distance Of 1t least onequarter OF mile
Provided. however. that no person shall be con-
victed for exceeding the rate Of speed hereby
established for any compact or buitup Por;
Sns S.sss said S Limit qE ss
TO be conspicuousy displayed on sign boards
along each highway, town way, public strees,
driveway or parkway and such other signs a.
win clearly designate such compact or built-up
portion.
Section 8. No person operating q motor ve-
hicle on any highway. town way, public street.
avenue, driveway, park or parkway, shall drive
at any speed greater than Is reasonable, safe
and proper, having regard TO the traffic and use
Of the public way by others. or 80 as to endsn-
ger the life or limb Of any other person. Racing
and reckless driving on any such ways, streets,
avenues or parks Is hereby forbidden. Il shall
be prima facie evidence OF q rate of speed great
er than Ii reasonable, safe and proper, a. afore-
said, II motor vehicle is operated on any high
way, town way, public way, street or avenue,
compact portion Of any city or town at rate Of
speed exceeding eight miles per hour where the
operators or chauneur's view Of the road traf-
dc Is ohstructed either upon approaching an In
tersecting way, or In traversing crossing or In
tersecting of ways, or In going around corner
or.curve In street or way.
Section 8. Municipal officers Of any city or
town may designate places on any streets or
Of clins. entertainments or other exceptional nat
ural conditions the meeting Of motor vehicles
and horses or other animals would be attended
with unusual danger. by causing the words "au-
tomobiles go slow" to be conspicuously display
ed on sign boards on the right hand aide Of each
approach 70 such place not less than one hun
dred and fifty feet distant therefrom. And no
such motor vehicle shall pass any place 80 des-
ignated at greater speed than i've miles an
hour, and II horse ridden or driven II met
coming from the opposite direction and signal
from the person riding or driving such horse or
other animal 10 made. the driver Of such motor
vehicle shall come TO stop as soon a. possible,
and allowing reasonable time for said horse or
other animal TO pass, and whenever travelling N
same direction, shall use reasonable and proper
care In passing said horse or other animal
For Nomination, Not Election.
One misspprehension regarding the
primary election which some people
have should be removed. That is the
idea that voter can 60 into the booth
and "split bis ticket" among the parties.
At the state election in September
voter may split his ticket into kindling
wood IL be desires, but the primary 10
not IN election Of officers, IL Is nomina-
ton Of party candidates.
All parties name their candidates at
the same time In the primarv election.