New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-06-10
All Drivers
OF Cars Must
Have License
Law Effective July | Pro-
vides Check on Auto
Operators
No Test for Fitness
Payment Of 81 Gets the Card;
Secretary Of State May
Revoke Permit

/ A bill Just signed by Governor Whit
man provides that after July all
operators of privately-owned automo-
biles. other than already licensed chauf-
feurs, must take out an OPERATOR
license. The fec for this is 81. In the
neighborhood Of 100000 cars, omni'
buses and commercial vehicles which
/ fall under this classification, have thus
far this year been licensed in greater
New York. Operators licenses. how
ever. must be taken out by any OF the
members Of family who operate car
and by any other persons who drive
whether they arc owners or not.
There arc some folks who drive cars
occasionally for their friends, and they
fall under the provisions Of the Dill
Whore women or children in family
drive the car owned by the head OF
the house, too, must be registered
and the card must be carried while the
car is being operated By any person
There is 10 provision for technical
or driving examinations before grant
ing operating licenses. It may be that
tb7a nrovision will be added later as
on amendment. The only apparent
reason for having an operators license
under the present arrangement IS that
!, nuts all automobile drivers directly
under the control of the Secretary OF
S.ato Nv the terms of the bill, Sec
retarv of State Hugo has power TO re-
yoke all automobile driving licenses
whether of amateurs or professionals
after a hearing, following ten days
notice. .,,I
Registration under this law will prob
ablv begin in about ten days time
Motorists from outside New YORK may
drive here for ten days without an
operators license.
II has been ruled that so long as
farmers in this state do not alter the
bodies Of their passenger cars they may
carry farm produce to market without
being called upon TO pay commercial
license fee. Favorable action was taken
during tho past week on the Hewitt
bill amending the state highway law IN
relation to commercial vehicles. II the
farmer attaches racks TO the side OF
his car or a box or platform IN the
rear the car becomes Immediately liaDle
TO a commercial fee. Last week nun
dreds of letters were sent out by sec
rotary Hugo advising farmers or TINS
construction of the law.
OF a hundred or more bills pertain
ing to motor vehicles there are no"
only two in the hands Of the Governor
awsitinc. his action. One calling for
illuminated plates is conceded TO be IN
the morgue. The fate OF the other'
relating TO glaring headlights, is SUN
uncertain. In 1913 there were no Tess
than loo bills introduced in this state
which had a more or less direct bearing
on the motorist. In 1914 the number
had decreased TO 14i; in 1915 to III
and in 1916 10 101.
The trailer" bill. effective August !,
will require all trailcrs to be licensed
at an annual fec running from 50 to
$50. Distinctive plates bearing the
word trailer" have been ordered by
Secretary Hugo to take care of such
vehicles. Two plates will be used on
each trailer. II is figured that there
arc about 5000 trailers in this state
at the present time. 1t is not an un-
common sight these days TO see heav-
ily loaded auto truck dragging a trailer
carving an almost equal load, single
license covering what are really two
practically distinct vehicles. The trail
or bill takes in all the two wheeled
affairs which arc frequently used by
farmers as attachments TO their pas
senger cars in carrying milk to the
stations.