New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-07-01
Registration of Motor Car
Drivers Is Farcical
Move
Why Not State-Wide?
Because Upstate Legislator
Knew They Couldn't
Put II Over

Although the law requiring all ma.
florists in greater New York to have
operators licenses goes into effect Ia.
day, its enforcement will be delav.a
for a few days, because by no mssna
all those supposed to take out such n.
censes have received their cards. Not
until Wednesday last did the appliea.
tions begin TO 20 out by mail to reeis.
tered owners. The last OF the notices
have hardly been received By the Der
sons to whom they were addressed.
Filling out the blanks. returning them
and getting the cards will probablv
take another week. 1t is likely that
there will be no insistence on license
cards being carried before July s.
The license is required 70 be had by
all persons who operate cars, whether
their own or belonging TO some one
else. 1t does not cover chaufeurs Who
drive for hire. Not only is Il required
Of all residents Of greater New York,
but Of non-residents who drive he,
for more than ten days in any one esl.
endar year. The application blank n.
quires to know the age, color, sex.
weight, height, color Of eyes and color
of hair of the applicant. The rest Of
the twenty questions asked are these:
What type of motor vehicls do you q
sire 70 operate!
How long have you operated motor ~
hicles?
How many miles approximately hsvs
you operated motor vehicles?
Are you familiar with the rules Of ~
road and the provisions of the motor ".
hcle law of the State Of New York;
Have you any mental or physical IN
capacity or infrmity of which you aes
aware which would in any way interfere
with the proper management and control
/ by you Of motor vehices7
Have you ever had an accident whih
operating a motor vehice2 II go. give
particulars and state whether any injury
resulted.
Have you ever been granted . ehauf.
feurs license in this state? IL go, give
year. Badge number.
Do you wear glssses7 II 90, In Whist
respect is your eyesight defectivel
Do you use intoxicating lquors' II -.
TO what extent
Are you addicted TO the use Of morphiAs :.
or other drugs?
Have you ever been convicted OF any
crime under the laws of this OF any other
state, or the regulations, ordinances or
laws of any city. town or village, relauns
to the use of motor vehicles upon the pub
lie highways? II so, give nature OF OF.
fence. In what court convicted? Date OF
conviction? Penalty imposed?
Give complete residence address.
Give complete business address. =.
All this has to be sworn to before
notary public or commissioner OF
DEEDS and sent with 81 in money or
der or certified check to the Secretary
Of States office, at 227 West Seventy.
fourth Street.
The principle Of having all oper-
ators of motor vehicles licensed after
being duly examined in road test
and in a written examination TO show
their fitness 10 operate cars is all
right and no motorist is likely TO b.
ject to that, But to single out tho
motorists of greater New York and
make them pay 81 apiece for license
granted for merely filing out blank
of this kind is farcical. 1t means
about 100000 more in fees. That is
all 1t does mean.
The legislators who passed this bill
were careful to see that IL didn't sp..
ply up the state or outside Of New
York City. There is talk that vi an.
other year it will be statewide and
will include real examination. II
the operators license really meant
anything that would be the basis right
now for issuing it. But as 1t stands
it means solely that the motorists OF
this city have been harpooned again.
For the sake of Furnishing few
speeders and reckless drivers, over
whom the police already have great
powers, all other motorists have been
made to come across"