The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1917-01-30
RAFT OF BILLS TO AMEND
STATE AUTOMOBILE LAWS
OFFERED in LEGISLATURE

yer who operates a car under the
influence Of intoxicating liquor or
drugs it does away with the alterna-
tive penalty Of a fne.s For. the first
conviction, the maximum penalty is
sixty days in Jail, and the minimum
ten days; for the second conviction.
and all subsequent, the minimum SEN
tence is six MONTHS and the maxi
mum two years in the 1915 act
The Watt bill, however, leaves I'M
changed the penalties provided for
operating a car upon a wager or in
a race for making a record or for
evading responsibility, or making a
false statement in a license applfca-.
ton. In 1t, as in the 1915 law, there
is an alternative of 5000 fine or a
six months Jail sentence in the max
imum penalty, for first offense, and
an alternative of $500 fine or a
years imprisonment for subsequent
offenses. For violation of section IA
of the 1915 law - the one aimed
against 'joy riding Operating a car
without the permission of the own
er)-the penalty remains the same
six months minimum sentence, two
years maximum
E
Motor Vehicle Commissioner.
The creation of the office of COM
missioner of motorNvehicles is the sub
Ject, of another Of House Chairman
WATTS measures-as it is also the
subject of bill introduced in thu
senate by Senator Klett of New Brit
ain The main difference between
the two bills, however, is in the mat
ter of salary. Mr.. Waits bill would
compensate the new commissioner at
a rate of $1,000 a year; Senator Klett's
would make the compensation $1,000
less.
The commissioner created is to take
over all duties in regard to motor
vehicles now under the Jurisdiction Of
the secretary of state. He may ap-
point one deputy commissioner, at
salary not to exceed $1,000; and also
examiners, to be paid at the rate of
a day, and expenses.
Operators are to be- required. un-
der the proposed legislation, to make
written report of all accidents in
which they are concerned, resulting
in personal injury or damage to prop
erty in excess of $40, to the commits
sfoner of motor vehicles within twen-
ty-four hours after the occurrence Of
the accident. Failure to so report
entails suspension of license for three
months7and a maximum fine of 500
and maximum Imprisonment of one
month, or both, may be enforced in
addition.
Wide powers are provided for the
commissioner in one section in that
he may revoke or suspend licenses
with or without hearing 'for any
cause he may deem sufficient'-but to
persons convicted of operating while
under the Influence of liquor, licen-
ses cannot be issued until at least one
year after the suspension.
As to Headlights.
AS to dazzling 'lights'-when
there is insufficient light at night to
render objects visible for a distance of
$50 feet, the dazzling headlights
may be turned on in full, according
to the provisions Of the house bill; but
it is also provided that no dazzling
rays shall be at any time more than
three and half feet above the ground
on level road, at a distance of fifty
feet or more ahead of the car, and
that such light shall be sufficient to
enable the operator to see objects
within ten feet on each side of the
car and ten feet ahead of it. Pre-
vious-and possibly subsequent-dif
ficulties in the Interpretation Of the
section are allayed by the provision
thatNth commissioner Of motor vehi-
cles may make regulations to deter.
mine what shall constitute dazzling
rays', within the meaning of the act
presumably, after experiment and
observation.
Mr.. Peasley Of Cheshire, majority