The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1918-01-14
EXPLAINS new AUTO BILL
Commissioner Baughman Tells Pro-
visions of Proposed Law-Some
Speed Limits Reduced.

Austin Baughman has issued a sy
nopsis Of the Motor Vehicle Bill
1 framed at his request and in accord
K ance with his views, by the office Of
, Attorney-General Ritchie. This bill
2 is designed to strengthen various
, provisions of the existing law, rol
2 the protection OF the public and tC
: clarity other provisions. 1t also pro.
, vides for a Traffic Court in Balti-
more city, to insure prompt action
upon arrests for violations of the Mo-
tor Vehicle laws
Mr.. Baughman's synopsis, in part,
is as follows:
The speed limit OF solid tired We
hicles is reduced as follows: A
including the load thereon weighiD
two tons or less, twenty-five mil
per hour. Those weighing in exc,
of two tons and not in excess OF
tons, fifteen miles. Over six 3,
twelve miles. The existing II al
lows vehicles over four tons a. not
in excess of eight tons a linn of
fifteen miles, and those over eight
tons, limit of II miles.
The provision in the existing law
making the rate of speed exceeding
II miles an hour in thickly settled
parts of cities and Is miles an hour
in the outlying section prima facie
evidence of reckless driving is chan
ged to provide a maximum of Is
! miles in thickly settled parts or
| cities and 18 miles in outlying sec
tions.
"A penalty for exceeding so miles
an hour of from 800 to $1,000, or
Imprisonment for not less than 80
days nor more than or year, is con-
! tain in the new ;tion. Those
convicted of second or additional
! offense of driving more than 60
! miles an hour, are subject to i'm
| prisonment for not less than sc
| days nor more than two years. The
! penalties are made to apply to the
| operator and to the owner, who
causes or permits his motor vehicle
! to be operated in violation of the
| section.
Any person failing to stop, give
his name and render assistance upon
the occurrence of an accident re-
sulting in fatality or serious injury
to any person is subject to a fine of
not less than 500 nor more than
$1,000, or to Imprisonment for not
less than 80 days nor more than one
year for the first offense. The pro-
vision is made to apply to the owner
of any motor vehicle who is present
when such accident occurs.
Those operating motor vehicles
when intoxicated or under the in
f1uence of liquor or drug are made
subject to a fine of not less than
800 nor more than $1,000, or to
Imprisonment for not less than 80 |
days nor more than one year for the
first offeqse. Conviction of subse-
quent offense carries with it a pen
atty of Imprisonment for not less |
than six months -aeF more than two 4
years. Those operating or attempt
ing -onerate a motor vehicle In a |
race -oI speed Ct1ateS ~; N On a EsEsstt sEsst -rzf
wager. are madessubj jectz to fine of |
not less than SIS nor more than !
500 for the first offense."
AS to registration fees Mr.. Bau-
gilman says: |
''Class A-The minimum charge
for pneumatic tired vehicles is fixed |
at $40, instead of IS.
Glass B-The charge for solid |
tired vehicles is raised from So to
$12 for vehicles having a rated car
rying capacity of not more than one
ton, and from s6 to SO for each ao-
ditional ton.
Glass C-Charge for motorcycles
changed from 50 to~s5. A charge
of SO is made for each side car at
tached to a motorcycle. A charge of
SO is made for each bicycle with a
motor attachment
Glass D-The charge to dealers
is changed from $40 to SIS for the
first two sets of registration tags,
and from $40 to s12 for each addi-
tional set.
'Class E-The charge to motor
cycle dealers is changed from SO to
$40 for the first four registration 7
tags, and from 81 to IS for each ad-
ditional tag.
Glass G-This is new class rec
commended for the purpose of in
vehicles which are trailed or
propelled; the charge is $5 for each
vehicle with carrying capacity Oh
one ton, and IS additional for each
additional ton or fraction thereof.
Vehicles having no rated carrying
capacity are charged IS for one ton /
of weight, and IS additional for each
additional ton, or fraction thereof.
"ClaSs H-This is also new
class, recommended for the purpose
of including tractors or traction en-
gines. A fiat charge OF s25 per
annum is provided"
Explaining the proposed traffic
court, Mr.. Baughman says:
This section (159) creates
traffic court with exclusive jurisdic-
ton in Baltimore city over all viola
tions of the Motor Vehicle laws of
the State and traffic ordinances of
the city, and concurrent jurisdiction
with other justices of the peace out
side Baltimore city over violations
of the Motor Vehicle laws Of the
State mi those cases where it Isl
for the accused to have
tried in Baltimore city. 1
1t is provided that any person so ac
cused shall have the right before
trial to order the case removed for
trial before justice Of the peace or
the county in which the alleged Of
tense occurred.
The traffic court is to be located
n the Central Police Station in Bal
-imore city, and is to be presided ov-
ar by a justice of the peace appoin-
ed by the Governor. The justice of
he peace of the traffic court is to
receive salary of twenty-five hun
ired dollars year, and is to have a
substitute who is to receive a salary
IF five hundred dollars a year. 9th
er officials and clerks of the court
Ire to be furnished by the Board of
Police Commissioners of Baltimore
,ity. Provision is made for the
leepfng of records, dockets, etc. The
Justice of the traffic court is given
power to punish for contempt, and
S required to furnish bond in the
um of ten thousand dollars All
alaries and other expenses of the
ourt are to be paid out OF the re-
eipts of the Commissioner of Motor
Tehicles." .
Many officers of the Marine Corps
nd the Navy are members of a class
eceiving instruction at Washington r,
n defense against the use of gas. =,
The Woman'S committea pf fhe o.