New-York tribune., 1918-07-07
California Has Move
Plan of Licensing
Automobiles

The State of California has an auto
mobile license system quite unlike any
other in effect anywhere else in the
country. According to C. H. Larson,
Of the Oldsmobile, the plan works to
the absolute satisfaction of California
car owners, and the idea could be very
profitably put into effect in every state
in the Union. In outlining the scheme
Mr.. Larson said:
1.-The most noticeable difference to
any one unaccustomed to the California
system is the fact that the car owner
has permanent license number and
uses the same set of plates from year
to year. Even though he sells his au-
tomobile and buys a new one he re-
tains his number This means, Of
course, that the expense of making
thousands Of new steel plates each
year is done away with.
But naturally. there must be some
means by which officers Of the law
can recognize whether the current sea-
sons license fee has been paid This
Is accomplished by issuing small seals
of a distinctive form and color that
attach to the plates. This year the
insignia is green mission bell. These
seals are all OF the same design and,
OF course, cost only small traction
OF what IS usually expended for new
plates, each Of which must be STAMPED
separately.
But that is only a minor benefit
to the owner OF machine. The really
big thing is the identification. With
each new license an Identification
sheet is supplied in duplicate. This de-
scribes the car minutely, as we'll as
giving detailed information concern
ing the owner and his residence. This
must be attached to the car under
lslnglass. At the bottom of this card
is blank transfer (also in duplicated
which must be filled in if the car is
Sold and must be turned in at the IL
cense bureau before license is grant
ed the new owner The license cannot
be transferred with the car.
"Also, the man who sells the car is
required to turn in the duplicate trans
Ter when he makes application for the
right to use his plates on any other
car and before he is given a new
identification card. In this manner the
ISe~NO DS P0i eiHSAlt 10 cl.dUlGQ TO keep q
double check on every automobile in
operation
when moments thought is given
the matter it becomes perfectly appar-
ent that this system complicates mat
ters q great deal for thieves. In the
ilrst place, every thief knows that even
If he succeeds in removing car to
some other part Of the state anv al
teration he may make in numbers and
correspondingly on the identification
sheet can be inme diately traced by
merely telephoning the central bureau.
Furthermore. he realizes that any
one with grain Of sense 70 whom he
might try to sell the car will demand
that he prove ownership or will IN
slsS upon withholding payment until
he has had chance to forward the
transfer TO the bureau for checking
and license plates.
AS q result, they say in California
that thief has to cross the mountains
to dispose of stolen car. If the sys-
tenn were in use throughout the coun-
try, even this remote chance would be
done away with"
Mr. Larson is telling his clients
about the plan in the hope that enough
interest will be aroused to create q
popular demand for legislation that
will give New York at least good
variation of this ingenious plan, which
IS in keeping with prevailing economy