Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1919-07-09
What's What
In Iowa Auto Law
NEW SPEED LIMIT.

In addition to establishing an arbi-
tary law for the right-of- way for
automobiles Mt intersections. the new
law fixes n maximum speed limit OF
thirty miles an hour and that speed Is
legal for cars and load combined thai
weigh less than three tons. The law
specifies that cities and towns may es-
tablish speed limits lower than the
maximum fixed In the new law, but
no ordinance Is valid that Axes rates
OF speed that are higher.
The maximum rate Of speed OF thirty
miles for motor vehicles and load not
weighing moro than three tons, fxes
the speed limit for practically all pas
senger cars. but the provision In made
that this maximum applies only to
cars equipped with pneumatic tires.
For those equipped with solid tires
the limit Is twenty-five miles.
Twenty-Five miles an hour Is the
legal speed limit for motor vehicles
and load OF moro than three tons and
less than six tons equipped with pneu-
matte tires and twenty miles for those
OF the same weight equipped with solid
tires.
Sixteen miles Is the speed limit for
motor vehicles equipped with pneu-
matte tires and weighing with load
more than six tons. Those OF this
weight with solid tires are limited to
twelve miles.
Ten miles an hour Is the limit Tor
all motor vehicles or trailers equipped
with two or more metal tires.
Some features. similar to those al
ready in force in old automobile laws.
prohibit the parking Of a car within
fifteen feet Of q fire hydrant; the
parking Of cars within fifteen feet Of
the entrance Of . theater, auditorium
or other building where large assemo-
lagos Of people are being held, nor
allowing q car to stand in the street
with the motor running while no one
Is in the car.
A new feature is that II is illegal to
allow an automobile to stand within
twenty-five feet Of railroad track
with the red tail light of the car burn
ing.
The law makes It mandatory for
slower moving motor vehicle, when
approached from the rear by faster
moving car, to turn out and allow the
approaching car to pass when the
driver Of such an approaching car sig
nails with his horn that he desires to
pass. The burden Of hearing the Sig
nal and Of turning out to the right, so
that the car coming froul the rear oaa
pass to the left, is put entirely ON the
driver of the slower moving car. A
penalty Of both fine and Imprisonment
is provided for the driver of the slower
moving car who fails to turn out and
give the road when signalled so to do.
The law also places the burden OF
proof upon the driver OF the slower
car. If he claims that he did not hear
the signal. In other words the law
says that the driver Of the slower NOV
ing car must hear the signal and must
turn out and not hog the road.
The law fixes maximum loads at 500
pounds per inch Of tire that actually
comes in contact with the surface OF
any road surfaced with concrete. brick,
etc, and 400 pounds per inch OF tire
in contact with any road Of dirt or
gravel.
The minimum width Of any motor
vehicle and it's load is set at eight
feet, excepting loads OF loose hay,
straw or similar farm products.
Operating motor vehicles while in
toxicated is made misdemeanor, and
leaving the place where his car has
caused an accident without giving his
name and address and giTing aid to
the injured is made a felony. Not
only does the law provide the usual
punishment for conviction both for
driving a car while drunk and failure
to stop in case of an accident. but II
provides that a certificate of registra-
ton shall not be issued to persons SO
convicted. The law provides for the
motor department Of the secretary OF
state to keep a record Of all convic-
tons for infractions Of the automobile
law so that certificates Of registration
will not be issued to those who break
the law.