Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-04-12
MOTOR LICENSE
REGULATIONS TO
BE MADE ANEW
Speed Limit to Be Raised
From 24 to 80 Miles
an Hour
FEES WILL BE LARGER
Weight and Length of Trucks
Defined to Protect
Roads

1oOdUS
An increase of registration fees of
from fifteen to eighteen per cent.
for all motor vehicles except motor
cycles and numerous new regulations
for the use of automobiles and
trucks, protection of their owners
and control of drivers and traffic
have been provided in the latest
draft OF the Dithricf motor vehicle
bill. which will so before the House
of Representatives wnen the Legisla-
ture OF PENNSYLVANIA reaSSem bles al
ter the Easter vacation. The Dill
now embodieS the ideas of State Of
ficials and legislators, the Pennsyl-
Vania Motor Federation and others
who have been interested in such
legislation.
$40 Minimum
The salient features are as fol-
lows:
Registration fees for pleasure cars
to be forty cents per horsepower with
$40 as the minimum. all cars weigh
ing less than 5000 pounds and used
for commercial purposes to be regis
tered at the horsepower rate.
Five classes provided for registra-
tion o. commercial cars as follows
\, 5000 to 1000 pounds, SIS; Is, A.
600 to 5000. S25;C. 5000 to 5000,
sac; u. 5000 to 10000, $50; Z, 10000
to $1,000, 500; T. 1900 to $4,000,
$3.50.
Motor vehicles with metal tires to
pay double rates.
Trailers to pay So for from 500 to
$50 pounds; 50 up to 1000; SO from
1000 to 1000. and SIS above 1000.
The half pay period begins Sep
tember l instead of July l.
Loads Defined
~ Commercial cars must not exceed
guarantee of manufacturer. The al
lowunces are: Glass 4, 5000 pounds;
Il. 5000; (. 10000 and for the
other classes $4,000; trailers not to
weigh over $4,000, including load;
three-inch figures showing carrying
capacity to be painted on sides.
Twenty eight feet maximum length
except fire apparatus: maximum
weight with loan $4,000 pounds, un-
less special permits are taken out;
maximum width 80 inches.
Highway commissioner given broad
powers in determining upon special
permits and may require statement
of character of load and route to be
used.
Truck speed regulations are TO be:
Class A. Is miles per hour; B, L;
Z, 10. and others 8.
Thirty Miles an Hour
Other vehicles may be up to thirty
miles per hour on open highways
and local authorities are authorized
to erect signs forbidding more than
fifteen miles per hour in built up
districts. sign warnings limited to
one-eighth of a mile, additonal
signs required for such distances.
The speed limit now is "a miles an
hour.
Local authorities will control local
traffic.
Reciprocity regulations for pleas
IRE cars are according TO restrictions
of states where they are owned. but
on commercial vehicles one day a
month is allowed without a Pennsyl-
vania license. The latter is a new
provision and will cause many
owners of truck lines to take Penn
sylvania licenses as such cars are
now making frequent trips through
parts of the State. some of them
passing from one State to another
on daily routes.
Only persons over sixteen years
of age may be registered to drive
and applications must contain sworn
statement of mental and physical
qualifications. Learners can have
thirty days. but must he accompanied
by a licensed driver. Any person
who has lost the use OF one or both
hands or of both feet or who can
not distinguish objects l50 feet away
with the aid of glasses or who has
less than 20 per cent. of normal vis-
ion or less than per cent. of nor
NAL hearing can not be licensed. An
exception is made in case of persons
with one hand who can furnish evil
dence of ability to handle cars.
To Detect IhcftS
Persons are made punishable by
heavy fines for removing, obliterat-
ing or destroying manufacturers
owners or identification numbers or
marks: persons having possession
knowingly a car where number or
mark has been damaged or removed
are also amenable to fine unless
that accident or absence of design to
conceal identity are shown.
Garage owners and managers and
repair shop people are required to
keep records of cars left for repairs
with fun data. Where a cars marks
have been removed police and State
authorities are to he notified at
once.
Under terms of the bill the month
IS bulletin of registration is to con-
tain not only number and name of
owner. but address of owner, make
of car and manufacturers number.
This is a big change and one long
sought.
Fines for violation are to be re-
tanned by municipalities for high
way repairs, officers in charge 60 re-