Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1919-05-06
Changes In Automobile Laws.

A number of changes in the law rsls-
tive to the registration and operation OF
motor vehicles were made by the lsgis-
lature at the recent session, amounting
practically to q revision Of the law.
While the law as passed has been widely
distributed in the form of newspaper
supplements, the act as passed is long
and will not be carefully read by many
people, and a summary Of the changes
has been prepared by the automobile
bureau Of the department OF state.
The act goes into effect on the first Of
next January, and does not apply TO this
years registrations.
The summary prepared shows that
the act passed makes changes in the law
as follows:
Makes no charge for registration Of
automobiles owned by the State, county,
municipality, Water Districts, ETC., but
stipulates that such automobiles shall
have markers approved by the secretary
of State.
Increases the speed limit in the open
country to 35 miles, beyond which no
operator shall drive his car; makes II
prima facie evidence however that the
automobile Is being driven faster than
Is reasonable and proper when 1t reaches
a limit of rs miles In the open country
but gives the driver chance for defence
II he can prove that the 20 miles an hour
was not faster than was reasonable and
proper, the burden Of proof being upon
such offender.
Increases the maximum penalty for
fast and reckless driving.
Puts the registration of trucks on the
carrying capacity. Trucks of one ton
and less pay fee of so and from there
up to and Including five tons, 30 for
each additional ton. From FIVE tons up
to and including ten tons, sl5 ton Is
added. The registration fee OF lotion
trnck Is 1925.
Provides for the operator of q motor
cycle to take out an operators license.
Heretofore the registration fee Of 50 per
motorcycle has carried with 1t the right
to operate without additional charge.
Makes 1t imperative for the applicant
for registration to state whether bis
automobile Is equipped with lights In
conformity with the rules and regula-
tions a. promulgated by the Public
Utilities Commission. II these rules
and regulations are not conformed with,
the Secretary Of State 10 to refuse regis
tration.
In case registration plates are lost In
transportation the Secretary Of State 10
TO issue q new set without additional
charge.
The provision as to temporary licenses
is repealed in Its entirety.
Makes q more stringent penalty for
persons convicted for operating q motor
vehicle while under the influence OF
Intoxicating liquor and provides that
when a person is convicted Of driving an
automobile while in this condition, his
license shall be Immediately revoked by
the Secretary of State upon the receipt
of the court records, without further
hearing, and that the license shall not be
renewed for three years.
Gives the operator of an automobile
an opportunity for q public hearing
before the Secretary of State, either
through himself or counsel. The Sec
rotary of State, before revokiog any
license except for the cause above re-
ferred to, is to notify the operator by
registered mail, who may appear and
state his case. The operator has the
right to appeal TO the Public Utilities
Commission, the license being suspended
during the appeal.