South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-08-10
REQUIRE BILL OF
SALE FOR LEGAL
AUTO PURCHASE
New Jersey and Pennsylvania
Adopt Model Statutes
Against ThieVer}.

WASHINGTON. D. C.. Aug g.
New Jersey and Pennsylvania have
taken ,ne lead among all the states
Of the union In putting a stop 10 au-
tomobne thlevery. These states
have blazed the way by passing
model statutes which. It is believed.
will be copied sooner or later into
the legislation Of many states
Under the provisions Of the New
Jersey law. which went into effect
ON July 4, regulating the sale OF
motor vehicles. IL is now necessary
for any one. dealer or otherwise.
who wishes To dispose Of an auto
mobile 10 show bill OF sale. witness
cd by two persons and acknowI-
edged before a notary public The
law also makes il unlawful TO sell or
buy motor vehicle with obliterated
or mutilated manufacturer num-
bers
Law Draws Interest.
The New Jersey law is being
looked upon with considerable in
terest by motor organizations and
Q especially by the companies insuring
motor vehicles against loss by theft.
While il may retard the easy sale of
stolen cars there. it is naturally
limited i'm scope. as state laws in
variably are when regulating some
special subject.
The important provision Of the
New Jersey law regarding bills of
sale are:
I'm all sales or purchases of
motor vehicle direct from the man
ufacturer or through an agent or
agency OF such manufacturers there
shall be issued 90 the purchaser
manufacturer bill OF sale. which
bin of sale shall contain the manu-
facturer's number on the engine or
motor OF the motor vehicle so sold.
Keep Bin of Sale.
"In an other sales or purchases
OF motor vehicles the original bill o.
sale shall be assigned by the seller
20 the purchaser by an assignment
Witnessed by two persons and ack-
nOwleGged By the seller before "A no.
tary public. All such assignments
shall at all times be kept and at
tached 10 the original manufactur-
er's bill of sale; provided. however.
that IA the event the said motor We
hicle was purchased from the man
ufaCturcT or his agent prior 20 the
going into effect OF this act then. in
stead OF assigning the original bill
of sale and attaching such assign
mcnt 70 said original bill, the seller
shall execute q new bill of sale. wit
messed 10y two persons and acknowl-
edged before a notary public"
The penalty in the New Jersey
law FOR motor car stealing is a fine
not exceeding soc and imprison-
ment not 10 exceed two years.
The state OF Pennsylvania adopt
ed "a law very similar 10 that OF New
Jersey requiring duly attested bills
OF sac, and it also provides that up
on GO lviction motor thieves shall
pay a fine not exceeding $4,000 and
be liable for Imprisonment for 10
years.
Remedy + Waiting
The remedy is with all other
state legislatures " said an automo-
bile expert. Proper legislation IN
every state would reduce car thiev-
cry 20 a minimum bill similar
70 the New Jersey law effective
throughout the United states would
be Of great benefit. as in that case
no man could offer stolen car for
sale without its complete record Of
ownership being readily ascertain
able. II the car could not be sold
without danger of detection much
of the incentive 20 automobile thiev-
cry would DE eliminated. Several
motor organizations have suggest
ed the desirability OF a federal act
20 meet this problem. but coopera-
ton by the state legislatures in pass
ing a reasonably uniform law would
accomplish the result more effeC-
lively. in my opinion, than If con-
r~raes chor4F1 90