The Washington times., 1920-06-19
MARYLAND FIGHTS
HEADLIGHT DANGER
State TO Employ Constructive
Method OF Enforcing Law
Effective June |.
NJ ". N. LUCIUs.
In .SThe Maryland Motorist.'

Maryland is going to make an ef-
fort to eliminate the dangerous head
| light glare by constructive methods
teaching motorists their response
bility. The new method OF the state
Board OF Motor Vehicle Headlight In
spection of enforcing the law is great
ly in contrast TO the previous method
OF threatening punishment for viola
tion OF the law, and leaving the bur
den upon the individual to determine
how to avoid trouble.
One OF the provisions OF the new
headlight law is that plain glass in
any lamp behind which there is an
electric bulb OF over four candle pow
er, Is prohibited, and cannot be dis
played either day or night. unless
some improved non-glaring device Is
around or on the bulb All persons
violating this provision will be cited
to appear at the traffic court in Bal
timore city. or before the nearest
magistrate in the county in which he
has been apprehended.
The individual who has made an
EFFORT to comply with the law by using
some nom glaring device in his head
lamps, and yet the lamps still glare,
will be cited TO appear before the in
spector OF the board for the purpose
OF instructing him how TO properly
adjust his lamps so the device he is
using Will comply with the law.
The State Board OF Motor Vehicle
Headlight Inspection will make tests
from time to time. OF every device
submitted to IL BY either dealers or
manufacturers, and will give its ap-
proval to those that can be made TO
comply with the law
A provision OF the new law prohibits
any dealer from selling any headlight
device that has not had the approval
OF the board OF headlight inspection
MD. ENFORCEMENT POLICY.
A clear distinction between offenses
which are willful and those which are
not. must be made by each enforce
ment officer. Willful ofrenses must
be prosecuted. Those not willful, un-
less they are nagrant or recurrent to
an extent where they constitute q
practice, need not be prosecuted.
The test to be applied to any ofrense
in any instance ought to be as to
whether the offender has actually de-
termined 10 disobcy. or definitely
failed to understand the requirements
of the law
When a good-natured correction or
warning can be issued. such. given
without formality and in good spirit
has invariably been found extremely
effective
Remember that the application Of
an approved device does not comply
with the law unless:
|. 4 proper candlepower bulb is
used.
.. The proper focal adjustment is
made
|, 3. The proper tilt is given to the
headlights.
The board OF headlight inspection
has forwarded the following letter to
all manufacturers OF headlight de-
vices. and, until their devices have
been subpitted to the board for in
spection and approval (which will
consume approximately ten days), no
list of approved devices can be pub
lished. Therefore, it is probable that
the enforcement of the law will be
somewhat delayed.
NOTICE TO NANUFACTURERS.
The State Board of Motor Vehicle
Headlight Inspection has adopted the
automobile headlighting specifications
of the Illuminating Engineering So
ciety for the regulation of headlights
in the State of Maryland.
The Maryland law specifically states
that no dealer can sell or have in his
possession any headlight devices ex-
cept those approved by this board.
If II is your desire to sell your de-
vice through local agents, will you