The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1920-07-22
OPEN DRIVE ON
CLEARING LIGHTS
Kenosha Motorists Halted
Monday Night to Have
Bright Lights Tested.
TO BE LAST WARNING

Several Kenosha motorists had a
rather thrilling experience on Monday
evening. They were coasting along the
Kenosha streets when they were sud-
denly halted by police officers and
found themselves under suspicion Of
operating an automobile with head
lights which do not conform with the
regulations of the recently passed Wis
consin headlight law. Before their
eyes their lights were tested and those
who were found to have lights within
the law had the pleasure of having the
officials humbly beg their pardons for
the Inconvenience they had caused.
There We're some, however, who
learned from the experience that they
were not observing the law. These
were warned that they must change
! their headlights and that while this
offense might not be followed by legal
prosecution, a second offense would
bring down on them the full penalty
Of the law.
State Inspector Here.
The drive was started by G. E. Pet
tingill Of Madison, a representative of
the industrial commission, who came
to Kenosha especially to assist the To-
cal officials in learning how to enforce
the state law. His first steps were to
enlist the aid of Chief of Police owen
O'Hare and Sheriff Joseph Meyer. The
three sailed forth on the streets of
Kenosha to find motorists who were
driving with glaring lights.
They found more than forty luckless
victims in Kenosha during the evening
1t was all done very politely. The
strong arm Of the law halted the car
and then Inspector Rettingill demon
.strated the test.
Technical to Say the Least.
The test was too technical for the
ordinary motorist to realize what was
being done. The Inspector paced off a
hundred feet from the car and there
established two road points go inches
above the level of the road and Z feet
to the left and right respectively of
the car center Two other points,
known as glare points, were estab-
lished 100 feet away from the car and
60 inches and from Is to SO inches re-
spectively from the road level At
these points with foot candle meter,
the inspector measured the glare from
the lights and determined whether or
not they were within the law.
"It is not my purpose to make ar
rests on this visit" explained Mr.. Pet
tingill, "but do desire to get the work
\ of enforcing the law started. More
than 400 of the motorists in Kenosha
county are not living up to the law,
and Kenosha is the first city in this
section of the state where have Wis
tied and helped to start officials on the
track to detect violators of the law"
He explained that his visit was in
! the nature of a "last warning and
that he was in hopes both for che safe
ty of motorists and all concerned that
it would result in bringing universal
observance of the law here.
Inspector Pettingill was also on the
lookout for spotlights which were be-
ing used contrary to law. He cited to
several users of these the following
provision of the law regarding their
use:
IF spotlight is installed on any
motor vehicle, it shall be Of such con-
struction as to make it impossible to
make the center of the beam of light
strike the level highway at distance
greater than so feet in front of the
motor vehicle; except that when the
beam of light is swung 80 degrees to
the right or left of the straight ahead
position, no limitation is placed on the
height to which the beam be raised
Motel is recommended that spot
lights be installed at as high an eleva-
tion above the ground as practicable .
Before leaving Kenosha," said Mr..
Pettingill, 81 would like to emphasize
the fact that it is to the advantage of
motorists to secure headlights that are
within the law. Once motorist gets
a light which keeps within the regula-
tions, he will want nothing else. This
has been true in California, Connect
cut and every state where the law has
been passed and is proving true in
Wisconsin as fast as motor drivers get
the proper sort of light"