The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1920-04-07
MAKE PROGRESS IN
new MOTOR LAWS
Different States Improve
Statutes for Motor
Vehicles

Washington. According to re-
ports received by the government at
Washington, greater progress is be-
ing made by the states in improving
their motor vehicle laws, especially
as regards licensing of cars. Most
states have a well-defined system of
registration, but there is always
room for Improvement. California
is the latest to make change.
The Golden state for a number
of years has been following plan
that seemed to be good one. A Ii
cense number was issued to car
owner and that number was perma-
nent. Each year the owner would
send his fee to the superintendent
of the motor vehicle department and
a new seal would be issued. This
would be attached to the plate in a
place provided for that purpose, and
in this way car could be identified
quite as easily as having new or
old license. This plan disposed Of
the costly system of buying new tags
each year and appeared to be all
right.
There came time, however, when
it was proved that a better system
of registration could be followed. Au-
tomobile thieves became busy in Los
Angeles and San Francisco, and with
the permanent license plan it was
easy for the thief to beat the game.
He did not have to appear person
ally for license or make any thoro
statements as to ownership. In this
way, once a license had been issued
on a car it was easy to obtain new
seals. The thieves having a supply
of license plates always on hand,
these plates being issued legally,
could be used on any stolen car.
| Take, for instance, a thief who
was in the business of stealing Ford,
Buick or other such cars. He would
buy tag for Ford car, tag for
aBuick, and SO on. These would be
bona fide purchases which he could
back up at any time by showing the
car he owned. He then would take
the license for his Ford, if he in
tended stealing car of that make,
go out and drive away the car he
wanted switch his own plates TO it,
and be on his ay. Without COM
| plete record in the hands of the po-
lice it was next to impossible to de
h. ,of would
pear from the license number that
the rogue was driving his own car,
California is now switching to the
| ylan used in Michigan and other
states. Discarding the permanent
nun, ber which always remained in
| the possession of the original DuyeH,
The state is pIotidlng for a new set
of plates each year. In the event the
ear is sold the license goes with the
car instead of remaining in the name
of the first purchaser The new buy
ar pays the fee for the remainder Of
the year, which is divided into quar-
ters. The man who sold the car is
refunded by the state for the period
he did not use the annual license.
Another interesting feature ofthe
new law is that man who changes
his place of residence must notify
the motor vehicle department of
such change within ten days. Fail
IRE to do so constitutes misde-
meanor, and the guilty party may
be prosecuted in court by the state.
While this adds great deal of de-
tail to the registrars work, it per-
mits of an immediate check on the |
owner of a car in case his vehicle has
figured in a serious accident. One
other section Of the law provides for
the permanent registration of opera
tors, as is done in Michigan. Every |
person driving car in California !
must have one of these. A small /
fee is charged for license.
Certain people are looking for