Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1920-10-13

rhrnnEn rhis emergency perinf Of
war ana reconstruction. hui Won per
maps have not all realized nDw Tar
cur Maine HIGHWAY Camml6slun mas
eu1ciaaHsa rfie oriie- states IN rress
fuur years just PASSED ! CHI state
IN one sentences the rscnrd winch we
small always remember with pride
ann satisfaction. Our -uRd-buiiding
program mas aecreased less below
nnrmRl. mas IncrRasel less II Cost
and has carried less overhead charge
for engineering and supervision than
IN any Ornsr eastern state
Future rr-nnieyuI.
On the wnnie we NAV ne proud OF
the Progress Of tine recent past BuI
rne immediate future presents many
probiems IN the solution OF winch the
Influence Of your association can pc
very helpful. I regret as Won oe that
your membership now inelnaes only
abouI fuur per cent OF those who ewn
and operate automobiles within the
State -Four tutai membership ought
To ne increased tenfoid WITHIN the
coming twelve months and enc OF
the surest way's 10 secure this result
rs 10 outline a program thai viii az
peHl 70 automobile owners as a real
challenge for SERVICE IN penalf of BET
TER -uads and SHTsr traffic conditions
7 nope YOU will faIlpw tine nlan NOW
in forre in snTns uTher states anc work
out a sta1e-wIfie organization wfieii
will nave one Or mare representa-
tives in each sizeahie town 10 art SIS
the local center for crvsrafiZin-
gogd roads sentiment and handling
traffic COMPLAINTS. a dii'ecTurv EhnuiC
se runiisns ana made svailanie at
hotels and chamber of commerce
headquarters So that Ihs summer
tourists wauld know where To 20 N
every town 10 secure information. Of
far Suggestions or enter complaints.
Endorsement nf EXISTING law
One al the important functions OF
tne local branches af yaur ORGANIZE
rIon should ne the mobilization of
lacai aurnmaDilis1s IN a united effort
tn get existing laws enfurced by incal
efaCials. No Statewide system OF
mnrnr police can cumnierRir anfurce
existing traffic laws without tine CO.
operation OF incal officials nacRan ny
the punfir sEnrlmEM an 1neir own
cnmmuniry- BEsiris ouer-apeediuE or
reckisss driving. there are other COM
mnn violations Of lfle motor vehicle
LEWIS sucn as driving with one number
plate. with one headlight or with NO
tail light, or with illegal lenses
The greatest rrafiic danger on tine
roafis Of Maine al present rs Ene ire
uuent violation by hprSe-firawn We
inches OF the law requiring such We
inches 10 carry lights al night The
autnmnbiiisT driving on our cnuurrv
roads al nIgnf nnds that On the aver
age mt more than one norse-urHwn
vHnlcie IN tour carries a light IN
oDHifence I'd the law. In many cases
municipal officers do not understand
that il Is their durv ID enforce these
laws like any other statute.
There are other common violations
which 10 moi affect Ifae safety of the
travelling public but winch IN dimin-
isf the revenue otherwise available
from auInmnnile fees far expenditure
upon the roads. Chief among these
is rfle nailif al some af uur summer
vlEIrurs al cvadlnE tile law which
requires the payment of q license fee
upnn an aurumuniie which rs kept n
the State over thirty DAYS. Many al
our summer guests are scrupuious
about oDeyins this Jaw: tfinse wfe
dissnev It should be brought ID npnk
by the sentiment uf the local COM
muniry without waiting far action
1rpm Augusta.
Considerable revenue is also lost br
ignorance or wilful evasion Of the law
on the part of dealers in rnutur We
hicles. The attorney general has clear
" explained TINS law In an opinion OF
which / aunts the following paragraph:
When q manufacturer or dealer has
Registered as such, al motor vehicles.
automobiles and mnInr trucks owned
and conrrnlisn by MIN may be lawful
iE ussc upon the highways and are te
ne deemed registered in accordance
with law SO lnng as the use of SUCH
motor penicies lis confined and limited
10 performing and carrying On the
business Of 'sdeaiing in motor 1eili-
Giles. Rut when tfle use Of any such
mu1nr veiicies is saiely for pleasure
riding and IS II no way cunnecrea
with the rurrherance of the business
isaier, or when the Use is TOR a ssnar-
ate business enterprise which Is not