Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1920-03-22
warn AUTO|STS
Of BRIGHT Light
Secretary Of State Sends out
Warning to Aut0ists
as to Class of
Lights.
APPLIES THE LAW
City, Town and County Of
ficials are Sent State.
ment.
APPLIES THE LAW

Prevention of automobile accidents
by strict observance of the new state
law prohibiting use of glaring lights
on automobiles is announced in a state
ment issued by Secretary Of State Ram
say, Des Moines, asking sheriffs and
city and county officials to cooperate
with the state department in the en-
forcement of the law.
THE law regarding headlights is
specific says Secretary of State Ram
say, ''and is designed for the protec-
ton of autoists. 1t reads as follows:
1T shall be unlawful to use on
any vehicle of any kind operated
upon the public highways of this
state, including motorcycles. any
lighting device of over four candle
power, equipped with a reflector,
unless the same shall be so ar
ranged that the directly reflected :
and undiffused beam of such light
when measured sevcnty-five feet
or more ahead of the light shall not
rise above forty-two inches from
the level surface Oh which the We
hicle stands under all conditions
Of load.
Regarding Spot Lights.
If in addition to headlights
any such vehicle is equipped with
any auxiliary light. projecting
lights or devices other than the
rear lamps, such auxiliary light
or lights shall be subject to all the
restrictions of this section, regard
ing direction of the beam. If a
spotlight be used on d motor We
hiclc it shall be unlawful for any
person to direct it's rays toward
the eyes Of the driver or the Occu-
pants Of an approaching vehicle,
or to the left of the center of the
Travelled way when meeting anoth-
er vehicle.
no person shall operate a mo-
tor vehicle on any highway in this
state equipped with an electric
bulb or other lighting device Of a
greater capacity than t%hirty-twO
candle power no matter how the
same may be shaded or obscured.'"
' Mn n 4, co :, ro III, nktnntsn, t0 ca0-
tiOn in which the motor law gives re-
sponsibility of enforcement to the Sec
of state and peace officers of the
state. This passage reads:
The department (secretary of state)
shall have full authority to make such
rules and issue such instructions as may
be necessary to insure and obtain uni
in the administration and full
enforcement of the provisions of this
act.
'All local officials charged with the
administration and enforcement of this
act shall act and be governed in their
official acts herein required by the rules
promulgated by the department.
Mr.. Ramsay has compiled a list of
light lenses and retiectors which
with the provisions of this act.
The list shows a number Of lenses
passed tests of public safety de-
partments, and practical tests Of his
motor vehicle department.
II am merely calling attention to,
this phase Of the auto law. because it
will help reduce the number of auto
accidents at night says Mr.. Ramsay.
las the spring season breaks and aut,-
lists take to the open road, | shall call
attention to other sections of the motor
all with a view of insuring a great
degree of safety to an auto loving
public"
Mr.. Ramsay will send his statements
to the motor law interpreta-
to various city, town and county
in the state.