The Washington times., 1921-08-21
Va. THREATENS
To END AUTO
RECIPROCITY
Neighboring State Autoists Are
Angered by Arrests for Pure
" Technical Violations.


tween Washington and Virginia may
be broken. Numerous complaints
have been received by the Virginia
authorities that the reciprocity
agreement has been violated by the
activity of the police here in the
traffic crusade.
Last week a Nirginian was arrest
ed for not having two lights on his
automobile, and when the policeman
started to question him he learned
that he did not have a drivers per.
nit. An additional charge of driving
without a permit was filed against
him.
Violation Is Claim.
The young man arrested claimed
that his mother was in the rear seat
of the car at the time and that she
had a drivers permit, but the police:
man said that It did not cover the
traffic regulations. The Virginia law
provides that only one permit 20
drive Is needed by the family. The
secretary OF state of Virginia
wrote to the District officials that
| the arrest OF the young man was a
violation of the reciprocal agreement.
| 1t was pointed out that IL the reel
| procity agreement between Nir-
| ginia and the District was done away
with and Washington motorists were
| forced to purchase Virginia tags in
addition to the District tags and In
most cases Maryland tags, the
backs OF Washington automobiles
would bear a marked resemblance to
billboard, and in addition TO the
added expense would mar the looks
Of automobiles.
Invalid Is Claim.
1t is claimed by Virginians that
the present traffic law is not valid
in regard to certain parts of the rcci-
| procity provisions, as Is contrary
to an act of Congress. The act of
Congress which they refer to was APP
proved by Congress on March 3.
1917. and reads in part:
| THAT motor vehicles owned or oDST.
ated by persons not legal esidents Of
the District of Columbia, but who have
complied with the laws OF the State
of their legal residence requiring
registration Of motor vehicles or licens.
ing of operators thereof and the dis
play Of Identification or registration
numbers on such vehicles and which
Identification numbers shall be dis.
played on such motor vehicles. as pro-
vided by the laws and regulations OF
the District Of Columbia while used
or operated within the District, shall
not be required to be licensed or regis
tered or bear their Identification num-
bers under the laws and regulations OF
the District IL the State in which the
owner or operator OF sucn motor w.
hicle has his legal residence extends
the same privilege to the motor
vehicles owned or operated by legal
| residents OF the District OF Columbia-"
Sections Disagree.
Section 4, paragraph h. of the traf-
fic regulations, covering practically
the same phase OF reciprocity, is as fol-
lows:
"Ch) A tourist or nonresident who is
exempt from the payment Of licensing
and registration fees under the pro.
visions of the act of March 3. 1917,
shall. within three days after coming
into the District of Columbia. register
at the traffic bureau OF the Police De-
partment in the District Building, CIV
ing the name Of the owner OF the car,
the name OF the driver. the number
and make of the car. his permanent
address, and his local address in the
District. The owner or driver of the
car will be given a card showing such
registration. There shall be no charge.
; the same being purely for the regula-
ton Of traffic. IL the driver does not
, have in his immediate possession an
operators permit from a State having
reciprocity relations with the District,
he shall obtain a local permit under
local regulations. A copy of this regu'
lation shall be prominently displayed
in all public garages"
The two sections do not agree or
the method of reciprocity, they claim
and the section which has been pu;
, into force by the Commissioners Is
, void because IL Is contrary to tht
. act OF Congress. There is some agri
: tation going on in Virginia 20 test
, the conflicting section in tho court
, and It is said that as soon as an
: opportunity presents itself this &C
ton will be resorted to.