Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-02-12

roads, bridges or bathing beaches.
There is an old time limit for pre-
venting teams from travelling faster
than a walk on certain bridges This
bill allows an automobile 1z-miIe
speed.
Restrictions are placed on operat-
ing or moving on roads or bridges
any vehicle or object which has any
dange, rib or object attached to its
wheels likely to bruise or injure the
surface Of the road or bridge. without
obtaining permit Certain light farm
ing vehicles are excepted from the
restriction, also the use Of tire chains
il excepted. The State Highway
Commission is given exclusive juris-
diction to grant permits to operate
certain heavy vehicles or objects
which are forbidden by the general
aid roads are affected. Local officials
are given authority over town roads,
etc. This is to take care of excep-
tional cases.
Loads on bridges are limited in
weight and speed. The Highway
Commission may fix the proper limit
ard notices shall be posted. The
Highway Commission may limit, con-
troll or exclude during certain periods
of the year heavy traffic on certain
highways. Penalties are established
| for violations.
Removing or .tampering with signs
placed by any highway official fs for
! hidden, also the passage over roads
| under construction is stopped, except
| by express permission of the person
| in charge of the work.
The bin provides for the appoint
ment of inspectors and for a State
! highway police equipped with motor
l cycles. having throughout the State
the authority of deputy sheriffs to
enforce the law of the road. No
State highway police shall receive
any fee for making an arrest or court
attendance.
The commissioner shall collect all
| fees required for licensing and regis
tering vehicles and operators and
| make report of his doings to the
! Highway Commission and to the
I Governor and Council He may ap-
| point deputies or agents at conven-
1 lent places in the State to receive ap-
! plications for registrations and IL
cense and conduct examinations,
when ordered by the commissioner.
: The commissioner is given full au-
/ thority TO conduct hearings. His rec
ords shall be open to public inspec-
/ ton but complaint in writing may be
r-er dld i1l
ination Of applicants for license TO
( operate is not compulsory but appli-
cations must be under oath and con-
tain specific answers to questions
designed to show experience and
! competency of the applicant. The
commissioner, unless satisfied the ap-
plicant is a proper person to receive
Il license, may require an examina-
7 ton.
! a chauffeur's license Is established
/ with fee of IS. Chauffeurs are de-
( fined as those who operate a motor
( vehicle as an employee or for hire.
10 change is made in the 30 day
! limit for non-residents.
The commission is given full pow
or TO sustain or revoke license or
I certificate Of registration after hear
/ ing and pending hearing he may sus-
pend license or certificate.
J. The commissioner is given control
/ over the nonresident operator who
! violates the law OF the road and may
/ terminate his right to use the high
way in the same manner that he may
{ deal with a resident operator From
any decision of the commissioner in
! revoking or sustaining a license or
any justice of the supreme or supe-
rior court. 1t provides fora speedy
| hearing
: The commissioner Is authorized to
: refuse. suspend or revoke a certificate
or registration Of any vehicle SO con-
structed or operated as to be a men,
ace to the safety of its occupants or
! the public or to cause unreasonable
damage to the highways or bridges.
! Magistrates shall transmit to the
/ commissioner summary or records
Of convictions and may also suspend
| an operators license for not exceed
ing 10 days and forward it to the
: commissioner who may take further
I action thereon.
! An important new feature is the
/ regulation Of speed of commercial
vehicles. graduated according to the
! weight Of the load. Those equipped
with pneumatic tires are allowed to
! operate at greater speeds than those
| which have two or more solid tires.
| The maximum speed for the light
/ truck is rs miles in the open coun-
try and 20 miles in built up sections
The maximum weight has also been
placed at $4,000 pounds, subject to
certain conditions. The $4,000 pound
! vehicle operated on solid tires shall
not exceed 10 miles per hour. The
/ Highway Commission and certain
other highway officials are given
! broad regulative authority "to en-
courage reasonable use of the high
ways and to correct abuse thereof,
such regulative authority being nee
cssary in the opinion Of the Legisla-
turc for the reasonable use and prop
I or maintenance of the ways and
bridges Of this State" Commercial
vehicles shall have attached visi-
Bile plate giving their actual unloaded
weight and seating or loaded capac-
( ity.
The fee for manufacturers and
/ dealers is raised to $50 and the num-
/ Der of plates increased to six, with