Evening star., 1921-05-07
VISITING AUT0|STS'
RULE ST|RS FIGHT
Compelling Outsiders to Reg
lister, Upheld by Officials,
Scored by A. A. A.

<hllhoOSH osSltl anu
Capt. Headley, chief Of the traffic bu
reau, are inclined to favor the contin-
uation of the new regulation requir-
ing visiting motorists to register with
the police department within three
days of their arrival in this city.
the American Automobile Association
has determined to wage an intensive
campaign for the abolition of the
rule, asserting that it is "a violation
of the principle underlying the asso
ciation's contention in regard to ma
tional motoring reciprocity, and more
especially reciprocity with Maryland"
Shortly after the new regulation
became law the association wrote
to Commissioner Oyster. stating its
views on the SnbJect and pointing out
that the regulation would not only
be a hardship and a nuisance to VS.
itinS motorists, hut was directly con-
trary to the fight Washingtonians
are making for reciprocity with the
state of Maryland.
1t is understood that the Com
missioner replied to the letter, stat
ing that inasmuch as the rule was a
new one and had not been tried out.
he thought that fair trial should
be given it. asserting that in thirty
days he would be able to find out
whether or not it was practical and
efticacious.
"ReguIatiOn Working Well"
When approached yesterday on the
subject Commissioner oyster said
that in his opinion the regulation
was working well and at the present
time he had made no plans for chang
ing it.
Capt. Headley had this to say of the
visitor registration provision:
The new rule is working out Wen.
We have not had a single complaint
from the more than five hundred out
-of-toWn motorists who have regis
tered with the traffic bureau since its
Inauguration. We have already re-
covered one stolen car because We
have been able to keep track of these
motorists. The rule is for the pur-
pose of knowing just who is in Wash
ington from out of town and to be
able to know on the instant who has
committed traffic violation. without
waiting to write to the home state"
The association attacks the regula-
| ton on the ground that after mo-
| torist has taken out an operators
| permit. a license tag, and pays his
| taxes in his home state he ought to
| be allowed free highways communica-
! tion with all other states. and the
! District of Columbia as well.
Would Hinder Reciprocity.
| The association also believes that
the rule will materially hinder the
, fight for Maryland reciprocity. point
| ing out that while the District COM
pels all visiting motorists to register
! with the department, it expects
| Maryland to open her highways to
District automobile owners free OF
| charge.
Washington should be open to visi-
tors as are all other cities and states
| in the in the nnjnjnn of the
association. and rules aDt regula-
tions which annoy and restrict legiti-
mate visitors to the city should no,
be put into force.
| Getting into line at the traffic bu.
reau. and waiting in turn to register
is not particularly appealing to the
large number of people who visit this
city yearly. and, according to Of
ficials Of the association. the District
of Columbia, situated as it is. is not
the place to put such regulation
into effect.
"If. as has been set forth in some
quarters, the registration provision
is to protect visitors cars against
thievery," said William Ullman. presi-
dent of the District of Columbia di-
vision of the association, today, we
might point out that one of the first
things an automobile thief does after
stealing a car is to remove its dis
played registration numbers and sub
| stitute others. Hence, it matters lit
tie from which source the first regis
tration plates on the cars emanated
See No Protection in LAW.
Usually the first act of an auto
mobile owner after his car has been
stolen is to report to the nearest
police authority, giving the make OF
the car, it's model, and the engine
number. Time was when the thief
promptly mutilated the engine mum
ber; later, he FURNISHED the place
where the Figures were and stamped
To-day in practically all states the
law makes it a crime merely to pos.
sess machine whose engine numbers
have been changed. and it is very
difficult to hide the fact that the orig
| inel figures have been tampered with
"In some states it is obligatory
upon garages to report to the police
the presence in their establishments
of cars with changed or mutilated OF
doubtful engine numbers.
"Ft,rthermore if the registration
provision is designed to protect apt
safeguard visitors cars, why not have
the visitor report at police headquar,
ters Immediately upon his arrival II
the city? Surely, there can be M
guarantee from The a9 apt9mobil. ON Dill
itor's machine during his first three
tdays in our midst.
"When one is told that the police
Registration provision is to protec,
Visitors cars against theft 1t is marc
to reconcile the regulation with com
mon sense.
"If the regulation is not for the
ipurpose Of protecting the visitor from
auto thieves, then it is an immeas.
Isurable setback for the District OF
Columbia in it's contention Tor mo
toring reciprocity generally and with
the state of MARYLAND particularly.