Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-07-16
IT COSTS A LOT TO VIOLATE
MOTOR TRUCK LAW OUT west
Ohio Measure One of Most Drastic in Coun-
try; Wisconsin Act Places Trucks
in Three Classes

Truck legislation is engaging the
attention of the whole country on
the theory that heavy loads are
damaging the roads for other traffic.
The Highway News Digest, rather
exclusive publication by the Ameri-
can Highway Educational Bureau
had the following resume of the
situation in recent issue:
Legislative Features of the Week
!. Motor Truck Acts designed to
protect highways against the over
loading Of trucks constituted the
dominant feature in State legislative
bodies during the past week. In
Ohio the last volume of bills pre-
scented to the governor have been
disposed of One of the most impor-
tant in every way was the Burke Act.
This measure had aroused the an
tagonism of the commercial trucking
interests, and while the governor
ventured the suggestion that its terms
were too severe and should be modi-
veto it.
There have been few measures
which had such enthusiastic back
ing Thousands of messages were
sent in. urging that the measure be
approved. The answer is found in
the ownership of half million bust
ness and pleasure motor vehicles in
Ohio and to the expenditure of a
vast sum annually upon the public
highways of the State. This being
true, the persons who contributed the
money felt that they should be pro-
tected in their investment. They in
sisted that trucks are unregulated,
and the small tax paid did not rec
ompense the State for the damage
done.
The enforcement Of the laws has
actually begun with the governor
formal approval without waiting for
the referendum period. Where pos
sible, offenders are fined under local
orders. otherwise. overloaded trucks
are ordered off the highways. So
popular is this measure it IS said
that there will be literally thousands
of volunteers to see that the statute
is obeyed, and woe to the helpless
truckman who ignores the law The
response to the executive act was
far quicker than had been antici-
pated and it is said that if the trucks
have really done great damage, their
destructive operation has just about
come to close.
o Motor Truck Legislation in Wis
T.,
ing feature of a bill to regulate truck
traffic is found in q proposed CLASH
fication Of roads, under three heads
"A. B and c and the limitation of
loads in the different classifications.
Class A are the high type roads and
the load limit is placed at II tons;
Class B load limit tons and Glass C.
not under Glass A and B. The sec
tions of the bill fixing the classifica-
tons are as follows:
1. Commencing on January J..
1922, the public highways of Wis
consin insofar as the limitation upon
the use of motor vehicles, trailers,
or semi-trailers upon said highways
is concerned, are divided into the
following classes:
(a) Glass A highways shall in
cIude those highways upon which
may be used any motor vehicle.
trailer or semi-trailer weighing with
its load not to exceed twelve tons.
TO- Glass B highways shall in
clude those highways upon which
NAV be used any motor vehicle
trailer or semitrailer weighing with
its load not to exceed seven tons.
(c) Class c highways shall include