Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-05-23
THOUSANDS Of CARS
STILL UNLICENSED
IS STATE REPORT
Thirty-Six Per Cent of Auto
Owners Delinquent in
"a. Payment.
(Trihune's Helena Bureau.


Helena, May 22-Although nearly
five months have elapsed since the
beginning of the year 1922 at which
time the 1922 state automobile license
tax became due, thousands of auto
mobiles and trucks are traversing the
highways of the state and the streets
of towns and cities still bearing 1921
license plates, indicative in most in
stances. that the 1922 license tax, upon
them has not been paid.
In the meantime the state and the
counties are being deprived of the use
of the money to be derived from the
automobile licenses which money is
to be spent by the highway commits
sion and the commissioners of the
counties in the maintenance and i'm
provement of the public roads.
$1,000 Licenses Issued.
Although it is estimated by Secre-
tary of State c. T. Stewart, ~ex-offi-
clio registrar of motor vehicles, that
there are 10000 automobiles and
motor trucks within the state which
must be licensed during the present
year, only IS, 700 license plates had
been issued up to Monday, May 90,
leaving 21,3OO unpaid Or a delinquency
of 36 per cent.
OF the license plates issued up to
Monday morning $4,000 were for auto
mobiles and 400 for motor trucks.
Last year a total of S.7SJ, license
plates were issued but the estimate
for 1922 is 10000.
Of course more applications for
license plates have been received than
nIafnc hnyo Hnnr re,I Co., Al1
son that it is necessary to keep a large
number of applications in suspense
through failure of the applicants to
fully observe the rules set out by the
department in the furnishing of COM
plete information in their applications
or in not sending proper or acceptable
remittances.
Applications Delayed.
Fully % per cent of the applications
are returned to the applicant and it
is estimated there are continually from
400 to 500 applications in suspense
which results in a delay of from a
week to 10 days in completing the
transaction as they have to be return
ed to the applicant. Many apply for
an automobile license when they should
ask for a truck license. others send
the amount of the old fee instead of
the increased fee now collected. while
many fail furnish the required and
detailed information as to description
of the car.
Many remittances have TO be turned
down as applicants send in personal
checks, drafts or cashiers checks upon
banks the standing of which is I'M
known to the motor department. Pre-
ference is given TO personal checks
over cashiers checks or bank drafts.
but in such cases the license plates |
are held up for a period until it is
certain that the checks have passed
through and have been paid. MANY
of the applications are returned to the
applicant with a slip stating THE
state of Montfta can accept cash only
for fees. All remittances should be
made by money order or cash by
registered mail. Cashiers checks or
drafts drawn on other than Helena |
banks will be returned" |
Act in Three Days
If, the application and the remit
lance is in proper form the license
plate is in the mail for the applicant
within three days from the recent of
the applicant. A force varying from
four to ten persons is kept employed
IN the motor vehicle department from
the first of the year until the close
the license paying period. At this
time of the year applications are being
ranging in number from 200
to 1000 per day.
In view of the delay upon the part
of many of the owners of automobiles
IN obtaining their license plates it is
expected that action will be taken by
the local officers, the sheriff's and
police forces, to compel d~elinquents to
within the law. This hurrying
up process will soon be augmented
by the sending out from the Helena |,
office of a couple of representatives
who will check over the conditions in
he various counties and will, if neces-
'ary. institute actions TO compel the >
of the license fees. I