The Washington herald., 1922-01-15

Aut0mODlle touring on the Con-
tinent of Europe this season is,
according to reports received by
the Automobile Club of America
from members now travelling in
Europe by motor car. far more en-
joyable than was the case even in
the palmy days before the war.
One member who has just COM
pleted a 7,000-mile tour through
France, Switzerland, Spain and
Italy calls Europe a paradise for
motorists" especially for Ameri-
cans. He states that Americans
who do not take heir cars with
them do not know what they are
missing this year in Europe, and
he expressed surprise that COM
paratively few Americans appear
to be taking advantage of the low
ocean freight rates for shipping
automobiles, across the Atlantic, in
order. to enjoy motoring such as
cannot be matched outside Europe.
One of the first things by which
the American motorist in Europe is
agreeably impressed Is the fact
that there appears to be scarcely
anybody travelling on the main
roads. The result is that there is
"a refreshing absence of dust. An
other of the charms of motoring in
Europe is that delightful Old World
spots can be conveniently and cas-
lily visited that could be reached
only with difficulty by the ordinary
means of travel.
The only drawback. and one
which may readily be obviated by
careful attention, Is the necessity
of complying in every detail with
the requirements of the French tax
laws. Motorists report that the
French authorities are enforcing
the law with the utmost strictness
on both residents and visitors alike,
and any neglect on the part of mo-
tor tourists in attending to the for
malities is almost certain to lead
TO trouble with the officials.
Under the new automobile tax
regulations. no car may be oper-
ated in France unless the taxes
dc circulation" has previously been
paid Tourists may secure tenn
porary two months permit when
first entering the country. but be-
fore that permit expires the tax
due under the contributions indi-
rectes must be paid. and the regu-
lar permit de circulation must be
secured from the collector of taxes
for the district of France in which
the motorist happens to be at the
time.
In the matter of licenses GER
tain amount of latitude is occa-
sionalIy granted to visiting motor
lists. For example, American Ii
censes and number markers have
sometimes been recognized In ex-
ceptional cases until the French
car registration card ("Carte
Grise") and numbers and the French
driving license ('Carte Rose"O
could be secured: but as regards
the payment of the take de cir
cuIation" no grace is allowed,
Should an automobile be held up
by an officer of the customs, police
or the collector of taxes, and ii Is
found that the motorist has not
paid his tax for the current three
months or is not carrying his per-
init, the probably result Is that he
will be arrested and heavily fined.
Even when arrangements are
being made for shipping the auto
mobile back to the United States
the owner must satisfy the French
authorities that the contributions
indirectes" have been paid before
clearance papers for the car can
be obtained.
The temporary two months per-
init is attended to for a member of
the Automobile Club of America
when his car is landed in France
by the French agents of the club
forwarders through whom the au-
tomobile is shipped from America.
In such case the tax does not be-
come payable until just before the
expiration of the first two months.
and by that time the car has prop-l
ably travelled hrfhdreds of miles
away from the vicinity Of the
friendly club agents. 1t is, there
fore. very necessary that the own
err should give the matter his per-
sonal attention in good time so as
to avoid unpleasant consequences
and troublesome delays.
II the few simple formaiities.
such as payment of taxes when due.
are carefully observed. automobile
travel in Europe at the present time
pliers the most satisfactory method
Of seeing the. countries included in
a tour.
4 A member who recently made a.
tour through Spain from San Sc
bastian to Madrid states that the
route covered about 800 miles over
a splendid road. IN twelve hours.
without a single automobile being