Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1924-10-02
AUTOMOB
LAW NOT JUST
SAYSF.A.JETER.
Definition OF Truck Is Declar-
ed To Work Hardship On
Small Truck Owners.
Weight Provision Is Faulty,
Says Secretary Of State
F. A. Jeter, In Statesman.

Much Injustice has resulted from
the administration of the Idaho au-
tomobile registration law and efforts
will be made to have apparent errors
i'm the law corrected when the 1928
legislature meets, according to a
statement issued Saturday by L. A.
Jeter. secretary of state, who is
charged with administration of the
law Mr.. Jeter says he is going to
ask the governor to recommend TO
the legislature refund of $3.50 to
each owner of Ford runabout who
was forced to buy truck license be-
cause of Il small box ON the back of
the car. His statement follows:
"In the administration of the motor
vehicle laws during my present term,
/ have seen much injustice because
of certain provisions of the law, and
| am particularly anxious to bring
these matters to the attention of the
people so that remedies may, be eff
| fected at the coming session of the
legislature.
Three Points Attacked
'aThere are three points in the au-
| tomobile law which have caused a
great deal of criticism. There are the
definition of motor truck, the
weight of a motor vehicle and the
time for renewing licenses. The law
covering the definition of a motor
truck and the weight of a motor We
hicle was passed by the last session
of the legislature !; that requiring reg
! istratfon on the first day OF Janu-
ary has been in effect for several
wears. but never enforced until this
year.
sThe definition of a motor truck as
II appears in the law, was added by
tbe legislature of 1923. A motor truck
is defined as any motor vehicle de-
signed or used for the transportation
of commodities, merchandise, produce,
| freight or animals. The policy OF the
denartment of law enforcement thru
out the year on this section mas
been only to enforce the laws ON the
statute books. The word or is the
cause of most of the trouble.
'It requires that any motor vehicle
either designated or used for the
TRANSFORMATION of commodities, mer-
chandise, produce, freight, or ami
mails. shall be classed as truck.
This definition of a truck takes ID
the Ford runabOut with the small
box placed on the rear, no matter how
small the box is, if it is designed to
carry commodities. This has result
cd i'm a very decided injustice to at
least 5000 owners of Ford runabouts'
/ intend to ask that the governor
recommend to the legislature that this
section be changed to clarity the def
;nition of a truck, and further recon-
mend the refund of $3.50 to each
owner of Ford runabout which mas
been licensed at the truck rate.
Weight Provision Troublesome
" The second question which has
caused dissatisfaction concerns the
weight of cars. Section 1892, Idaho
COMPLIED Statutes, as amended IN
1902 states that for the purpose OF
this chapter the weight of any motor
vehicle is hereby defined to be the
weight of such vehicle with all equip
ment furnished by the manufactures
! thereof. but in no event shall the
WEIGHT used for determining the Ii
; cense fee be less than the scale welghI
of the venice as OpeldtSu VA
> roads or highways This section can
: he clarified very easily and its inter
, pretation made very plain if the legis'
: Iature NAV see fit to adopt the manu-
, facturers' weight in each instance as
, fine basis upon which to figure the
: license fee. The second clause of the
law is contradictory to the first and
II should be made plain as to wha'
the Intention of the legislature was
. The legislature added the last clause
1 for a definite purpose and we felt Il
/. was our duty to carry out that pur
, nose TO the best of our ability.
|. "section 1901 provides for the re
e newaI of licenses annually, such re
|. newal to take effect on the first dal
d of January of each year. with Gil
:. matte conditions as they are in ldah'
e IL is apparent that this section is no
i in line with the wishes Of the people
therefore I intend to ask the COVER
? nor to recommend to the Legislature
a that n date for renewing licenses b'
? established later than the first o.
J, January.
r "There is only one body that cal
e change or modify the laws, and tina
g is the legislature.
f. A. Jeter, Secretary OF state