Payette enterprise. (Payette, Canyon Co., Idaho) 1909-1935, 1924-10-16
TO THE MOTOR VEHICLE OWN
ERS OF IDAHO:

ERS OF IDAHO:
In the administration OF the Mo'or
Vehicle Laws during my present
term, have seen much injustice De-
cause of certain provisions OF the
law, and l am particularly anxious
to bring those matters to the atten-
ton of the people so that remedies
may be effected at the coming SEES
sion of the Legislature
/ There are three points in the auto
mobile law which have causeu :"
great deal of criticism. These are
the definition of a motor truck the
weight of a motor vehicle, and the
time for renewing licenses Ihe Id"
covering the definition of motor
truck and the weight of motor We
hicle was passed by the last session
of the legislature; that requiring
registration on the first day Oh Jahu-
airy has been in effect for several
years, but never enforced until this
year.
The definition of motor truck
as it appears in the law was added
by the legislature of 1928. A motor
truck is defined as any motor vehicle
or used for the transportation OF
commodities, merchandise, produce,
freight, or animals. The policy of
the Department of Law Enforcement
throughout the year on this section
has been only to enforce the laws on
The statute book. The word "or'
S the cause of most of the trouble
1t requires that any motor vehicle
either designed or used for the trans
portation of commodities, merchan-
disc. produce, freight, or animals
shall be classed as truck. This
definition of a truck takes in 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
ed in very decided injustice to at
least three thousand owners of Ford
runabouts. I intend to ask that the
governor recommend to the legisla-
ture that this section be changed to
clarity the definition of truck, and
further recommend the refund of
$3.50 to each owner of Ford run
about which has been licensed at the
truck rate.
The second question which has
caused dissatisfaction concerns the
weight of cars. Section 1892, Idaho
Compiled Statutes, as amended in
1928, 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
furnished by the manu-
facturer thereof, but in no event
shall the weight used for determin-
ing the license fee be less than the
scale weight of thes vehicle as oper-
ated on the roads end highways. . I
This section can be clarified very
easily and it's Interpretation made
very plain if the legislature may see
1T to adopt the manufacturers
weight in each INSTANCE as the basis,
lpon which to figure the license fee.
The second clause of the law is CON
radictory to the first and it should
re made plain as to what the inten-
ion of the legislature was. The
legislature added the last clause for
definite purpose and we felt it was
ur duty to Gerry out that purpose
the best of our ability.
Section 1901 provides for the re-
ewal of licenses annually, 'such re-
ewal to take effect on the first day |
January of each year" With
lmatic conditions as they are in
1aho, it is apparent that this sec
on is not in line with the wishes of L
lie people. Therefore I intend to l.
TX the governor to recommend to y
le Legislature that a date for re- "
ewing licenses be established later u
an the first of January. 81
rhere is only one body that can u
ange or modify the laws, and that Il
the legislature.