Evening star., 1924-06-15
No. 50-Within the Law.

Smith was telling me about the
trouble he experienced when on one
of his recent trips. 1t seemed he had
been fined for disobeying an ordi-
nance in a city he had never driven
through before. His interest in the
matter of knowing how to keep with
in the law as it varies from one city
to another was evident.
What's a motorist to do?" he
pleaded. I'm one city he gets oawled
out if he goes in front of the cop in
turning: turning: while in another ne @ Is
called for going around the cop.
In some places he can make a right
hand turn, no matter which way the
Stop-go sign happens to be pointing;
in others he can't. In some cities ne
is within the law if his car is eight
the car in this position in some other
cities he would have fine to pay.
just heard of a case where a driver
was forced to make a technical viola
tion of the local ordinance by turn
ing to the left of a street car which
had stopped to take on passengers.
The streets were wet. His car was
sliding. There was only one alterna-
tive for Safety'S sake. Now, as / un-
derstand it, the law is intended as a
means of protecting citizens prima-
rily, but here was a case wherein
the motoriSt would have jeopardlzed
the safety of group of citizens. and
perhaps injured them, had he elected
to obey the law to the letter. He did
the only reasonable thing under the
circumstances, yet he was arrested
In some cities his action would have
been approved. So how in the name
of Sam Hill is a motorist to know
what to do when one thing goes on in
one place and not in another?
A Bothersome Question.
That's a question bothering more
motorists than one, ! replied. w hen
you've had some trouble with a GER
of ignorance, dumb luck or unjust
justice, you naturally root for the
idea of having all ordinances uni
form. Under certain conditions TINS
it cripple the progress of regulating
motor car traffic? If all the cities and
towns operated under the same set
of ordinances we would soon find
that in many places many of the or
dinances would be unnecessary.
For instance. suppose there was
standard law requiring that no auto
mobile shall be parked nearer than
eight feet to fire hydrant- l can
show you many places right here in
this city where, because of the posi-
tion of hydrants. there would be no
danger in parking directly in front
of them; but, on the other hand,
there are an equal number of places
where cars ought not be allowed to
stand even twenty feet away. 1t all
depends upon circumstances, which
to my way of thinking are better
judged by those officials who are in
touch with the situation.
When each community has its own
ordinances there is created sort OF
rivalry. Each city or town tries to
outdo the other in the effectiveness
of its traffic regulations. If you have
trouble in certain city and honestly
believe you were unfairly treated,
you ought to take it up with your
automobile club and with the motor
vehicle commissioner of your state.
If enough pressure is brought to bear
upon the unjust local officials some
thing can be done. Unfortunately,
there are too many unnecessary or
dinances on the books and too literal
Interpretation applied to those ordi-
nances which are intended to cover
intentional violations, but nothing can
be gained by urging that all ordi-
nances be standard"
Avoiding n "CaH Down..
Yes" Smith agreed, but while
were waiting for the ideal state of
affairs it's pretty tough on the motor
ist who goes into a strange town and
gets awled out because he doesn't do
the right thing according to the
towns way of thinking"
But why get bawled out?" 1 asked
There is a way to obviate this sort
of trouble, and it's very simple. If
you aren't sure whether you can park
your car eight, ten or twelve feet