Evening star., 1924-08-10
Seek Greater Responsibility
By O,vners of Public Garages
Motorists Demand Safe Handling of Cars
J In Storage and Guarantee They
! Won't Be Smashed in Joyrides.

stored are actually left out all night
This happens regularly in hotel
section of large Eastern city. The
garage company has turned num-
her of livery stables into gar;ges
and because the buildings front on a
blind alley, the police do not inter-
fere when cars are left out. A tour
ist drives into this court and is shown
a place in the best of the garages.
Ten minutes later his car is driven
make room for the next victim.
One garage in New York city lures
transtents with the bait that their
cars VIII be taken care of on the
nrst moor. You drive in and stand
your car in line, but are asked not
to lock it on account of fire No
matter how busy they are, there's
always room for your car on the first
loor. Ihe next day you may have to
spend 10 minutes searching the vari-
Gus upper floors for your car. They
even store them in the elevators.
somebody has to drive your car
from the place you left it to where
you find II the next day. and the
question is, How far did that driver
go with it?" Few motorists make q
note of the mileage. and the amount
or gas in the tank is easily faxed
Even II you make note of the mile
age now are YOU going to prove that
you dlont make mistake?
rFiuence Not Proof.
1T is not an uncommon thing for
owners to find strange hairpins, con-
feti and other evidences of joy
riding strewn about the tonneau. yet
what Is to be done about it? Having
no actual proof that the machine
was taken out without permission,
the owners are forced to accept
whatever damage or wear that has
been inflicted upon their property
Something more than bonding is
thus necessary. The garage patron
must have some assurance that his
car will not only be spared wreck
age at his expense, but that it will
not be handled except in cases of
emergency, and then only by persons
both capable and authorized by the
garage management.
There is entirely too much freedom
about the average garage, chauffeurs
and curious boys frequently being
permitted by the management TO
only by those who would feel some
sense of responsibility. 1t is a COM
mon thing to see a couple of idIers
stroliing about garage trying the
wheel of each car they pass. Ere
quently they start the engine. Next
terry is dead or how it happened that
his lights were left turned on.
Garage patrons should be protected
to such an extent that if garage
employe chooses to run the risk of
smoking while working around the
car or while pumping in gas, any
damage through fire would be made
good by the management. including
indemnity for loss of use of the car.
1t is true that the owner can obtain
this protection through purchasing
suitable insurance, but if losses of
this type occur where he is insured
the insurers should nave some re-
dress.
Many of the losses patrons suffer
through misuse of their stored cars
are not covered by insurance of any
sort, and it is here that the motorist
is justified in demanding protection,
even if it requires specific legisla-
ton. When a care is stored for the
night it should be safe against un-
lawful hands.
Copyright, 1924)