Evening star., 1924-01-13
RULING 0NsAUTO TAGS
ISSUED IN MARYLAND
State Residents Must Have State
Tage or Face Arrest, Attor-
ney General Holds.
TRACTION OFFICIAL TAKEN
Hamilton Case in Rockville Court
Basis of Decision.
Special Dispatch TO The Star.

Special Dispatch TO The Star.
ROCKVILLE, Md, January IL
GeorgeNE. Hamilton, prominent Wash
ington lawyer and president Of the
Capital Traction Company, was before
Judge Samuel Riggs in the police
court here today to answer charge
of not having Maryland markers on
his automobile when 1T was stopped
by Motor Cycle Policeman Leroy
Rodgers on the Rockville pike. near
Bethesda, few days ago.
The charge was preferred against
Mr.. Hamilton, who owns valuable
property in the lower section of the
county, on the theory that he is an
actual resident of the county and.
therefore, should have had Maryland
tags on his car. notwithstanding the
temporary reciprocity between the
District and Maryland. Mr.. Hamii-
ton told Judge Riggs that, while lie
occupies his Montgomery home much
of the time and for the last year had
been there virtually all of the time,
he is not legal resident of MARYLAND.
but regards Washington as his home.
He said, however, that he did not
wish to make any defense, but SIM
ply wanted to know what he should
Judge Riggs suggested to Mr. Ham
ilton that he probably was such
resident of the county as to require
him to buy Maryland tags and dis
missed the case with the understand
ing that he would do so.
Reads Robinson Ruling.
During the hearing, States At
torney John A. Garrett read a letter
from Thomas II. Robinson, attorney
general of Maryland. 1t read: In re-
ply to your inquiry l find that the
proclamation of the governor eX-
pressly provides that the reciprocal
agreement between the state OF
missioners of the District of Colum-
bia. effective on and after January
l, 1924, for term beginning Janu-
ary /, 1924. and expiring February
90. 1924. under which the registra-
tion of motor vehicles owned by resi-
dents of this state will be recognized
by the District of Columbia during
the aforementioned period covered
by said agreement, and whereas one
of the terms of said agreement was
the granting to motorists residing III
the District of Columbia similar
reciprocal privileges in the state OF
Maryland during the aforementioned
period.
1T. therefore. seems perfectly
clear to me that resident of Mary
land is required to purchase license
tags in Maryland which entities him
10 the privileges of the streets ana
roads of the District of Columbia.
and that a resident of the District of
Columbia has to procure license
within the District of Columbia.
which, under said agreement. entities
him to the use of the roads in Mary
land. 8,
bona fde resident of MARYLAND ne
must get Maryland tags. no matter
where he tranSacts business. ana
the Maryland tags entitle him TO the
use of the streets and roads ef the
District of Columbia: but he is not
entitled to get the District of Co
lumbia tags as a Maryland resident
upon the theory that either the DIS
trict of Columbia or Maryland tags
are sufficient In other words, the
whole question resolves itself into
ore of residence. He must get the
tags either in the District of Colum-
bia or in the state in which he ac-
tually resides"
States Attorney Garrett stated that
he had been informed that not few
residents of this county who do
business in Washington are under
the impression that under the reci-
procity agreement District of Co
lumb:a tags are sufficient. He had
suggested to the officers of the
county. he said. that these people
not be molested for several days, or
until Thursday of next week. which.
he thought, would give them ample
time in which to obtain Maryland