Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1925-07-01
cHANcE IN AUTOMOBILE LAws

| Road Commission and receive a. new
certificate, for which the charge is
one dollar. No certificate Of title is
| required in the case Of new motor
vehicles sold by manufacturers or
| dealers.
| The law requires that all sheriffs
and chiefs of police make an immedi-
ate report to the State Road Com
mission Of all motor vehicles stolen
or recovered. and that the State
Road Commission shall publish once
month a list Of all motor vehicles
stolen or recovered during the prev
ious month. and forward a copy to
every sheriff. and to every police de-
partment of cities of more than five
thousand population. Such lists are
to be forwarded to the state
police department or other proper
official in each of the other states of
the Union
Before issuing a certificate of
title, the Commission will compare
the number of the vehicle for which
application is made. with its list of
stolen cars.
All dealers in used cars must keep
record books containing description
of each vehicle handled, name and
address of both seller and purchaser,
and Identification marks on car. if
any. A dealer wishing to disas-
semble a used vehicle and sell its
parts, must receive permission to do
so. Dealers in used cars must get
proper certificates of title from those
who sell cars to them.
Heavy penalties are provided for
all violations of this act.
The provision relating to reports
of convictions for offenses against
the motor vehicle laws. was amended
to require that a transcript of the
record be sent by the trial court to
the State Road Commission, regard
less of whether the offense be tried
under a municipal ordinance or the
State road law.
The phrase. "at the request of the
State Road Commission" was elimi-
mated from the provision making it
the duty of all State, county, and
municipal officers of the law to en-
force the road and motor vehicle
laws. 1t is now the duty of all such
officers to enforce these laws without
a request from the Commission.
1t was provided, that Federal aid
in future shall not be apportioned
among the counties. but shall all be
placed in the reserve fund
At the regular session. law was
passed providing for the local distri-
button of automobile and truck
license plates on application of
county court. At the extra session,
this was changed to read as follows
"All licenses for all classes of
motor vehicles shall be issued from
the central office of the State Road
Commission or at such agencies as
shall be designated by said Commits
sion."
The gasoline tax was raised at the
regular session to three cents a gal
Ion, and at the extra session half a
cent was added, making the total
three and one half cents a gallon.
This goes into effect July ]. When
purchased in quantities of rs gal |
Ions or more, for use in boats. trac-
tors, cleaning and dyeing, etc, the |
tax is refunded.
The gasoline tax law was also |
amended considerably in its wording. I
Instead of the tax being imposed up I
on all gasoline sold "at wholesale" |
with a special definition of the term, /
at wholesale" the tax is now i'm |
posed upon "everv person a distrib- I
utor. retail dealer, or importer"
However. the same gasoline cannot
be taxed more than once.
Elimination of grade crossings was
provided by a law giving the State
Road Commission, county courts. and I
municipal councils. power to order a
steam or electric railway company +
to separate grades or relocate
road, when necessary for the safety
of the travelling public.
After receiving such an order from
the State Road Commission. coun-
ty court, or a municipal council. the
railway company may file a protest
within thirty days. after which a
hearing must be held before the /
elimination. Appeals may be taken /
from decisions of the State Road |
Commission to the Supreme Court of
Appeals.
All costs connected with the elm
nation of grade crossings under this |
law are to be divided equally be- /
tween the railway company and the |
State Road Commission. the county, /
or the municipality. as the case may
be.
For road maintenance. an appro- |
priation was made at the extra ses-
sion. of S400,000.00 for 1925 and
$3.50 100000 for 1926, out of gen.
eral funds. 1t is also provided, that |
any surplus remaining in the Estate
fund general revenue" June 80,
1926. or June 80. 1927, and not |
otherwise appropriated, is to be
transferred to the State road fund
and used for road maintenance.
The following definitions were
added to those relating to motor
vehicles:
Stand-A fixed place of business in
charge of a person, and maintained
by a person, firm, or corporation
operating motor vehicles for hire,
where motor vehicles shall be parked
when not out on calls.
Secondhand cara motor vehicle
which has been sold. bargained, ex-