Smyrna times., 1927-07-27
NUMBER Of DRUNKEN DRIVERS
IN DELAWARE ON INCREASE
HIGHWAY POLICE ORDERED TO
KEEP A CLOSE VIGILANCE
Another License Will be Granted Only
After Secretary of State is Satisfied
Driver Will Not Repeat Offense

According to Secretary of State
Charles H. Grantland, there continues
to be an increase in drunken drivers
of automobiles. 1t has been the prac-
tice in the past when a driver lost his
license when driving while intoxicated
| for him to be able to obtain another
| license at the expiration of a year.
| Secretary Grantland said some time
ago that all such cases would be given
another license if he had been con-
victed of driving, while drunk, the sec
retary must be satisfied that the mo-
torist would not do the same thing
again. He has again emphasized the
fact saying there were several cases
where drunken drivers had appealed
for another license but he is not going
to do so until he is satisfied that there
is little chance of a repetition of the
offense
In explaining how difficult it is to
have the law obeyed Mr.. Grantland
told of justice of the peace who had
been notified that he should not rer-
NIT anyone who applied to him for
drivers license to drive his car on
the receipt obtained for the license
fee. This justice gave receipt to an
applicant who Immediately started to
drive his car. He was arrested and
taken before the same justice who
dismissed the case. Mr.. Grantland
pointed to this fact as one of the diff
culties in the way of lack of cooper
alton from accredited officials of the
state who would support the laws.
According to the Secretary of State
no further trouble is anticipated with
either the New Jersey or Maryland
motor officials. The New Jersey off
cials had threatened to compel Della
ware commercial truck owners to take
out a New Jersey license after they
had driven so many times over New
Jersey roads. Mr.. Grantland informed
the motor commissioner of New Jer-
sey that if he did that thing Delaware
would reciprocate. So far as known
no Delaware truck owner has been ar
rested and compelled to take out a
New Jersey license and no more
trouble is anticipated. The recent adj
justment of the difficulties between
the Maryland and Delaware motor
authorities appears to be working out
smoothly.
In June the three cent tax on gaso-
line failed to bring in as much as last
year by about $4,000. This is not con-
sidered as significant by officials of
the State Highway Commission be-
cause oftentimes one or two days re
turns in a month are delayed from the
report for that particular month. The
receipts for June this year were S43,-
355.40. For last year the receipts
were S51,871.35.
The total from the gas tax this
year up to July l, was $210,587.91.
The receipts for the first six months
last year were $174,774.57.
The painting of a white line down
the middle of the highway on the con-
crete has proven anything but salts
factory Although the line has been
| painted but two or three months in
many sections it is not discernable at
all at this time. According to the
manufacturers this is due to the
chemical reaction of the paint on the
concrete, it being asserted that there
was an alkaline reaction that destroys
the first coat apparently. He has
suggested that second or third coat
would show up more prominently and
in order to determine whether it is
better than the black line in the mid
die Of the highway it is planned to
white paint.
Inquiries made by the highway
commission from motor authorities
frankly state that they are not salts
fed at all with white paint on CON
crete highways. The Pennsylvania
authorities say that they have to re-
paint three and four times year in
| orda,. ~ ~ olra ~ acaaabIaD