Evening star., 1928-01-29
AUTO TITLE LAW
BEING DRAWN HERE
iced Long Recognized as
Aid to Recovering of
Stolen Cars.
BY JAMES E. CHINN.

The District Commissioners, with
the assistance of Traffic Director Will
liam H. Harland and the Traffic Ad-
visory Council. have started the prepa-
ration of an automobile certificate OF
title law, which has long been recog-
rized as of vital need to facilitate the
recovery of stolen or unlawfully taken
motor vehicles.
Twenty-seven States already have
such law and those which do not.
it is understood. are now seriously
considering such legislation. Maryland
and Virginia are among the States
which have automobile title laws. leav-
ing the District a veritable oasis for
the disposition Of stolen cars.
Several years ago the Commission
erS. upon the recommendation of NJ o.
El6ridge. former director of traffic. pre-
pared and sent to Congress the draft
of certificate of title bill. but it
failed TO pass. and quietus seemed to
settle over the agitation for il. Re-
legislation was actively revived, and
Mr.. Harland set to work framing an
other bill
Entirely New Bill.
The provisions of the old bill will
be abandoned completely in the new
legislation now under preparation. It
is the intention of Mr.. Harland and
his collaborators 10 frame legislation
modelled after the uniform anti-theft
act. one of the four proposed acts
which constitute the uniform vehicle
code developed through more than two
years work by the National Confer
ence on Street and Highway Safety in
cooperation with the National Con-
ference OF Commissioners on Uniform
State Laws
AS originally drafted the proposed
code was in the form of a single conf
prehenSive motor vehicle act. On rec
ommendation Of the National Confer
ence of Commissioners on Uniform
State Laws, which considered it in Au-
gust. 1925. the code was divided into
three separate acts. dealing. respectively,
with registration and certificate of title.
licensing of operators and chauffeurs
and operation of vehicles on highways
These acts also were further revised by
the committee on uniformity OF laws
and regulations after widespread distri-
button for the purpose of securing criti-
cism and suggestions.
Only Z. S. Cars Exempt.
The provisions of the act will apply
TO every motor vehicle required to be
registered with the Traffic Department
except those owned by the Federal Gov
eminent.
The act will forbid the superintendent
Of licenses OF the District from register
ing a motor vehicle until the owner
makes application and is granted an
Official certificate of title for the vehicle
or presents satisfactory evidence that
certificate of title has been previously
issued 10 the owner.
The owner Of a motor vehicle regis
tered in the District would be prohibited
from operating his car or any other car
that had not been properly registered.
The application for certificate OF
title would be made upon an appropri-
ate form furnished or approved by the
Traffic Department and would contain
full description Of the motor vehicle.
including the name of the maker, the
engine and serial numbers and any dis
tingliShing marks thereon and whether
the vehicle Is new or used, together with
q statement of the applicants title and
Of any liens or encumberances upon the
vehicle and the name and address Of
the person TO whom the certificate OF
title shall be delivered and such other
information as the TRAFFIC Department
may require.
Index Of An Cars.
The franc Department Moulo De re-
CURED TO maintain an engine ard serial
number index Of all registered motor
vehicles, and upon receiving an applica-
ton for a certificate Of title IL would
first check the engine and serial num-
Der shown in the application against
the index and against the stolen and
recovered motor vehicle index, which
the act also would require the depart
r.ent TO keep.
When satisfied that the applicant is
the owner, the Traffc Department would
issue q certificate of title bearing the
serial number and the signature Of the
director Of trafic and the seal OF his
Office, ard setting forth the date issued
and description of the vehicle as de-
ternined by the department. together
with a statement Of the owners title
and OF all liens or membranes upon
the vehicle. and whether possession Is
held by the owner under lease. con-