Evening star., 1928-11-24
A. A. A. TO SPONSOR
RESPONSIBILITY ACT
Nationwide Law Sought to
Cover Basic Violations
of Motoring.

After a thorough investigation, cover
ing a period of several years, the
American Automobile Association is
sponsoring certain basic principles to
be embodied into safety responsibility
law capable of nationwide adaptation,
it was announced today. Some of the
essential features proposed are:
1.-THE universal adoption of drivers
license law.
Stringent provision for the suspen-
sion of the driving permits of all per-
sons found guilty of serious violations
of motor vehicle laws.
Denial of the use of highways to
persons who have failed to pay a judg-
ment against them when the award
has been made by court of compe-
tent jurisdiction, and some effective
legislation to prevent a person who has
been ruled off the road in one State
from moving to another where traffic
rules are less stringent and operating
a motor vehicle in that State"
Protection for All.
This report of the committee OF
II of the association was drawn up
after an investigation In every Sec
ton of the country, it Is explained.
officials emphasized that it is not put
forward as a panacea, but that it is
expected to form "the structure of pro-
lection which may we'll revolutionize the
face of motordom"
The statement of the committee ap-
proved A. A. A. executive commit
tee and outlining suggested principles
follows in part:
THE primary aim should be to put
the reckless driver off the highways
The most effective way of accomplish
ing this is through the universal adop-
ton of a drivers license law Only Ia
States and the District of Columbia
have such law at the present, leav-
ing 80 States without this potential
weapon for the control of the reckless
and incompetent operator, both before
and after he has secured a permit tC
use the highways. A model drivers
license law is set forth in the uniform
motor vehicle code of the National Con-
ference on Street and Highway Safety
which has been available for the guild
ance of legislatures for some time.
ANY effective measure should make
stringent provision for the suspension oi
the driving permits of all persons founc
guilty of serious violations of motor
vehicle laws, such as driving while in
toXicated, and leaving the scene of ar
automobile accident involving injury OF
damage. In every instance of this Kind
the suspension should remain in force
until the guilty party has established
proof of his financial responsibility
against possible future injury to per-
sons or property.
Driver Can Move.
1.-THE case of persons against whom a
Judgment has been rendered by court
of competent jurisdiction, but who has
failed to liquidate that judgment. calls
for special consideration. Such persons
should be temporarily denied the fur
ther use of the highways Their driv-
ing permits should be suspended until
such time as they have fully liquidated
the Judgment and established future
guarantee of financial responsibility.
"One of the current evils confronting
motordom lies in the fact that driver
who is put off the roads in one State
can move in another State, secure a
license and pursue his reckless course.
This situation is capable Of complete
control. Such control can be brought
about by the insertion in the drivers
license law of every State of proviso
which will forbid the issuance of a
driving permit to any person whose
permit is at that time suspended in any
other State for failure to respond to
damages or because of other serious
violations of motor vehicle laws. This
would render the suspension penalty ma
tionally reciprocal"
simultaneously with the release Of
this official statement, A. A. A. national
headquarters announced that confer
ence would be called in New York
shortly, at which representatives of ma
tional organizations interested in this
matter. will be asked to consider further