New Britain herald., 1929-07-03
New Regulations, Which Became Effective July 1, Cover Wide Range of RevisiOns.

rectly or indirectly affected by ap- proximately forty changes in the motor vehicle laws which became effective July 1. Several statute al- terations are of a minor nature, but the majority are of major import ance and immediate interest to many persons.
 The new laws or changes, accord ing to a digest prepared by the mo- tor vehicle department, range from methods of license application, af- fecting individuals to measures or regulation demanding statewide ad- ministration.
 A state traffic control system. which aims at uniform regulation for every town, is among the major enactments. Automobile junk yards are now under state and town resu- lations. TaNicabs are included among the vehicles required to be licensed as public service vehicles by the public utilities commission. A so- called insurance merit rating law has become effective which calls for state classification of operators whose driving records make them bject to the financial responsibility law.
 Owner Must Sign Application
 It will no longer be necessary to make an application for registration under oath,' with the elimination of the oath, however, the state vii, require that the owner of the ve- hicle, personally, sign the applica tion. No agents signature will b. recognized by the department. The new law further provides a penalty of $50 for any person who shall register any motor vehicle of which he is not the owner
 In addition to the old law con- cerned with fa:se statements on ap plication, it is now an otfense, sub feet 10 a fine of s59 for any person to obtain or attempt to obtain license or registration for another by miarepresentation or impersona- tion." Any certificate obtained ill this manner will be void.
 Reports on Accidents No report to the department will be necessary henceforth on motor vehicle accidents resulting in prop erty damage of less than S2o. For. merly all accidents which caused damage of $1O or more were report able. The, law now requires reports only on accidents where damage is ''to an apparent extent in excess of s2a.' All accidents resulting m personal injury must be reported as in the past.
 Additional rebates will be allow cd late registrants of vehicles by q law change increasing the number of months in which pro rata reduc- ton Of fees may be granted, Hence forth reductions will take etfec! after the last day of January in any year calculated to the first day of the month in which the reglstra- ton is to take effect Previously pro rata reductions were allowed beginning April 1. Vehicle owners, whose number plates have been lost or mutilated,
  in which to notify the commissioner and apply for new plates. This law change also allows the commissioner to issue a permit to operate with temporary plate until new number plates are supplied. Upon receipt of the new plates and certificate tn. owner must surrender the old plates i ta l,, jn ly, mutll&t"d plates were returnot. at the time of application for new registration.
 A clarifying clause in the statutes definitely makes it an offense for d person to ''cause or permit the oper- alton of any motor vehicle by any person under sixteen years of age" AS interpreted by the department this law prohibits anyone under six teen from operating even though ac- companied by an older person or under instruction" An additional fee of s3 is now provided for the registration of each motorcycle with side car or box attached when used as commercial. motor vehicle.
 Passenger Motor Vehicles Special registrations are necessary for motor vehicles which are not, in the strict application of the defini- ton, public service motor vehicles but arc used m transporting passen- gers. Such vehicles are defined in the statutes as 'pasSenger motor Ne- hlcle. or commercial motor vehicle used Tn part as passenger vehicle, with a seating capacity greater than seven and not used as public serv- ice motor vehicle" An owner of commercial moto, vehicle is now alleged to substitute. motor. while repairs are being made, provided the motor so sub stituted is registered with the de. partment This privilege was ex- tended previously only to owners ot heavy motor buses. No other sub stantlal change in the appearance or mechanical equipment of any ve- hlcle IS allowed unless the intend aJ change is stated in the application for registration. ihe pflNllese Of carrying green l lights on the front of motor buses has heen extended to interstate pub. lie service vehicles. Commercial motor vehicle owners will no longer be required to esti mate the maximum speed of theh Neh1cieS, an item of information which formerly was required on tn. plate which described the capacity. ! weight and other features of the | car, This plate is displayed nea, l the, driver g seat.
 Judgments Must Be Paid
 The commissioner of motor Ne.- hicles is now empowered to suspend |