Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-02-08
AUTO SAFETY BILLS
PASSED BY SENATE
Ball Puts Through Virginia
Body Measures Requiring
Permits.
BY LESTER N. INSKEEP.
stan Correspondent OF The Star

RICHMOND, Va, February s-Fol-
lowing a somewhat lengthy debate. in
which Senator Frank L. Ball of Airing
ton sponsored the measures, the Senate
yesterday passed the companion Iesner.
Ball operators permit and safety re-.
sponsibility bills. The measures were
fought by Senators g. L. Ferguson. An
pomattoX, and E. L. Kendie. Victoria
The first of these measures nrovides
that any person in the State who on
crates 3 motor vehicle must have An
operators permit, which will be issued
by the division of motor vehicles in
much the same manner as automobile
tags are distributed.
For Motorists Protection.
The companion bill, which Is de-
scribed by its authors as an act to
protect motorists and pedestrians from
drunken: untit and reckless drivers"
provides for the suspension of the per-
mits Of operators who have three con.
victionS for reckless driving or who
have failed to satisfy judgments for
property damage amounting to more
than 500.
In his speech on the floor Of the
senate Ball declared that the bills
have both been approved by the Ma
tional Safety Council, the Hoover COM
! mission Of the Department of Agri-
| culture and the American Automobile
| Association.
The measures were condemned BY
Senator Ferguson as being useless. He
| declared that the required procedure OF
having two witnesses to q certificate
in order to obtain a drivers license, as
| provided in the former bill, could be
complied with by anybody. Both Sen
Ators Ball and Lesner replied that they
were willing to make the provisions
more stringest, but that it would be
hard enough to pass the bills in theil
present form.
Right Vested In Courts.
In the permit act there is q pro.
vision comforting upon the courts thu
right to recommend the revocation o.
the permits of persons In certain classes
OF physical and mental incapacity o.
who have been convicted of crime o.
who are morally UNIT. It also provides
q penalty for person operating a We
hicle after his permit has been revoked
The bill provides fee of 81 for eacl
private operators permit, with no re
newal fee, and IS for chauffeurs per
mits, with 81 renewal fee. Senate
Ball estimates that It will cost approx
imately $225. 900 to put the two meas
ures into effect during the next tw
years.
Parents or guardians NAV be hel,
liable for negligence Of persons undo
the age Of 10 years who are licensed
No persons under the age of is may b
licensed to drive pleasure car and n
persons under 81 may be issued
chauffeur's permit.
Safety Responsibility.
The safety responsibility bill is desir
mated to obviate the necessity of lila
bility insurance for the careful driver
This bill provides that in order % OBJ
tain q permit any person who Ia
been convicted Of driving while drllnI
reckless driving, leaving the scene q
an accident, or not satisfying a juds
ment Tor injury or material propert
damage, must convince the director !
the division Of motor vehicles of hi
ability to meet damages to the amour
OF $4,000 for one person or $40, 900 ID
two or more persons and of $500
property damage.
The measure will reach the Hons
on Monday morning and it is expecte
That a real fight will be made there I
prevent passage. Proponents, toweveI
are confident of victory.