Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-11-09
LEGISLATION AIDED
MOTORDOM IN 1880
American Motorists ASsoci-
alton Head Sums Up State
Actions.
BY ]. BoRTON WEEKS.

BY J. BORTON WEEKS.
President. American Motorists Association
Laws that relate to the motor vehicle
with the last regular and special legis-
lative session of the year now out OF
the way, are quite different than when
1880 started
Gasoline taxes have been increased,
bond issues for highway extension and
improvement approved, State road sys-
tenn mileage increased, speed limits in
creased, statutes relating to motor
vehicle fees modified, toll bridge regula-
tons revised, and billboards and auto
mobile junk yards made subject to
license. In general, motordom has
moved onward in a legislative way.
From it greater revenue Is asked, but in
all cases the request is bulwarked by
the promise that the funds will go to-
ward the elimination of the varied re-
strictions besetting the path of the car
owner.
Anent Gas Taxes.
According to the American Associa-
ton of State Highway Off1cials, whose
annual compilation of State legislative
action on motoring matters is regarded
as completely authentic and comprehen-
sive, in three States an increase in gaso-
line taxes has been voted, while in a
fourth it was decided to submit to a
referendum a further levy on fuel, and
In another the tax was reduced. The
States which voted the higher assess
ment were Texas, Tennessee and Idaho.
The first raised the rate from two to
four cents per gallon, while Tennessee
added cent to the existing three cent
levy. Idaho's Legislature met in special
session to vote an increase from four
70 five cents gallon.
The fourth State to act on the gaso-
line tax was New Jersey, one Of the last
to impose such a law. The action was
indirect, coming in the form of legis-
lative approval of referendum on the
expenditure of $S3,000,000 for viaducts
and bridges and the elimination Of grade
crossings. If the referendum carries,
its effect will be to increase the gasoline
tax rate from two to three cents a gal
lon.
OF the amount specified In the refer
endum, $65, 10000 is to be devoted to
bridge and viaduct construction and
$18,000,000 for grade crossing elimina-
ton. Another aspect of the referendum,
which will be voted upon in November,
relates to the approval by the voters Of
the transfer of 100000 annually from
motor vehicle funds to grade crossing
elimination on roads not part Of the
State system.
It will be remembered that in the
closing days of the legislative session
of the State of Pennsylvania in 1929
that an increase of one cent in the gaso-
line tax to four cents was enacted. Due
to strenuous opposition the Legislature
limited the increased tax to one year.
On July /, 1880, the gasoline tax auto
matically reverted to three cents.
West Virginia Action.
AS a result of legislative action, mo-
florists in West Virginia will be driving
under new code of regulations after
next January /. In South Carolina the
cause of the motor vehicle operators
license law finds another convert, and
hereafter before one may drive, he must
prove his ability. This addition to the
traffic code of the State as well as the
older portions will be enforced by a new
highway patrol, also established by the
Legislature.
Virginia motorists also find their
pathway modified. The State Legisla-
ture increased the speed limit on rural
highways from 35 to IS miles an hour
Further, it authorized the addition of
LIST miles to the State system within
the next two years and the employment
OF landscape engineer by the Highway
Department.
Rhode Island and New Jersey are two
other States which have ventured more
definitely into highway Identification.
The planting of trees and shrubbery
along the rights of way of State high
ways was authorized in the former,
Wnhe In the latter, new law calls for
the licensing Of bilfboards and SUPER
vision OF their erection by the commits
sioner OF motor vehicles. Another step
In the same direction in New Jersey is
law Licensing automobile Junk yards,
giving the State Jurisdiction over the
character and location of such estab-
lishmentS.
In a special session of one daI the
New Jersey Legislature draSticaIly modi-
ned the States financial responsibility
law. The number of offenses TO which
provisions Of the law apply was reduced
from 81 to less than one-fifth that
number and the statute made effective
only against the guilty party.
New Jersey Changes.
Still another change affecting New
Jersey motor vehicle operation was the
creation of q separate traffic commits
sion which will have Jurisdiction over
traffic lights and other trafic d, ices
throughout the State. The commission
Is charged with pedestrian protection,
rs well as creating uniformity in local
regulations. New Jersey also taxed in
terstate buses half cent a mile.
Legislation affecting highways was
enacted in several States. MaSsachu-
sets voted to increase its funds for
State roads by IS PEI cent more than
last year, enabling the Highway De
partment not only to increase its pro-
gram but to take advantage of the in
crease in Federal-aid appropriate
from SIS 100000 to $125 900 900. Idaho
acted with a similar end in views, its
Legislature authorizing the issuance Of
100000 in State treasury notes. A
six-year road building program, involv-
Ing sum Of $4,000, 900, to be paid for
out OF the gasoline tax will be laid
before the voters of Idaho in 1892.
Tennessee, Kentucky, South Carolina
West Virginia and Wyoming were other
States TO act on highway issues, In
Wyoming thu II Sislature decided to sub
init the question Of a S2S00000 road
bond issue TO the voters in November
The sale Of Si5.000,0 900 worth OF unsold
bonds Of the issue Of S35 900 900 two
years ago was authorized in West Vir-
GINA, and in Tennessee the Depart
ment Of Highways was authorized to
borrow $4,000 900 on short-term notes,
70 be retired out of gasoline tax revenue.
The constitution Of the State Highway
Department in Kentucky was changed,