Evening star., 1931-12-27
Maryland'S Present.


ceive."
Maryland's Present.
Maryland has provided a pres
ent-a New Year one, at least
with the adoption of the financial
responsibility law, which becomes
effective January /. This law,
closely aligned with the safety re-
SponSibility law fostered by the
american Automobile Association,
will receive praise from some and
opposition from some others.
1t is certainly a step forward
In making the streets and high
ways safer. If the owner of a car
drives or has his car driven as it
should be, there will be nothing to
fear. The law will make it hard
ship on the reckless driver and
thu one who drives without any
regard for the rights of others
1t would not seem right to feel too
sorry for what the individual of
this kind has to go go through
with.
The new law not alone affects
the residents of Maryland but
makes the motorists of the Dis
Erict of Columbia, Virginia and
hH other States subject to can
kellation of their right to drive in
Maryland, and takes it's place
along with the State title law and
the annual save-a-life campaign
as a means of keeping the ire
sponsible driver and his danger
ously decrepit machine off the
highways.
AS provided in the law, opera
tors licenses and registration GER
tiflcateS shall be suspended in
Maryland under the following cir
cumStances:
Suspension Causes.
I. Conviction of operating a
motor vehicle while under the in
f1uence of liquor or narcotic drugs
2. Conviction of violating any
of the motor vehicle laws of the
State resulting in the death of one
or more persons.
3. Conviction of leaving the
scene of an accident without max
ing identity known.
4. Inability of a motorist tc
satisfy within 80 days any final
judgment for bodily injury OF
death or a judgment in excess
of $50 for damage to property OF
others resulting from an automo-
bile accident.
1t is further provided in the law
that licenses once suspended for
any of the foregoing reasons shall
not at any time thereafter be re-
newed unless the motorist can
give proof of his ability to pay
damage to the property of others
up to $1,000 and for injuries to
persons up to $4,000.
Pay-Ability Proof.
This proof of ability to pay may
be demonstrated in one of three
ways:
l. BY an insurance policy in a
company regularly licensed to do
business in the State, such policy
covering liability for personal in
juries, with the limits Of $4,000 to
$4,000, and liability for damage
to property Of others up to at least
$1,000.
2. BY bond for like amount in
a surety company licensed to do
business in the State, to be de-
posted with the commissioner of
motor vehicles, or a personal bond
where the SignerS thereof own un-
incumbered real estate valued in
excess of the amounts required
under the act.
3. BY depositing with the State
treasurer $1,000 in cash or COL
lateral acceptable to the commits
sioner of motor vehicles
A chauffeur or friend driving
the owners car does not have to
give proof of such liability if the
owner has already filed proof. The
provisions of the act do not affect
insurance policies in force Janu-
airy l, 1882, unless the policies are
In companies not authorized to do
business in Maryland.
How the highways will be made
safer under this new law may not
seem clear at once to some people.
The highways will be unquestion-
ably safer when the irresponsible
drivers are denied the right to
drive again. This will be done in
time when the insurance COM
panies refuse to sell policies to
frequent offenders. In the mean
time the majority of drivers will
drive more carefully in order to
avoid trouble
The law will not work wonders
all at once, but in the near future
a great change for safe and sane
driving on the highways of Mary
land should be noted. May the
governing bodies of Washington
watch this change.
Auto Show Surprises.
When the doors of Grand
Central Palace swing open on
the afternoon of January 9
to reveal highly colorful thirty
second National Automobile Show
1t is quite probable that a number
of manufacturers will offer sur
priseS for eager visitors. While
certain features for 1882 have been
announced in advance, rumors
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