The Kennewick courier-reporter and the White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1938-1939, 1938-12-22
Car Inspection Is
Mandatory Says
Co. Prosecutor

Just because a car is old is no
certain sign that it is unsafe, for
two cars of the 1921 model passed
the tests on the state safety lane
this week. "A 1921 Ford Coupster
belonging to Frank Watts got by on
everything but the tootle of his
horn, while Joe Nadig, with his
1921 Model T got a white ticket.
The attention of car owners was
called by Prosecuting Attorney C..
l.. Holcomb to the fact that failure
or refusal to have cars inspected
was gross miSdemeanor, in a
statement Tuesday. A legal notice
was published directing car owners
to present cars for inspection when
the state highway departments We
hicle inspection station was set up
here, and those who fail to have
their cars o. KID by the first of the
year We're warned by the highway
department that steps would be
taken to force compliance.
Although more than 100 white
stickers have been handed out sig
nifying that more than half of the
vehicles owned within a radius of
Is miles have passed inspection, the
remaining cars have been coming
in slowly, according to H. r. Han
sen, in charge of the inspection sta
ton.
after the first of the year We
are going to put a ticket on every
car We find that hasn't passed the
1888 inspection" Hansen said, "and
we are going to ask the coopera-
ton of the prosecuting attorney in
the issuance of arrest warrants for
those who don't obey the mandates
of the tickets" The inspection is
not voluntary, but mandatory under
the state law, it was pointed out.
In view of the fact that the inspec-
ton station will not be here long
after the first of the year, he sug-
gested it would be best for people
to have their cars inspected here
soon to avoid the necessity of trav-
cling to the place where the station
will be set up after it is moved.
For the information of people who
have been wondering about the in
spection of trailers, the following
information was given out. All
trailerS must be presented for in
spection. For small trailers used
privately the main things checked
are lights and wheel alignment. The
wheels must be aligned so that there
will not be tendency to sway from
side to. side. The tail light must
be in working order and must prop
erly illuminate the trailer license.
Besides the regular tail light on
the trailer, there must also be a
red reflector on the left hand lower
edge to point out the edge of the
trailer in case the all light should
60 out.
The prosecutors letter follows:
There seems to be some misun-
derstanding as to the duty of own
ers of cars to submit their cars for
inspection at the state inspection
station, and as to penalties for fail
ure or refusal to do so.
"The law provides that failure or
refusal to have the cars inspected
upon notice makes the owner guilty
of gross misdemeanor, and this
may be punished by as high as six
months in Jail.
'The law further provides that
the operating of a car without it
having been placed in condition Of
repair after the owner has been di-
rected to do SO, may be impounded
at the owners expense.
This statement is made merely
to call the peoples attention to the
provisions of the law.
&C. L. HOLCONfB,