Evening star., 1942-11-08
Plenty Of Stations
For Tire Inspection
Seen for District
100 Applications Received
From Garage Owners
And Auto Dealers

1t appeared certain last night thai
enough tire inspection stations tt
handle the needs of local motorists
would be set up and ready for busi.
ness by the time the compulsory
inspection program goes into effect
on December /.
More than 100 applications from
garage owners and automobile
dealers, volunteering to set up in
spection stations on their premises
had been received by the District
Once of Price Administration
Whitney Leary, local OPA admins
traitor, announced yesterday.
Most of the applications, Mr.
Leary said, were received before the
public appeal for applicants was
sent out. Altogether, 1t is esti-
mated, 400 inspectors will be needed
to meet the needs of District mo-
torists. Mr.. Leary pointed out
however, that this does not neces-
sarily mean 400 stations, since many
places will have more than one in
spector
At the, same time, the general
motoring public in the District and
nearby Maryland and Virginia was
warned once more to be ready for
the tire registration program which
is a necessary preliminary to the
inspections.
Must Register at Schools.
~, ~ So< oN jx-;,, !, ~
basic "A" and ID" cards are to
report to any one of % public
schools to fill out new registration
forms Thursday and Friday. Motor
lists in Maryland and Virginia must
obtain the new forms from desig-
mated filling stations and send them
in to their local rationing boards
with the necessary information sup
piled. Any driver who fails to
comply will be unable to obtain
further supplies of gasoline
The new registration in the Dis
trict and States where rationing has
been in effect for some time will
bring these areas into conformity
with the rationing program that
goes into effect throughout the Ma
ton November %.
In directing the preparation of
new forms, the Office of Price Ad-
ministration has left it to local OPA
authorities to decide by what process
the forms will be made out, requir-
ing only that the new applications
reach local rationing boards in time
for each motorist to begin conform
ing with the tire inspection plan
that is an integral part of the ma
tional rationing program.
Under this program, holders of
"A" rationing books must have their
cars inspected once every four
months and "B" and &c" book hold
ers must undergo an inspection once
every so days.
Arto Inspection May Be Included.
Traffic Director William A. Van
Duzer said last night that arrange
ments between local OPA officials
and the District Department of We
hicles and Traffic have been worked
out so that the regular annual auto
inspection may count as one of the
OPA-required tire inspections.
Mr.. Van DuZer said a chart had
been prepared by his office on the
basis of license tags which would
permit District auto inspectors to
assign drivers a date for their car
inspections that will fall within a
period when an OPA tire inspection
is also necessary.
For example, auto inspections be-
fore January 31-the deadline for
the OPA inspections-will count as
the first tire inspection for "a" card
holders.
Mr.. Leary said his plans probably
would call for publishing the license
tag numbers of those due to have
their tires inspected as the inspec-
tlon periods came. The drivers then
would be given 10 days in which
to get to an inspection station.
Notification to report for the auto
inspection will be given as usual by
postcard with weeks leeway.
Board to Meet Tuesday.
The advisory board, appointed re-
Gently by Mr.. Leary to handle ap-
plications of garagemen and auto
dealers who are. willing to set ur
inspection stations, will meet fol
the first time Tuesday. Most of the
members of the board, it was said
are already familiar with most Of
the dealers and garages in the Dis
trict and will be able to recommend
eIyffoh oh1n Y,loNnc uyifI, i,,iv ~
delay.
Meanwhile, Gasoline Retailers o1
Washington, Inc, which has beer
recruiting tire inspection stations
reported that, while the program
at first seemed to offer some com.
plications. most of the District.
service stations were now express.
ing their interest in participating.
Some of the larger stations, il
was reported, were reluctant to take
on the additional work because they
were already swamped with repair
jobs and were having difficulty get.
ting enough mechanics.
Mr.. Leary pointed out, however
that the tire inspections would tie
up none of the elaborate equipment
of garages and repair stations. He
also said that motorists who are in.
formed by inspectors that certain
repairs, such as correction o1
wheel alignment, are needed before
the inspection card can be signed
may have the repairs taken care o1
by the station at which the inspec.
ton is made but will not be re.
Quired to do so.
Examination to Be Visual.
Wheel alignment equipment viii
not be used to examine the auto
mobile. Instead. inspectors will base
their reports solely on a visual ex'
animation of the tires.
Mr.. Leary said he based his eSti'