Evening star., 1942-08-27
BY NORMAN A. KAHL.

Motorists who hold only an A
gasoline rationing book may do
nearly three times as much pleasure
driving with a clear conscience and
without fear of being penalized as
drivers who have been granted sup
Elemental ration books.
This curious situation was con-
f1rmed today by spokesman in the
Once of Price Administration. He
said number of persons had writ
ten and telephoned his Office and
local rationing boards to inquire
whether an A book holder may
actually make more trips to race
tracks, country clubs and other nom
essential places than a driver who
Is allowed more gasoline.
Under the OPA's Interpretation of
the rationing regulations, a motorist
who has only an A book may drive
up to 240 miles a month on non-es-
sential trips, on the basis of Is miles
of driving per gallon of gasoline.
Holders of supplemental books, how
ever, are permitted only 80 miles Of
pleasure driving. If they use more
than six gallons of gasoline a month
for non-essential purposes, they are
liable to revocation of their supple
mental books and may even be pros
ecuted in the courts.
Hard to Fix Status.
just how local rationing boards
are to determine when a driver is
using his essential" gasoline for
joy-riding was not explained. Even
though an autoist may be caught"
at some pleasure resort by an OPA
investigator, it is virtually impossible
to tell whether he came to the beach
or race track on his necessary"
allotment of gas or on his pleasure"
allowance.
The OPA spokesman explained
that drivers with A cards, which
have been issued to every automo-
bile owner regardless of need, may
do exactly as they please with their
gasoline and still not violate OPA
regulations. II A book holders want
to take q bus or streetcar to work
and use their automobile exclusively
for pleasure, there is nothing to pre-
vent them from doing so.
The moment q driver Is granted
any supplemental rations, however,
he is legally bound to restrict his
pleasure driving to 80 miles month,
or 1880 miles year. Supplemental
books are granted only when 1t is
established that driver needs addi-
tional fuel for occupational reasons
The need for more gasoline Is held
proved If it is shown that a car
owner must drive more than 1900
miles year in connection with his
job. This is an arbitrary figure,
predicated on the assumption that
every driver is permitted l 080 miles
OF pleasure driving each year.
Difference Made Up.
Thus, if it is necessary for a
motorist to drive more than 1900
miles year, he may obtain a sup
Elemental book. even though his
essential driving is still less than the
1880 miles he can drive by using
only his A book. He will receive a
supplement, therefore, giving him
enough gas to make up the differ
ence between 1900 miles year and
the amount of necessary mileage he
actually puts on his car, leaving
him, In any event, 1880 miles for
non-essential uses.
District OPA Director Whitney
Leary last week revealed he was
sending an Investigator to the Marl-
boro race track to find out how many
cars bearing supplemental rationing
stickers were parked there. He in
timated that persons using their
cars too often to 60 to this and
other race tracks would be called in