Miles With Smiles

Page Twenty-four ARIZONA HIGHWAYS DECEMBER, 1928 Arizona Automobile Association, Inc.

Affiliated with American Automobile Association

STEALING AUTOS REMAINS ONE OF “BIG THREE” CRIMES

Stealing automobilse continues to be one of the “big three” crimes of the nation, as evidenced by the fact that the number of prisoners in the federal prisons for this offense closely trails bootlegging and dope peddling.

This statement is made by the American Automobile Association, which sponsored the National Motor Vehicle Theft Law, making the interstate movement of stolen cars a federal offense, and has consistently supported the measure.

The national motoring body says a total of 1,396, out of a total of 9,294 in the “prison family,” on June 30, 1928, were “up” for violation of the Motor Vehicle Theft Law.

Violations of the prohibition law numbered 2,530, and the next largest number of the “big three” were violators of the anti-narcotic law, numbering 1,396.

SUPREME COURT UPHOLDS RIGHT OF STATE TO ABOLISH GRADE CROSSINGS

The Supreme Court of the United States has upheld the Constitutional right of a state to require railroads to abolish dangerous grade crossings, according to the American Automobile Association.

The national motoring body points out that the specific opinion is that in the appeal of the Lenigh Valley Railroad Company versus the Board of Public Utility Commissioners of New Jersey.

The A. A. A. says this decision will have a farreaching effect on the ever-growing sentiment throughout the country to abolish the dangerous grade crossings, which in many instances stand as death-dealing agencies on the highways of the nation.

The statement continues: “The Supreme Court decision means that when railroad companies occupy lands in the state for use in commerce, the state has a Constitutional right to insist that a highway crossing shall not by dangerous to the public, and that where reasonable safety of the public requires abolition of grade crossings, the railroad cannot prevent the exercise of the police power to this end by the excuse that such change would interfere with interstate commerce or lead to the bankruptcy of the railroad.

“The New Jersey Utility Commissioners ordered the railroad to abolish grade crossings and construct overhead crossings according to a plan for keeping the highway straight at an estimated cost of $324,000, and rejected a plan by which the highway would have three six degree curves within a distance of half a mile, with cuts, at an estimated cost of $205,000, thehighway being a main artery of traffic.”

CONNECTICUT HAS PROPOSAL TO REGULATE SALE OF USED CARS

Elimination of “rambling wrecks” from the highways in Connecticut through state regulation of the sale of used automobiles is now being considered, according to the American Automobile Association.

The A. A. A. says that those advocating the law contend that the state might well establish a principle for standardization of the condition of motor vehicles on the highways by setting a time limit and placing cars older than the time set under state supervision.

The national motoring body points out that this is another sign of the nation-wide interest in the elimination of “rattle trap” cars from the highways.

The statement says: In order that there may be no discrimination against old cars that are kept in good repair, the proposal is advanced that the state provide for examination and certification as to its fitness to run for the registration period.

“The Department of Motor Vehicles advises the AAA that in its opinion, such regulation 'would compel rigid scrutiny by police and it would happen that the second hand cars which dealers put on the market would need to pass examination.' “Information from Connecticut is to the effect that the proposed move is in a preliminary stage and is being carefully studied.” When we build, let us think that we build forever. Let it not be for present delight nor for present use alone. Let it be such work as our descendants will thank us for, and let us think, as we lay stone on stone, that a time is to come when those stones will be held sacred because our hands have touched them, and that men will say, as they look upon the labor and wrought substance of them, “See, this our fathers did for us.” John Ruskin.