Motor Vehicle Superintendent Declares War On Illegal Custody and Operation of Motor Vehicles

AUGUST, 1929 ARIZONA HIGHWAYS Page Nine Motor Vehicle Superintendent Declares War On Illegal Custody and Operation of Motor Vehicles

WAR against car thieves, who have been using Arizona as a base of operations, is declared by E. M. Whitworth, state vehicle superintendent, in his General Order No. 1 issued August 1, providing for the phy sical inspection by inspectors of the Motor Vehicle division and peace of ficers of the state and seizure of such cars found to be held or operated illegally.

Following the issuance of the order by Superintendent Whitworth, approximately 40 automobiles with the original serial or motor number altered and which were not registered with the Motor Vehicle division, were seized by inspectors of the division and peace officers and several arrests have been made in this connection.

Recent investigations by the Motor Vehicle division in co-operation with operatives of the Los Angeles motor theft bureau have revealed that scores of automobiles stolen from coast and other cities have been brought to Ari-zona. The serial or motor numbers of these cars have been altered and they have first been taken to a state where there is no certificate of title law, to be registered in that state through presentation of a fraudulent bill of sale. Then they have been brought to Arizona for sale in this state.

Many of the stolen cars brought into Arizona were taken to border cities and sold into Mexico during the recent insurrection, investigation shows. Also Arizona owned vehicles were stolen on this side of the border, the motor and serial numbers altered and then sold in Mexico.

These cars later found their way back into Arizona and a score or more of them have been seized in Nogales since the issuance of the inspection and seizure order. The Santa Cruz county authorities were aided in their work by Assistant Attorney General Lloyd Andrews and Jack Andrews of the Motor Vehicle Division.

General Order No. 1, issued by Superintendent Whitworth, follows: ARIZONA HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT DIVISION OF MOTOR VEHICLES GENERAL ORDER NO. 1 Section 1629, Revised Code of 1928, provides that the Vehicle Superintendent shall adopt and enforce rules and regulations, and designate agencies to carry out the provisions of Article 5 of Chapter 31, entitled "Highways" of said Revised Code of 1928.

The State of Arizona has become the dumping ground of stolen motor vehicles the original motor (or) serial numbers of which have or have not been altered. Many of such vehicles have been registered under the laws of the State of Arizona upon fictitious evidence of ownership. It is the purpose and intention of the laws of the State of Arizona pertaining to the certification of title and registration of motor vehicles to intercept the traffic in stolen motor vehicles, to assist in the return thereof to rightful owners, and to protect the public from the purchase thereof. To

The Congregation, Bryce Canyon, Utah Page Ten ARIZONA HIGHWAYS AUGUST, 1929

That end it is necessary that any motor vehicle' in the State of Arizona, the original motor (or) serial number of which has been altered and not registered with the Division of Motor Vehicles as required by law, (or) in respect of which there is insufficient or question able proof of ownership, be seized forthwith wherever found and held in the custody of the Division of Motor Vehicles until such alteration of motor (or) serial numbers shall have been accounted for (or) the ownership of such motor vehicle established. Certain dealers in, and owners and operators of, motor vehicles in the State of Arizona persist in the illegal custody, or in the illegal operation, of motor vehicles in violation of the laws of the State of Arizona in respect of registration, certification of title, operators' and chauffeurs' license and otherwise, and it is necessary for the enforcement of such laws that any motor vehicle so illegally held, owned or operated or otherwise dealt with, be seized wherever found in the State of Arizona and held in the custody of the Division of Motor Vehicles until such irregularity shall have been corrected.

IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED: That the following rules and regulations are adopted and the following agencies designated hereby to enforce and carry out the provisions of said Article 5 of said Chapter 31 of said Revised Code of 1928: (1) Any motor vehicle in the State of Arizona, the original motor (or) serial number of which has been altered and not registered with the Division of Motor Vehicles as required by law, (or) in respect of which there is insufficient or questionable proof of ownership shall be seized forthwith wherever found and held in the custody of the Division of Motor Vehicles until such alteration of motor (or) serial numbers shall have been accounted for (or) the ownership of such motor vehicle established.

(2) Any motor vehicle in the custody of or operated by any person, in the State of Arizona, in violation of or not in conformity with the provisions of said Article 5 of said Chapter 31 of said Revised Code of 1928, or in violation of any rule or regulation of said Vehicle Superintendent shall be seized forthwith wherever found and held in the custody of the Division of Motor Vehicles until the illegal act of commission, or omission shall have been corrected.

(3) Every dealer or other person taking, receiving or holding any motor vehicle on consignment for sale, at all times during such consignment shall have in his possession, at the place of consignment, (a) a statement signed by the owner of such motor vehicle or his authorized agent, showing the residence of such owner and stating that such motor vehicle is on consignment for sale with such dealer or other person, and (b) such proof of ownership of such motor vehicle as would entitle its registration under the laws of the State of Arizona.

taking, receiving or holding any motor vehicle on consignment for sale, at all times during such consignment shall have in his possession, at the place of consignment, (a) a statement signed by the owner of such motor vehicle or his authorized agent, showing the residence of such owner and stating that such motor vehicle is on consignment for sale with such dealer or other person, and (b) such proof of ownership of such motor vehicle as would entitle its registration under the laws of the State of Arizona.

(4) The duty appointed inspectors of the Division of Motor Vehicles and each police and peace officer in the State of Arizona are designated hereby as agencies to carry out and enforce the provisions of said Article 5 of said Chapter 31 of said Revised Code of 1928, and the rules and regulations of the Division of Motor Vehicles, and authorized and directed hereby to inspect any motor vehicle in the State of Arizona at any place and at any time for the purpose of enforcing and carrying out the provisions of said Article 5 of said Chapter 31 of said Revised Code of 1928, and the rules and regulations of the Division of Motor Vehicles, and if