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Show Solons Find New Interest the Motorist 10,000 Bills Introduced This Year, but Only 1,200 Are Passed. NEW YORK. The hard-pressed hard-pressed American motorist mo-torist has supplanted the equally as hard-pressed farmer farm-er as the favorite topic of the nation's law-makers, it is revealed re-vealed in a survey of motor vehicle laws considered by state legislatures which have been in session this year. More than 10,000 bills affecting af-fecting motorists in one way or another were introduced in the 44 state legislatures which convened this year. Of these, more than 1,200 were written into law, placing the automobile owner far ahead of the farmer and even the relief client as the "most legislatively discussed" single class of persons in the United States. From the standpoint of motorists who have campaigned for reduced taxation and more simplified and uniform regulations, most of the new laws are good but a large number num-ber are of doubtful benefit. Speed Laws Changed. With solons largely indisposed to lift any considerable amount of the $1,549,000,000 tax burden carried by motor vehicles, automobile owners can derive a modicum of satisfaction satisfac-tion from the liberalization of speed laws in a number of states. Limits which were ridiculously low against the background of automotive development devel-opment have been stepped up to as high as a legal 50 and even 60 miles an hour for daylight driving in several sev-eral states. Several other eommon-wealths eommon-wealths followed the lead of Tennessee Tennes-see by avoiding a definite limit and simply warning motorists to "Be Reasonable." Dozens of bills reinforced and redefined re-defined existing legislation. A notable not-able example was set by Pennsylvania Pennsyl-vania which gained national praise several years ago by enacting a 50-mile 50-mile speed limit and conducting a state-wide personal pledge campaign among drivers to insure better observance. ob-servance. Recognizing that more liberal speed limits and continued running at high speeds require that cars and equipment be in good con- ' , f v ' XX v 1 h.u'' - ' " V -i r'y if $ 14 -A I 4 1 A-' ,-- BLOW FOR DRUNKEN DRIVERS Coming into popularity popu-larity is the "balloon test" for allegedly al-legedly intoxicated drivers. As demonstrated above, the "drunk" bloivs into the balloon, and by analyzing his breath in the portable port-able machine the officer gets a positive analysis of the amount of liquor behind it. dition, the Keystone state solons made it unlawful for any person to drive motor vehicles with a tire worn down to the fabric or showing breaker break-er strip or cushion gum. The new law, which went into effect September Septem-ber 1, is expected to bring about a marked increase in highway safety as it eliminates one of the principal causes of skids and blowouts the use of smooth tires a hazard which menaces not only those riding in vehicles ve-hicles equipped with worn-out casings cas-ings but also occupants of other cars which might be sideswiped or struck when such a tire failure occurs. Campaigns Underway. This bill, which coincides with safety and non-skid campaigns conducted con-ducted over a period of years by such outstanding organizations and private companies as the National Safety council, Automotive Safety foundation, the B. F. Goodrich Co., and the Travellers Insurance company, com-pany, has been called to the attention atten-tion of state motor vehicle commissioners commis-sioners and highway safety authorities authori-ties by a number of organizations, Speed Laws Eased in Many States; Some Remove Limit. and similar legislation is expected to be introduced at next sessions of other state law-making bodies. Every state in the Union now has highway safety patrols, Florida having hav-ing authorized the creation of a corps of state troopers. Florida also enacted the uniform driver's license law also sponsored by leading safety organizations. Forty-five states now require operator's licenses, Wyoming, Wyo-ming, Louisiana and South Dakota being the exceptions. Inspection Laws Rilled. Advocates of laws requiring compulsory com-pulsory periodic inspection of brakes, tires, lights and other equipment equip-ment were set back in Nebraska and Arkansas where inspection laws were wiped off the books. A similar simi-lar bill was vetoed in Oregon by the chief executive, while Nevada, California, Wisconsin and Rhode Island Is-land failed to pass inspection laws which were introduced. .State-owned inspection stations were disapproved by the governor of Maryland. However, How-ever, South Carolina brought private automobiles under a previously enacted inspection law affecting trucks and busses. Scores of bills directed at drunken driving were enacted, Maine taking tak-ing the lead with a law providing for an alcohol, blood test for drivers who are involved in accidents. With Washington, North Dakota, Kansas and Idaho writing uniform financial responsibility laws for all vehicles on the statute books, 31 states now require this protection for.p-sons and property injured by motorists. No state has yet followed the lead of Massachusetts, however, in requiring compulsory insurance for all vehicles. Remove 'Trade Barrier.' Of particular interest to cperators of farm vehicles was the repeal of an "artificial trade barrier" law by Oklahoma. Truckers find others have been hampered seriously by the enactment in 15 states of "port of entry" and other laws which restricted restrict-ed free travel. This year "port of entry" bills were defeated in Arkansas Arkan-sas and Nevada, to apparently reverse re-verse a trend toward what Gov. Lloyd C. Stark of Missouri has branded the "balkanization" of trade in America |