DISTRESSED MOTORISTS FORM A NEW CLUB

Manawatu Times, Volume LV, Issue 7201, 26 April 1930, Page 4

DISTRESSED MOTORISTS FORM A NEW CLUB

“Towed and Impounded”

PHILADELPHIA. A fast : growirig club in this city, although unofficial in its organisation and lacking coherence in its membership, is what might well bo called the “Association of Towed and Impounded Motorists. ’■’ To become a member of the Assouatibrf of Towed and Impounded Motorists ” all one has to do is to leave one’s car parked in prohibited zoucs or to park longer than the law allows. No questions ate fisked as to members■eligibility, They fife elected immediately add bedomb active members in good standing after paying the towing charge of £1 and 5s for garage storage If the ear remains in the garago mere than 24 hours, 5s additional is charged for efidf day. There linvo beeii some humorous expericnces of towed and impounded motorists. There is the story of the man who reported his ear stolen. “What’s yblir license number? asked the desk • sergeant. “So and so and so and so,” replied tho motorist. , , ■ . . “Well, your car’s not stolen, mo police have towed it to tho garago Gome down here, pay ss, get a receipt and go get your car, and don t park in front of a firo hydrant next ti ill (i* Afiothcr motorist goMiis £1 5s penalty changed into pennies. The sergeant had him wait while he counted the heap. ~ “I make only 589,” said , the ser- ® “Here, let me count ’em,” said the assistant sergeant. At the end of the ■cunt which took some time, the assistant said he made it 564. “You don’t know how to count, said the sergeant, “here, let Bill count ’em.” While Bill, who was another assistant began to count the motorist marched up to the desk, swept the pinnies into his hat and drew a £- note and 5s from his pocket and passed it over. A very mild mannered woman icir. her car in a place provided for park]ncr When she came for it the car was gone. In the meantime the police had picked it up from a prohibited area around the corner, Where it had been left by some joy-riding youngThe owner, reporting the theft, was told that the police had towed it away and that it would <’"rt £l . ss . * c l mim it. She explained that she had left her car in a permitted area and that it was the duty of the police to recover stolon cars. Hasty consultation of the city’s legal forces reported the police in error and the car was returned to the owner. Members of the club, who are always •in high dudgeon when their membership is discussed, enjoyed a respite from their state of dudgeon when they learned that one of their members, Isadoro Stevens, decided to make a .test case. Mr. Stevens came off dutv at 3 a.m. and was scheduled to go back at 7 a.m. Ho left bis car parked in front of his bouse wh o he went in and took a nap. When he came out his car was gone. In declining tf» enjoin the police ftom hauling away illegally parked cars Judge Thomas D. Fineletter and ■jutlve Francis Shunk Brown .Td. said: “A car loft on the street- can be removed under the common law as a -general obstruction. No one can leave an automobile on tho highway is i ho takes a nap. A car owner cannot park -his car in a way that will deprive anv other owner of a vehicle from the‘full use of the street. Since that- decision there is no limit to the heights to which the dudgeon of the motorists may arise.