Executive Order 3434

by President of the United States

By virtue of the Act of Congress entitled "An Act extending certain privileges of Canal employees to other officials on the Canal Zone and authorizing the President to make rules and regulations affecting health, sanitation, quarantine, taxation, public roads, self-propelled vehicles, and police powers on the Canal Zone, and for other purposes, including provision as to certain fees, money orders, and interest deposits," approved August 21, 1916, I hereby establish the following Executive Order for the Canal Zone:

Section 1. The Governor of The Panama Canal is hereby authorized to promulgate rules and regulations from time to time to carry out this Order.

Sec. 2. The term "motor vehicle," as used herein, shall apply to and include every vehicle which may be drawn or propelled by means of steam, gas, naphtha, fluid, electricity, or other similar motor power: Provided, That when a bicycle is equipped with a contrivance commonly known as a motor wheel, such bicycle shall be deemed a motorcycle and included in the term "motor vehicle."

Sec. 3. The term "vehicle," as used herein, shall apply to and include equestrians, horses led, and everything on wheels or runners, whether propelled by man, animal, or mechanical energy, except street cars, baby carriages, roller skates, and coasters.

Sec. 4. The term "public notice," as used herein shall apply to and include every form of order issued by the Governor of The Panama Canal, agreeably to the provisions of this Order, whether such order be printed and published in circular, bulletin, or poster, or indicated by signs or printing placed on or along the roads and streets of the Canal Zone.

Sec. 5. There shall be collected on vehicles owned by residents of the Canal Zone and operated therein, an annual license fee as follows:

For each passenger automobile for personal use only, five dollars ($5).

For each automobile of twenty-nine horsepower, or less, used for carrying passengers for hire, twenty dollars ($20).

For each automobile of more than twenty-nine horsepower, used for carrying passengers for hire, thirty dollars ($30).

For each truck or omnibus of 1-ton capacity or less, twenty dollars ($20).

For each truck or omnibus of a capacity of more than 1 ton but less than 3 tons, thirty dollars ($30).

For each truck or omnibus of a capacity of 3 tons or more, forty dollars ($40).

For each motorcycle, two dollars ($2).

For each bicycle, one dollar ($1).

For each animal-drawn vehicle employed In the transportation of passengers for hire, twelve dollars ($12).

For each animal-drawn vehicle employed in the transportation of freight, merchandise or other property, or employed by any merchant in the transportation of any merchandise; twenty dollars ($20) for each 2-wheeled vehicle; and thirty dollars ($30) for each 4-wheeled vehicle.

A 30-day vehicle license will be issued for a fee of 50 cents United States currency to a bona fide tourist in the Canal Zone who has brought his own vehicle with him, providing the machine carries a current license plate of some State of the United States. In such cases the United States tag will suffice, and no Canal Zone tag will he issued.

In case of a dispute as to the horsepower or capacity of a vehicle, the issue shall be referred to the Board of Local Inspectors, and the decision of the Board thereon shall be final.

License fees shall be paid for the calendar year; but if any part of the calendar year shall have expired when the license is taken out, then the license fee to be paid shall be proportioned, on a quarterly basis, to the part of the calendar year remaining, including therein the calendar quarter in which the license is paid; but the Governor shall have authority to issue license at rates proportionate to the rates in the above schedule, in such special cases as he may deem proper.

Licenses heretofore issued shall continue in force, and the licensees shall not be required to pay fees hereunder until the licenses previously issued to them shall have expired.

Sec. 6. Before any vehicle mentioned in Section 5 shall be used and operated in the Canal Zone, such vehicle shall be licensed to do so by the Executive Secretary, or the official acting under his authority.

Sec. 7. Except as to the requirements for payment of license fee provided in Section 5, this Order shall apply to and include all vehicles owned and operated by the United States Government, The Panama Canal, and the Republic of Panama.

Sec. 8. Vehicles owned by residents of the Republic of Panama and operated in the Canal Zone, shall pay the same annual license fee as is imposed by the Republic of Panama on vehicles owned by residents of the Canal Zone and operated in the Republic of Panama; Provided, That the Governor of The Panama Canal may enter into arrangements with the authorities of the Republic of Panama by which any class or classes of vehicles owned by residents of the Canal Zone and operated in the Republic of Panama may be exempted from the payment of license fees in the Republic of Panama, or required to pay fees at a reduced rate, and any class or classes of vehicles owned by residents of the Republic of Panama and operated in the Canal Zone may be exempted from the payment of license fees in the Canal Zone, or required to pay fees at a reduced rate.

Sec. 9. Whenever any vehicle licensed in the Canal Zone shall, before the period for which the license is taken expires, be sold or transferred by the licensee to some other person who may desire to continue the use and operation of such vehicle over the streets and roads of the Canal Zone, such transferee, within 10 days after such sale or transfer, by application to the Executive Secretary, or the official acting under his authority and upon submission of satisfactory evidence of such purchase or transfer, shall have the license transferred to him by endorsement thereon by the Executive Secretary, or the official acting under his authority, authorizing such transferee to operate such vehicle under such license, without the payment of any additional charge or fee.

Sec. 10. The Governor of The Panama Canal Is hereby authorized to exempt from the payment of license fees hereunder vehicles operated exclusively within certain areas or districts of the Canal Zone to be defined by him, and the Governor is also authorized by public notice to prohibit vehicles of any or all kinds from operating on such portions of the roads and streets in the Canal Zone as he may designate, when, in his judgment, the public interest requires it; or he may permit any of said vehicles to be operated in any areas or districts designated by him, upon such conditions as he may deem necessary and convenient for the welfare of The Panama Canal; and, for the purposes of this Order, the Governor is also authorized to define by public notice the limits of towns and villages in the Canal Zone; Provided, That the authority herein granted the Governor to define by public notice the limits of towns and villages shall not be construed or interpreted to in any wise amend or modify the provisions of the Executive Order of March 12, 1914, relative to the designations and boundaries of towns in the Canal Zone.

Sec. 11. Each motor vehicle and bicycle issued a license to operate over the roads or streets of the Canal Zone shall at all times carry thereon, at a conspicuous place at the rear thereof, a metal tag bearing thereon, in large numerals, the number of the license for such vehicle, the letters and numbers of which shall be kept at all times in a legible condition, and on motor vehicles during the period when vehicles are required to display lights, such license tag shall be illuminated so as to be plainly visible at a distance of at least 60 feet. The aforesaid numeral tag shall be obtained from the Executive Secretary, or the official acting under his authority, at the time the license is issued.

Sec. 12. The Executive Secretary shall cause to be kept a register, wherein shall be numbered in consecutive order all licenses granted by him under this Order, with the names of the licensees and a brief description of the vehicle licensed. Such register shall be a public record, and the information shown by such register shall be furnished to the Chief, Police and Fire Division.

Sec. 13. In the use and operation of vehicles over the Canal Zone roads or streets, the following rules shall be observed, viz: All vehicles, in meeting and passing other vehicles, or in being overtaken and passed by other vehicles, shall keep to the left of the road; and in overtaking and passing other vehicles they shall keep to the right. The owner of a vehicle, if riding therein or thereon, shall be held jointly responsible with the person operating such vehicle for the use and operation thereof, agreeably to the provisions of this section; in the absence of the owner, the person using and operating such vehicle shall be held responsible.

Sec. 14. All motor vehicles shall, when being used and operated on any of the roads or streets of the Canal Zone, between the hours of 6 p. m. and 6 a. m., carry and prominently display lights as follows: Automobiles or motor vehicles of similar construction, two bright front or headlights placed one on each side and one red light at the rear; motorcycles without sidecar, one bright front or headlight, and one red light at the rear; motorcycles with side car, two bright front or headlights placed one each on front of motorcycle proper and front of side car, and one red light at rear.

Sec. 15. All bicycles shall, when being operated on any of the roads or streets of the Canal Zone between the hours of 6 p. m. and 6 a. m., carry and prominently display lights as follows: One bright front or headlight.

Sec. 16. All animal-drawn passenger vehicles shall, when being operated on the roads or streets of the Canal Zone between the hours of 6 p. m. and 6 a. m., carry and prominently display lights as follows: Two bright front or headlights placed one on each side, and one red light at rear; Provided, That each animal-drawn vehicle employed in the transportation of freight, merchandise, or other property, may in lieu of front or headlights and rear red light, display one bright light visible both front and rear suspended beneath the vehicle.

Sec. 17. The use of flare lights on vehicles within the limits of any town or village in the Canal Zone is hereby prohibited; and on roads outside of any town or village limits the operators of vehicles shall extinguish their flare lights at least three hundred (300) feet from an approaching vehicle, and shall pass such approaching vehicle with the use of their dimmer lights only.

Sec. 18. It shall be unlawful to drive or operate a vehicle over the roads of the Canal Zone outside of town or village limits, at a speed exceeding twenty-five (25) miles an hour on straight roads, or at a speed exceeding twelve (12) miles an hour when approaching or traversing curves, forks, or cross roads, or when traveling over the streets or roads of any town or village of the Canal Zone, or when approaching another vehicle. The owner of a vehicle, if riding therein or thereon, shall be held jointly responsible with the person operating such vehicle for its speed. In the absence of the owner the person actually operating the vehicle shall be held responsible.

Sec. 19. A vehicle shall not pass another vehicle moving the same direction on curves where the road is not visible more than two hundred (200) feet ahead.

Sec. 20. All motor vehicles and bicycles operated on roads and streets of the Canal Zone must be equipped with a suitable sound device such as a horn or bell whereby signals of warning shall be given by the operator.

Unnecessary use of warning signals is prohibited; such signals shall only be used in giving necessary warning.

Sec. 21. Every motor vehicle operated in the Canal Zone shall be provided with a muffler so complete in construction as to prevent any intense, prolonged, or unnecessary noise in the operation or management of such motor vehicle or the machinery in connection therewith, and said muffler shall not be cut out or put out of operation in any town or village in the Canal Zone, nor where horses are present, nor for the purpose of warning of the approach of the motor vehicle. The operator of every motor vehicle in the Canal Zone shall stop the motor of such vehicle when the vehicle is not in motion, provided said operator leaves his vehicle.

Sec. 22. All vehicles except bicycles and animals when parked between the hours of 6 p. m. and 6 a. m., on such roads or streets of the Canal Zone as may be designated by the Governor of The Panama Canal, except in such spaces as are specifically set apart for parking purposes, shall display one red light in rear, and at least one bright front or headlight on road side of vehicle; or, in the case of animal-drawn vehicles employed in the transportation of freight, merchandise, or other property, with bright light visible both front and rear suspended beneath vehicle. A vehicle will be considered as parked when it remains in same position on road longer than time necessary to allow passengers to embark or disembark, or vehicle to be loaded or unloaded.

Parking of vehicles is prohibited within fifteen (15) feet of any fire plug.

Parking of vehicles is also prohibited on such curves and spaces as designated by public notice.

It is prohibited to park a vehicle on any road or street of the Canal Zone on opposite side of road or street closer than thirty (30) feet from the front line or rear line of a vehicle already parked.

Sec. 23, No person shall propel, permit, or allow to be propelled or driven any vehicle on, over, or across any fire hose wheresoever situated; or obstruct, delay, hinder, or impede any fire apparatus or vehicle while in public use; or obstruct, delay, hinder, or impede any member of the Fire Division while engaged in the discharge of his duty along, over, on, or about any of the roads, streets, or other public spaces or places within the Canal Zone; or pass or ride in or on any vehicle in front of or at the side of any apparatus or vehicle of the Fire Division, or of the officers and agents thereof, when engaged in public service; or interfere with, hinder, delay, or impede the driver or operator of any fire apparatus or vehicle of the Fire Division, while engaged at or about any fire, or at any other place while in the discharge of his duty.

All vehicles in motion on the streets and roads of the Canal Zone shall, on notice of the approach of any fire apparatus vehicle of the Fire Division immediately draw up to the side of the street or road, and stop until such fire apparatus vehicle has passed.

Sec. 24. Articles of personal property left in public vehicles must be, when found by operator of vehicle, delivered without delay to the nearest police station. Failure of operator of vehicle to comply with this regulation will be considered cause for revocation of operator's chauffeur license in addition to any penalty which may be prescribed for larceny of property.

Sec. 25. The operator of any vehicle concerned in any accident on any street, road or other place in the Canal Zone, whether involving injury to person or to property, shall remain at the scene of the accident until the arrival of the police authorities, or shall communicate without delay to the nearest police authorities a full report of the accident in which he was involved. Any concealment of identity of person or property in an accident in which involved shall be a violation of this Order.

Sec. 26. The operation, management, driving or riding of any vehicle on any of the roads or streets of the Canal Zone in a reckless or negligent manner shall be a violation of this Order.

Sec. 27. The ordinance of the Isthmian Canal Commission of August 25, 1910, and approved by the Secretary of War October 31, 1910, providing for licensing and regulation of motor vehicles in the Canal Zone, and the ordinance of the Isthmian Canal Commission of April 9, 1912, approved by the Secretary of War May 1, 1912, amending Section 1 of the above-mentioned ordinance; ordinance of the Isthmian Canal Commission of April 15, 1911, approved by the Secretary of War April 26, 1911, providing for the licensing and regulation of bicycles in the Canal Zone; Executive Order of February 28, 1912, relative to speed limits and rules of the road in the Canal Zone; Sections 1 and 2 of the Executive Order of October 13, 1914, providing for licenses and taxes and fees; and the Executive Order of September 5, 1916, relating to motor vehicles, and their operation in the Canal Zone, are hereby repealed.

Sec. 28. Any person violating any of the provisions of this Order shall be punished in the manner prescribed in Section 5 of the Act of Congress, approved August 21, 1916, and entitled: An Act extending certain privileges of Canal employees to other officials on the Canal Zone and authorizing the President to make rules and regulations affecting health, sanitation, quarantine, taxation, public roads, self-propelled vehicles, and police powers on the Canal Zone, and for other purposes, including provision as to certain fees, money orders, and interest deposits.

Sec. 29. This order shall take effect 30 days from and after this date.

Warren G. Harding

The White House,

April 14, 1921.

Notes

Revokes:

• Executive Order 1489, February 28, 1912
• Executive Order 2062, October 13, 1914 (in part)
• Executive Order 2451, September 5, 1916

Amended by:

• Executive Order 5298, March 10, 1930