The auto­mo­bile is a swift and power­ful vehicle

The auto­mo­bile is a swift and power­ful vehicle of recent deve­lop­ment, which has multi­plied by quan­tity produc­tion and taken posses­sion of our high­ways in batta­lions, until the slower, animal-drawn vehicles, with their easily noted indi­vi­dua­lity, are rare. Cons­truc­ted as cove­red vehicles to stan­dard form in immense quan­ti­ties, and with a capa­city for speed riva­ling express trains, they furnish for success­ful commis­sion of crime a disgui­sing means of silent approach and swift escape unknown in the history of the world before their advent. The ques­tion of their police control and reaso­nable march on high­ways or other public places is a serious ques­tion… The baffling extent to which they are success­fully utili­zed to faci­li­tate commis­sion of crime of all degrees, from those against mora­lity, chas­tity, and decency to robbery, rape, burglary, and murder, is a matter of common know­ledge. Upon that problem a condi­tion and not a theory confronts proper admi­nis­tra­tion of our crimi­nal laws.

Nous avons toujours eu peur des choses nouvelles. Aujourd’­hui ce texte fait bien rire mais nos véhi­cules ont un marquage moteur, une plaque d’im­ma­tri­cu­la­tion, une carte grise qui les rattache au proprié­tai­re… L’uti­li­sa­tion d’une auto­mo­bile est tout sauf anonyme.

Les géné­ra­tions futures rigo­le­ront bien de la peur d’In­ter­net de nos poli­tiques actuels, mais ils héri­te­ront de notre lais­ser-faire. À médi­ter.