INDIANA

Automobile registration began by city ordinance, with Fort Wayne, Indianapolis and South Bend having laws in effect as of 1903.  The first state law in 1905 disallowed all city plates, but permitted cities to license and tax automobiles of their residents only.  This latter provision was dropped in 1907 but a similar one was reinstated in 1911.

(Anderson (22,476)

The Union automobile was manufactured here and in Union City (3,209) in 1902, making this city a likely candidate for an early ordinance to regulate automobiles which undoubtedly must have been road-tested on city streets.  A Fort Wayne Journal-Gazette news article on May 6, 1905, mentions Anderson's City Attorney's opinion that the city may not collect a license fee, and the Secretary of State's opinion that cities may tax automobiles belonging to city residents but just cannot issue plates.  An undated leather plate #AND 10 is known but is believed to be from Anderson County, South Carolina.)

Elkhart (19,282)

A 1904 Motor Age article reports that an ordinance has passed requiring automobiles "to be numbered by permit issued by the city".  Non-residents were allowed 10 days before having to register.

Fort Wayne (63,933)

An ordinance became effective on October 13, 1903, requiring owners to register with the city comptroller and display an owner-provided white-on-black rear plate with 3 1/2-inch-tall numbers.  Numbers #100 to #120 were issued on the first day.  An article in The Waterloo Press on August 18, 1904, stated:  "There are eighty-one automobiles registered in active use at Ft. Wayne."

Greenfield (4,448)

The Tri-County Banner (Knightstown) of January 6, 1905, reported from the Greenfield Tribune on a new ordinance in Greenfield, stating that "The vehicle ordinance in this city which went into effect Oct 1, 1904, has brought considerable money into the city treasury...Three automobile tags are out at $3.00 each..."

Indianapolis (233,650)

The automobile ordinance providing for registration and plates with owner's initials was passed on May 4, 1903.  The Indianapolis Journal reported on May 26, 1903, that "The ordinance regulating automobiles is now in force and Controller Breuning is ready to receive the registration of all owners of self-propelling machines.  Under the ordinance the machine must be registered, a vehicle license procured and the machine provided with a plate of initials, the letters of which shall be of white or aluminum, three inches high."

The Indianapolis News reported on June 9, 1903, that "Registration of automobiles at the city comptroller's office is slow.  Thus far, sixty-nine have registered, although it is thought that there are 175 or 200 in Indianapolis."  A New York Times article on September 20, 1903, states that Indianapolis has 174 automobiles "according to license records," a dramatic improvement in less than three months.  Then the Indianapolis News mentioned on September 5, 1903, that "There are 180 automobiles registered at the City Comptroller's office..."  Motor Age stated on May 26, 1904, that "Only 201 automobiles of the 300 or more owned in Indianapolis, Ind., have been registered."  The Indianapolis Star reported on March 24, 1905, that "There were 294 automobiles licensed last year, but there have been only 91 licenses issued this year."  Finally, the Indianapolis Journal of April 14, 1905, mentioed that "There were 300 automobile licenses in Indianapolis in 1904, but there have only been 160 licenses issued to this time."

(Logansport (19,050)

According to various news articles in the Logansport Journal and the Logansport Pharos, an automobile speed limit ordinance was passed on September 2, 1903.  On November 19, 1903, the Journal mentioned that "The ordinance committee reported an amendment to the automobile ordinance providing for the numbering of automobiles and providing license be paid for them."  On the same date, the Pharos stated that "The ordinance committee reported unfavorably on the ordinance providing for numbers on automobiles as being untimely."  It appears that such an ordinance was still not effect as of May 31, 1904, since, on that date, the Journal reported that the very first arrest was made the day before under the automobile speed ordinance.)

South Bend (53,684)

The November 5, 1902, issue of The Horseless Age states in a nationwide survey that an "Ordinance pending requiring license; license fee, $4."  Another article in the Indianapolis News on September 29, 1903, states that the ordinance had recently passed.  The fee was $5 and the license number was required on the rear of every automobile.

Terre Haute (58,157)

The Overland was manufactured here in 1903-04.  It was reported by The Horseless Age on April 15, 1903, that an automobile ordinance had been passed.  The license fee was set at $3 per year, but there was no mention of numbers to be displayed.  There were 21 automobiles and 4 motorcycles in the city.