When there is an automobile accident on the roadway and the wrecker comes to pick up the car, are they responsible for sweeping the glass out of the roadway?

Yes.

“It shall be the duty of the driver of each emergency auto wrecker that picks up a wrecked or disabled vehicle for the purpose of towing the same away to clear the street of any and all debris, parts or glass,” reads Section 22-106 of the Lake Charles city code.

“In the event two or more emergency auto wreckers pick up vehicles for towing, it shall be the duty of each driver to clear the street of debris, parts or glass.”

The Sulphur and Vinton codes include similarly worded provisions.

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Online: www.municode.com; http://cityofvinton.com.

Nine men have held five-star rank

How many five-star generals have there been in the military?

Five-star rank was established for the Army and Navy in December 1944. The rank — general of the Army for the one branch, fleet admiral for the other — has been held by nine men.

The five generals of the Army: George Marshall; Douglas MacArthur; Dwight Eisenhower; Henry Arnold (later made general of the Air Force); and Omar Bradley.

The four Navy fleet admirals: William Leahy; Ernest King; Chester Nimitz; and William Halsey Jr.

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Online: www.history.army.mil; www.history.navy.mil.

State trademark fees assessed per class

How do you register a trademark, and how much does it cost?

The procedure and cost for trademark registration depend on which authority — the state or federal government — you choose to file with.

To register a trademark with the state, you should first call the Louisiana Secretary of State’s Office at 225-925-4704 to request a preliminary availability check. If the trademark is available, you must submit a reservation form.

Trademarks are reserved by class — chemicals, machinery, fabrics, paper goods — and the reservation cost is $25 per class. The reservation period runs 60 days, and the state will grant up to two 30-day extensions if applicants can show good cause.

The cost to register a trademark is $50 per class.

“The laws governing registration of trade names, trademarks and service marks are extensive,” reads the Secretary of State’s Office website.

“A thorough reading of Louisiana Trade and Commerce Law is advisable.”

Trade and commerce laws can be found in Title 51 of the state’s Revised Statutes, which can be accessed via the Legislature’s website, www.legis.state.la.us.

For information on registering with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, whose fee schedule and procedures are more varied than Louisiana’s, call the Trademark Assistance Center at 800-786-9199 or email TrademarkAssistanceCenter@uspto.gov.

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Online: www.geauxbiz.com; www.uspto.gov/trademarks/basics/BasicsFacts.pdf.

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The Informer answers questions from readers each Sunday, Monday and Wednesday. It is researched and written by Andrew Perzo, an American Press staff writer. To ask a question, call 494-4098, press 5 and leave voice mail, or email informer@americanpress.com.