In 1920, public works commissioner John N. Cole appointed Goodwin to the newly-created position of the Registrar of Motor Vehicles. As registrar he ran a vigorous campaign against motor vehicle accidents and attacked the practice of “fixing” motor vehicle violations. After faulty brakes were found to have caused an accident that killed his 3 year old grandson, Goodwin instituted semi-annual inspections for all motor vehicles. He met monthly with fellow registrars from New England, the Mid-Atlantic states, and Eastern Canada to discuss common issues and potential solutions, which helped lead to the creation of the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators.
