1534                             Laws of Maryland                       Ch. 534

and if any phrase, clause, sentence or provision of this compact is
declared to be contrary to the Constitution of any state or of the
United States or the applicability thereof to any government, agency,
person or circumstances is held invalid, the validity of the remainder
of this compact and the applicability thereof to any government,
agency, person or circumstance shall not be affected thereby. If this
compact shall be held contrary to the constitution of any state partic-
ipating herein, the compact shall remain in full force and effect as to
the remaining party states and in full force and effect as to the state
affected as to all severable matters.

Part VI—Implementation and Administration of
Vehicle Equipment Safety Compact

§ 12-601. Legislative Findings.
The legislature finds that:

(1)    The public safety necessitates the continuous development,
modernization and implementation of standards and requirements
of law relating to vehicle equipment, in accordance with expert
knowledge and opinion.

(2)    The public safety further requires that such standards and
requirements be uniform from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, except
to the extent that specific and compelling evidence supports variation.

(3)    The Department of Motor Vehicles, acting upon recommenda-
tions of the Vehicle Equipment Safety Commission and, pursuant to
the Vehicle Equipment Safety Compact provides a just, equitable
and orderly means of promoting the public safety in the manner
and within the scope contemplated by this part.

§ 12-602. Provisions of vehicle law remain in effect until superseded
pursuant to Section 12-603.

The provisions of this article prescribing motor vehicle require-
ments, especially but not solely, the provisions of subtitle 12 hereof,
as amended from time to time, shall continue to be of force and
effect only until superseded by a rule, regulation or code adopted
pursuant to the Vehicle Equipment Safety Compact as provided in
Section 12-603 of this subtitle. Any such rule, regulation or code
shall specify the provision or provisions of existing statute being
superseded in accordance with and as required by this subtitle. Any
such provision or provisions are hereby repealed, effective on the
date when the rule, regulation or code superseding such provision
or provisions becomes effective pursuant to the Vehicle Equipment
Safety Compact and as provided in Section 12-603 of this subtitle.

§ 12-603. Approval of regulations of Vehicle Equipment Safety
Commission.

A rule, regulation or code recommended by the Vehicle Equipment
Safety Commission shall take effect in this State upon approval
thereof by the General Assembly. Such approval shall be deemed to
have been given if the commissioner shall have adopted such rule,
regulation or code in the manner provided by Article V (f) and (g)
of the Vehicle Equipment Safety Compact and the General Assembly