OTHER LEGISLATION

Other legislation to improve our safety program will be laid before
you at this session. And this brings me around to some ideas which
I have for new laws which I believe are required at this time to make
our State government more responsive to the needs of the people. The
examination of traffic statistics proves conclusively that drunken
driving is a chief contributing factor to deaths and injuries on our
highways. I therefore, recommend strongly that you pass legislation
requiring motorists suspected of drunkenness either to submit to
chemical tests or else surrender their driving privilege. Likewise, com-
mittees of your two Houses have been studying other traffic safety
measures, and I hope you will give their recommendations your
careful consideration. The sale of firearms to persons incapable of
handling them with good judgment and responsibility has become
a menace in our day. Many local governments have taken steps to
restrict the sale of weapons. I believe the time has come for us to
enact a State-wide law to prohibit the unreasonable and indiscrimin-
ate sale of firearms.

You met your responsibility as legislators most creditably last year
when you took steps to reapportion your two bodies and to redefine
the State's congressional districts in accordance with the "one man,
one vote" principle laid down by the courts. The reapportionment
measure has been upheld by our Court of Appeals. The redistricting
bill which you passed was petitioned successfully to referendum and
is suspended. Consequently, in view of a previous court decision,
Maryland will have no congressional districts for the election next
fall unless you or the courts provide them.

Finally regarding new legislation, I think the time has arrived when
we no longer can delay the construction of a second Chesapeake Bay
crossing. You were witness last summer to the chaotic traffic conditions
that occurred on weekends at the Bay Bridge. It has reached a point
now that it is not only an inconvenience to the traveling public but
actually threatens the economic welfare of a large section of our
State. You will be offered additional traffic studies at this session. I
believe that you will be convinced, as I have been, that the most
desirable location is at the present bridge site and the most feasible
project a parallel span. This enumeration of proposed measures does
not purport to be a complete and final list of the legislation the
executive will propose. On the contrary, other measures will be
presented to you from time to time as the session progresses.

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