510 LAWS OF MARYLAND. [CH. 281

in thickness, nor where a uniform cross-section of the tire
is not maintained, and no motor vehicle, equipped with
four wheels, of which the weight of the vehicle and the
load combined exceeds twenty-five thousand (25, 000)
pounds shall be operated on any highway of this State, and
no motor vehicle, equipped with six wheels, of which the
weight of the vehicle and load combined exceeds forty
thousand (40, 000) pounds, shall be operated on any high-
way of this State. Except in the case of motor vehicles
now owned and heretofore registered in this State, no cer-
tificate shall be granted for the registration of any motor
vehicle, equipped with four wheels, having a rated carrying
capacity of over five tons, nor of any motor vehicle,
equipped with six wheels, having a rated carrying capacity
of over ten tons, and except as aforesaid, no motor vehicle,
equipped with four wheels, having a greater rated carrying
capacity than five tons, and no motor vehicle, equipped
with six wheels, having a greater rated carrying capacity
than ten tons shall be operated over any public highway
of this State, these provisions being absolutely necessary in
the opinion of the General Assembly for the proper pro-
tection and continued maintenance of the public highways
of this State.

2A. WEIGHT OF COMMERCIAL MOTOR VEHICLES, Two
AXLES, EQUIPPED WITH PNEUMATIC TIRES AND
MOTOR FUEL OPERATED.

Commercial Motor Vehicles, two axles, pneumatic tires,
and operated by motor fuel shall not be used or operated
on any highway of this State with gross weight exceeding
those as set forth in the following classes:

Commercial vehicles, with a shipping weight less than
2, 500 pounds, shall not have a gross weight in excess of
6, 000 pounds.

Commercial vehicles, with a shipping weight of 2, 500
pounds and over, but less than 3, 500 pounds shall not have
a gross weight in excess of 9, 000 pounds.

Commercial vehicles, with a shipping weight of 3, 500
pounds and over, but less than 5, 000 pounds shall not have
a gross weight in excess of 12, 000 pounds.

Commercial vehicles, with a shipping weight of 5, 000
pounds and over, but less than 6, 000 pounds shall not have
a gross weight in excess of 16, 000 pounds.

Commercial vehicles, with a shipping weight of 6, 000
pounds and over, but less than 7, 500 pounds, shall not have
a gross weight in excess of 20, 000 pounds.