164 LAWS OF MARYLAND. [CH. 85

ders and divide by two and one-half. For all motor vehicles
propelled by steam engines, other than tractors and traction
engines, the rating shall be based on the system of rating
adopted by the United States Government. Should any other
motor power ibe used, and in the case of motor vehicles having
solid tires, the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles is empowered
to adopt such formula to govern their rating as he may deem
proper. The said Commissioner of Motor Vehicles upon the
payment of the registration fee hereinafter provided for, shall
file such application in his office and register such motor vehicle,
assigning to it a distinguishing number or mark, and shall
thereupon issue to the owner thereof, a certificate of registra-
tion which, shall contain the name, place of residence and post
office address of the owner, and the number of mark assigned
to such motor vehicle. Such certificate shall be in convenient
form, and shall at all times be carried upon such motor vehicle,
and shall be subject to examination upon demand by any proper
officer as hereinafter provided. Said Commissioner shall also,
without expense to the applicant, issue and deliver to such
owner two duplicate metal plates or markers bearing the letters
"Md. " and the number or mark assigned to such motor vehicle
as aforesaid, the figures thereon to be not less than four inches
high, and each stroke to be not less than one-half inch in width.
Such plates or markers shall be of a distinctly different color
or shade each year, to be designated and selected by the Com-
missioner of Motor Vehicles, and there shall be at all times a
marked contrast between the color of the number plates and that
of the numerals or letters thereon. In the case of motorcycles,
one number plate or marker shall be furnished, the letters and
figures thereon to be at least one inch high and one-eighth of an
inch in width. The certificate provided for in this section and
the right to use the number plate or marker aforesaid shall
expire at midnight on December 31st of each and every year.
Any person who fails to carry the certificate of registration
provided for by this section, and any person who obtains a reg-
istration marker and a certificate of registration by misrepre-
sentation, or changes the name, number or any identifying in-