1574 LAWS OF MARYLAND.

the thickly settled or business parts of cities, towns or villages,
or eighteen miles per hour in the outlying or not thickly settled
parts of cities, towns or villages, or twenty-five miles per hour
in the open country outside of the limits of cities, towns or
villages, or if the rate of speed of any motor vehicle used only
for the transportation of merchandise shall exceed the maximum
limit above prescribed, such rate of speed shall be prima facie
evidence that the person operating such vehicle is operating
the same at a rate of speed greater than is reasonable and
proper, and in violation of the provision of this Section, and
the burden of proof shall be upon him to show that such rate
of speed was not greater than was reasonable and proper, as
above set forth. And no motor vehicle shall be operated upon
any highway of this State at a rate of speed greater than thirty-
five miles per hour under any circumstances or conditions,
under penalty of a fine of not less than twenty-five dollars or
more than one hundred dollars, and suspension of the operator's
license for not less than three months, if, upon a hearing had
after notice as elsewhere provided in this sub-title, the Com-
missioner of Motor Vehicles shall determine that such rate
of speed was in fact exceeded.

Nothing in this Section or any other Section of this sub-title
shall be taken in any way to add to or detract from the right
of "any person injured in his person or property by the neg-
ligent operation of a motor vehicle to sue and recover damages
as in the case of the negligent use or operation of other vehicles,
and the violation of any provision of this sub-title shall not
be taken to give any right of action to any individual who would
not be entitled to the same in the absence of such provision.

SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That this Act shall take
effect from the date of its, passage.

Approved April 16th, 1914.

CHAPTER 833.

AN ACT to amend the Charter of Preston, by repealing Sections
one to twenty-seven, inclusive, of Chapter 689 of the Acts of
the General Assembly of Maryland for the year eighteen hun-
dred and ninety-two, being "An Act to incorporate the Town
of Preston in Caroline County," and all amendments and
additions thereto, except as hereinafter retained and pre-
served, and to re-enact the same with amendments.