EMERSON C. HARRINGTON, GOVERNOR. 1587

PART III.

REGISTRATION OF MOTOR VEHICLES AND OPERATORS.
Registration of Motor Vehicles.

140. Every owner of one or more motor vehicles includ-
ing motor-cycles, before the same shall be operated in this
State, and except as hereinafter otherwise provided, shall fill in
and file with the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles on a blank
furnished by the Commissioner, an application for the regis-
tration of such motor vehicles, containing such information
as shall be required by the Commissioner. The horse-power
of all motor vehicles propelled by gas engines, except motor-
cycles, shall be computed and recorded upon the following
formula, and the annual registration fee, hereinafter provided
for, paid in accordance therewith; square the diameter of the
cylinder, multiply by the number of cylinders and divide by
two and one-half. For all motor vehicles propelled by steam
engine, the rating shall be based on the system of rating
adopted by the United States Government. Should any other
motor power be 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 registration
which shall contain the name, place of residence and post office
address of the owner, and the number or 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 Commis-
sioner 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 motor-