14 LAWS OF MARYLAND. [CH. 13

204. No certificate of the registration of any vehicle or
registration markers therefor, whether original issues or dupli-
cates, shall hereafter be issued or furnished by the Com-
missioner of Motor Vehicles unless the applicant therefor
shall at the same time make application for and be granted
an official certificate of title of such motor vehicle, or shall
present satisfactory evidence that such a certificate has been
previously issued to the applicant covering such motor vehicle.
Said application shall be upon a blank form to be furnished
by the Commissioner and shall contain a full description of
the motor vehicle, together with a statement of the appli-
cant's title and of any liens or encumbrances upon said motor
vehicle. The Commissioner shall use reasonable diligence in
ascertaining whether or not the facts stated in said applica-
tion for a certificate of title are true, and if satisfied that the
applicant is the lawful owner of such motor vehicle, or other-
wise entitled to have the same registered in his name, shall
thereupon issue an appropriate certificate over his signature
and sealed with the seal of his office, procured and used for
such purpose. Said certificate shall contain such description
and other evidences of identification of said motor vehicle as
the Commissioner may deem reasonably necessary and proper,
together with a statement of any liens or encumbrances which
the application may show to be thereon. The charge for
each original certificate so issued shall be one dollar ($1. 00)
which charge shall be in addition to the charge for the reg-
istration of such motor vehicle. Said certificate shall be good
for the life of the car so long as the same is owned or held
by the original holder of such certificate, and shall not have
to be renewed annually. It shall be unlawful and a misde-
meanor, punishable by a line of not less than five dollars
($5. 00) nor more than one thousand dollars ($1, 000. 00) for
any person to operate in this State a motor vehicle required
to be registered under the Motor Vehicle Laws of this State
unless such certificate of title shall have been issued as herein
provided.

In the event of the sale or transfer of the ownership, title
or right of possession, of a motor vehicle for which an original
certificate of title has been issued as aforesaid, the original
holder of such certificate shall endorse on the back of the
same an assignment thereof, with warranty of title in form
printed thereon, with a statement under oath of all liens or
encumbrances on said motor vehicle, and shall deliver the
same to the purchaser or transferee at the time of the deliv-
ery to him of such motor vehicle. The purchaser or transferee
shall then immediately present such certificate, assigned as
aforesaid, to the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles, and file an
application with said Commissioner of Motor Vehicles on a