1820 LAWS OF MARYLAND. [CH. 1007

2. Alphabetically, under the name of the owner;

3. Under the engine number; and

4. In the discretion of the Department, in any other manner
it may deem desirable.

(e) The Department shall also file all accident reports and
abstracts of court records of convictions received by it under
the laws of this State and in connection therewith maintain
convenient records or make suitable notations in order that
an individual record of each licensee showing the convictions
of such licensee and the traffic accidents in which such licensee
has been involved shall be readily ascertainable and available
for the consideration of the Department upon any applica-
tion for renewal of license and at other suitable times.

13. EXAMINATION OF REGISTRATION RECORDS AND INDEX
OF STOLEN AND RECOVERED VEHICLES. The Department upon
receiving application for original registration of a vehicle or
any certificate of title shall first check the engine and serial
number shown in the application against the indices of regis-
tered motor vehicles and against the index of stolen and re-
covered motor vehicles required to be maintained by this
Article.

14. DESTRUCTION OF RECORDS. The Commissioner may
destroy any records of the Department, which have been main-
tained on file for five (5) years, which he may deem obsolete
and of no further service in carrying out the powers and dut-
ies of the department except records of criminal and motor
vehicle violations. Motor vehicle registration records may be
destroyed after three (3) years.

15. AUTHORITY TO GRANT OR REFUSE APPLICATION. The
Department shall examine and determine the genuineness,
regularity, and legality of every application for registration
of a vehicle and for a certificate of title therefor and for an
operator's or chauffeur's license, and of any other application
made to the Department, and may in all cases make investiga-
tion as may be deemed necessary or require additional informa-
tion, and shall reject any such application if not satisfied of
the genuineness, regularity, or legality thereof or the truth
of any statement contained therein, or for any other reason
when authorized by law.

16. SEIZURE OF DOCUMENTS AND PLATES. The Depart-
ment is hereby authorized to take possession of any certificate
of title, registration card, permit, license, or registration plate
issued by it upon expiration, revocation, cancellation, or sus-