102 LAWS OF MARYLAND. [CH. 43

any such road or highway or impose restrictions as to the
weight of vehicles to be operated upon any such highway,
or reduce the maximum speed limits of vehicles operating
upon any such highway for any one period not to exceed
sixty (60) days, and for a total period of not to exceed
ninety (90) days in any one calendar year, whenever any
such road or highway by reason of deterioration, rain, snow,
or other condition will be seriously damaged or destroyed
unless the use of vehicles thereon is prohibited or the per-
missible weights thereof reduced or the maximum speed
limits be reduced.

The State Roads Commssion enacting any such resolution
shall erect or cause to be erected, posted and maintained
signs designating the provisions of the ordinance or resolu-
tion at each end of that portion of any road or highway
affected thereby, and the resolution shall not be effective
unless and until such signs are erected and posted.

(2) Any individual, firm, co-partnership, corporation or
other person, whether the owner of such vehicle, the person
in charge and control over the same, or employee, or agent
of any such who shall draw, drive, propel or in any other
manner take or cause to be taken, drawn, driven or pro-
pelled over any such road or highway posted as aforesaid
any motor vehicle, truck, road engine, road roller, traction
engine, threshing machine or other vehicle of any kind,
weighing, with or without any load which may be in or upon
the same, more than the number of pounds specified on the sign-
board so erected at the entrance to such road or highway,
or at a greater rate of speed than that specified on said sign-
board, without a permit in writing from the State Roads
Commission shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and
upon conviction thereof shall be fined not more than One
Hundred Dollars ($100), for each such offense; in addition
to which the owner or person in control of such vehicle shall
be liable to the said Commission for all damages which may
be done to the said road or highway, by the violation of the
regulation so prescribed. In any trial of any person charged
with a violation of any of the provisions of this section oral
proof of the existence of such signboard posted as herein
provided and its contents shall be accepted as prima facie
evidence of the validity of the regulation thereon prescribed.

SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That this Act is hereby
declared to be an emergency measure and necessary for the
immediate preservation of the public health and safety and
having been passed by a yea and nay vote, supported by three-
fifths of all the members elected to each of the two Houses of
the General Assembly of Maryland, the same shall take effect
from the date of its passage.

Approved June 1, 1948.