150                              Laws of Maryland                       [Ch. 130

the interest of the safety and welfare of the traveling public. No
permit shall be required to erect a sign denoting a place of religious
worship or historical monument or location, provided, however, such
sign shall be located in accordance with rules and regulations of the
State Roads Commission. The Commission is hereby authorized
to make rules and regulations relating to the erection of said signs
and furnish a copy thereof to any interested person upon request.
Provided, further, nothing herein shall prevent the State Roads
Commission from erecting such traffic and other signs along said
highways as, in its judgement, are required for the safety or
convenience of the persons using said highways, provided further,
nothing herein shall prevent the owner of land abutting a highway
other than an expressway, which runs parallel or partially parallel
to an expressway and which is within [six hundred (600)] six
hundred and sixty (660) feet of an expressway, from using or
permitting the use of said land for outdoor advertising purposes
provided any advertising sign erected thereon shall face the highway
which is not constructed as an expressway.

233. Acquisition of interest in prior leases by condemnation, etc.;
authority to order removal or relocation.

In cases where leases for a longer period than three (3) years
have been entered into prior to June 1, 1958, for property within
six hundred (600) feet of the right of way line of any expressway;
and in cases where leases for a longer period than three (3) years
have been entered into prior to June 1, 1959, for property more
than six hundred (600) feet and not in excess of six hundred and
sixty (660) feet from the right of way line of any expressway,
the State Roads Commission shall, through negotiation or con-
demnation, determine the amount so due the lessor and the lessee,
if any be due the lessee, and upon the said determination the State
Roads Commission shall pay the party or parties the amount
determined to be due. Any person, firm or corporation who enters
into a lease for a period longer than three (3) years after [the
introductory date of this bill in the General Assembly of Maryland]
February 6, 1958, as to property within six hundred (600) feet of
the right of way of any expressway; or who enters into a lease
for a period longer than three (3) years after January 7, 1959, as
to property more than six hundred (600) feet and not in excess
of six hundred and sixty (660) feet from the right of way line of
any expressway, shall be deemed to have entered into same with
knowledge of this sub-title, and shall not be entitled to additional
compensation for any loss that might occur after June 1, 1961, or
after June 1, 1962, as the case may be, the date the lease shall
become null and void by operation of law. If on or after June 1,
[1958,] 1959, the State Roads Commission shall determine that any
billboard, sign, poster or other advertising structure located within
[six hundred (600)] six hundred and sixty (660) feet of the
right of way of any expressway is so located as to create or cause
a traffic hazard or be detrimental to the welfare of the State, the
State Roads Commission shall have the authority to order such
billboard, sign, poster or other advertising structure removed or
relocated. If such billboard, sign, poster or other advertising
structure is so located pursuant to the provisions of a lease, the
said Commission is authorized to acquire by negotiation or
condemnation the interest in said lease, as aforesaid.