2048                            LAWS OF MARYLAND                      [CH. 886

at least once in each year by certified public accountants, and the
cost thereof shall be treated as an operating expense.

13. (A) EVERY MASS TRANSIT OR TRANSPORTATION
SYSTEM, THE SUPERVISING, JURISDICTION AND CONTROL
OVER WHICH IS VESTED IN THE METROPOLITAN TRANSIT
AUTHORITY, SHALL PAY A SEAT TAX FEE TO THE AU-
THORITY, THE SAME TO BE USED BY THE AUTHORITY IN
DEFRAYING ITS NECESSARY ADMINISTRATIVE EX-
PENSES. THE PAYMENT OF SUCH A SEAT TAX FEE SHALL
BE IN LIEU OF ANY SUCH FEE HERETOFORE LEVIED,
PAID OR PAYABLE, BY SUCH MASS TRANSPORTATION
SYSTEM, MASS TRANSIT SYSTEM OR COMPANIES OF THE
STATE OF MARYLAND. THE ANNUAL SEAT TAX FEE PAY-
ABLE UNDER THIS ARTICLE SHALL BE AT THE RATE OF
$4.00 PER SEAT, PER VEHICLE OF ANY TYPE USED BY A
MASS TRANSIT OR TRANSPORTATION COMPANY FOR THE
TRANSPORTATION OF PASSENGERS. PROVIDED, HOW-
EVER, THAT IN ANY CASE WHERE A BUS OR BUSES ARE
USED OVER A REGULAR ROUTE WHERE THE MAJOR POR-
TION OF THE PASSENGER TRAFFIC BEGINS AND ENDS
WITHIN THE METROPOLITAN AREA AND SUCH REGULAR
ROUTE EXTENDS BEYOND THE AREA DESCRIBED IN
PARAGRAPH 2 (B) OF THIS ARTICLE, THE TRANSPOR-
TATION COMPANY OPERATING SUCH BUS OR BUSES
SHALL PAY ONLY THE USUAL SEAT TAX PAYABLE UNDER
THIS SECTION AND SHALL NOT BE REQUIRED TO PAY
THE FEE SET FORTH IN SECTION 184 (A) OF ARTICLE 56;
AND FURTHER THAT THE PAYMENT OF THIS ANNUAL
SEAT TAX PAYABLE UNDER THIS ARTICLE SHALL CARRY
WITH IT, FOR EACH VEHICLE SO LICENSED, THE RIGHT
TO OPERATE SUCH VEHICLE FOR CHARTER PURPOSES,
WITHOUT ADDITIONAL FEE. THE ANNUAL SEAT TAX FEE
SHALL BE PAID IN SEMIANNUAL INSTALLMENTS IN THE
MONTHS OF JUNE AND DECEMBER OF EACH YEAR FOR
THE CURRENT YEAR, BEGINNING JULY 1, 1961.

(B) THERE IS HEREBY IMPOSED UPON EVERY LEGAL
ENTITY OPERATING OR MAINTAINING A MASS TRANSIT
OR TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM IN THE METROPOLITAN
AREA, WHOSE GROSS RECEIPTS AMOUNT TO $10,000. OR
MORE, AN ANNUAL FEE OR CHARGE IN AN AMOUNT
EQUAL TO ONE-TWENTIETH OF ONE PER CENT (1/20%)
OF THE GROSS RECEIPTS DERIVED FROM THE MASS
TRANSPORTATION OPERATIONS WITHIN THE METROPOLI-
TAN AREA OF ANY SUCH LEGAL ENTITY FOR THE PRE-
CEDING YEAR. THE FEE OR CHARGE SHALL BE PAYABLE
ON OR BEFORE APRIL 1ST IN ANY YEAR, WITH THE COM-
PUTATION BASED UPON THE GROSS RECEIPTS OF THE
PRECEDING YEAR. SUCH FEE OR CHARGE SHALL BE PAID
DIRECTLY TO THE AUTHORITY AND SHALL BE USED BY
IT FOR GENERAL PURPOSES. ANY CARRIER REQUIRED TO
PAY THE ANNUAL FEE HEREUNDER SHALL NOT BE RE-
QUIRED TO PAY THE ANNUAL FEE OR CHARGE TO THE
PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION OF MARYLAND.

(C) THE AUTHORITY MAY BORROW FROM THE STATE,
THE CITY, ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY AND BALTIMORE