J. MILLARD TAWES, Governor                      2183

Senate Bill No. 100—Motor Vehicle Liability Insurance

AN ACT to repeal and re-enact, with amendments, Sections 122
and 134 (b), (c) and (e) of Article 66½ of the Annotated Code of
Maryland (1957 Edition and 1962 Supplement), title "Motor Ve-
hicles," subtitle "Motor Vehicle Financial Responsibility," to increase
the minimum and total amounts for bodily injury and property dam-
age required as proof of financial responsibility under the motor
vehicle laws of the State.

May 1, 1963.

Honorable William S. James
President of the Senate
State House
Annapolis, Maryland

Dear Mr. President:

In accordance with Article 2, Section 17, of the Maryland Con-
stitution, I am returning to you Senate Bill 100 which has been
vetoed by me.

This Bill amends Sections 122 and 134 of Article 66½ and re-
quires proof of financial responsibility of not less than $15,000 for
bodily injury or death sustained by one person in any one auto-
mobile accident and not less than $30,000 for more than one person
in any one accident.

While there certainly is merit in the arguments for revising exist-
ing limits, I am fearful that, unless corresponding revisions are
incorporated in other sections of Article 66½ concurrently, enact-
ment of this Bill into law would create certain confusion.

The Office of the State Insurance Commissioner advises me that
the Bill does not amend Section 119 of Article 66½ which, under
subsection 3 (a) provides that when $10,000 has been credited on
any judgment for bodily injury or death to one person, or $20,000
has been credited for more than one person, such amounts shall be
deemed a satisfaction of any judgment or judgments.

It would appear, therefore, that the proposed amendment would
require the insured to carry the new policy limits but by settling
claims up to the limits prescribed under Section 119, 3(a), the in-
surance company could relieve the policy holder of being subject
to the provisions of the Financial Responsibility Act without paying
claimants the full amounts of the judgments obtained.

Section 93 of Article 66½, commonly known as the J.R. 11 Sec-
tion, provides that the application of any person under 21 for an
instruction permit or an operator's or chauffeur's license should be
accompanied by such proof of responsibility as required under the
provisions of Section 119 of Article 66½.

Since, under the Bill, Section 119 remains unchanged, J.R. 11
certificates would be required only in limits of $10,000 for each per-
son and $20,000 for each accident. The Bill would require limits of
$15,000 for each person and $30,000 for each accident for others
over the age of 21 who are required to file the financial responsibility
certificate generally known as S.R. 22.