J. MILLARD TAWES, Governor                        481

April 7, 1964.

Honorable William S. James

Old Bay Farm

Havre de Grace, Maryland

Dear Mr. President:

In accordance with the provisions of Article 2, Section 17, of the
Maryland Constitution, I have vetoed Senate Bill 99 and I am re-
turning this Bill to you along with my veto message.

Senate Bill 99 would permit commercial vehicles to operate on
Maryland highways at the same speeds now established for passenger
cars.

I have sought and received the advice of traffic safety experts
both within and without the State of Maryland regarding the merits
of Senate Bill 99 and opinions vary widely.

Supporters of this legislation point out that elimination of the
speed differential between trucks and passenger cars would be helpful
on two-lane highways in rural areas. I am inclined to agree with
this point. It is not uncommon to see lines of cars following behind
a slow-moving commercial vehicle and, I fear, too often the impatient
driver ignores traffic safety procedures in his haste to pass.

However, there are other factors that should be considered. The
allowable weight limits for commercial vehicles on the Nation's high-
ways are being increased frequently. Combine this fact with the
knowledge that many of our new expressways and high speed,
limited access highways carry these heavier vehicles through built-up
areas of our State and we begin to realize the importance of limiting
the speeds of heavy commercial vehicles through such areas.

Traffic volumes on such expressways and high speed highways
can be expected to increase in sufficient intensity as to require ex-
ceptional care. Such care, in my opinion, can be better exercised if
the speed of heavy, commercial vehicles requiring long distances in
which to come to a full stop, is regulated more stringently than the
speed of passenger cars.

For this reason, I have decided to veto Senate Bill 99. It is my
hope, however, that, as Chairman of the Legislative Council, you will
request the Council to re-examine this matter so that the beneficial
aspects of Senate Bill 99 can be incorporated in new legislation for
introduction at the 1965 session of the General Assembly.

With kindest regards, I am

Sincerely yours,

(S) J. MILLARD TAWES,

Governor.

Senate Bill No. 182—Additional Judgeship on Supreme Bench

AN ACT to add a new section to Article 4 of the Code of Public
Local Laws of Maryland and Baltimore City Charter (1949 Edition),
title "Baltimore City," subtitle "Courts," said new section to be