1434                                      VETOES

specifically prohibits vehicles eligible for registration thereunder
for the first time after June 1, 1966 from using the Federal Inter-
state Highway System. The above provision, which took the form
of an amendment after the original Bill was introduced, was un-
doubtedly intended to circumvent the provisions of the Federal
Highway Act of 1956 which provides that the weight of vehicles
using the Interstate System of Highways cannot be increased by
any State after July 1, 1956 without endangering the State's Federal-
aid Interstate Highway funds.

I am advised by the Office of the General Counsel for the Bureau
of Public Roads that the Interstate Highway Act of 1956 only pro-
vides for the withholding of Interstate funds where a State permits
vehicles to operate on highways of the Interstate System with
weights in excess of those permitted prior to July 1, 1956. There
are, nevertheless, other sections of the Federal-aid Highway Act
which must be considered. The General Counsel has advised that if
(States permit vehicles weighing more than those permitted on July
1, 1956 to use federal-aid primary and federal-aid secondary high-
ways and those highways are damaged, the Bureau of Public Roads
may not permit the use of highway funds in the reconstruction of
such highways.

In addition thereto, if this Bill were enacted into law it would
create a major enforcement problem. The position of the police in
distinguishing between vehicles licensed under the new law and those
presently licensed for a lesser weight would be difficult. It would
necessitate a close and minute inspection by the police of the li-
cense plates on all trucks to determine which were permitted to carry
the heavier weights provided under this Bill and which were licensed
for the lesser weights. Also, it would permit dual standards of max-
imum weight limitations on different sections of the State highway
system. Further, the enactment of this Bill would mean that it
would be lawful for the heavier vehicles to operate on highways
other than the Interstate System which highways are generally not
constructed to as high standards as are Interstate Highways.

The State Roads Commission has recommended that this Bill
be vetoed because of the possible damage to roads and bridges
on certain sections of the highway system, the cost of repair of
which may not be eligible for Federal participation, and because of
the difficulties of enforcement. For the foregoing reasons I feel
compelled to veto Senate Bill 506.

With kindest regards, I am

Sincerely yours,

(s) J. MILLARD TAWES,

Governor.

Senate Bill No. 528—Probationers in Merit System

AN ACT to add a new Section 33A to Article 64A of the An-
notated Code of Maryland (1964 Replacement Volume and 1965
Cumulative Supplement), title "Merit System," to follow immedi-