1126                            LAWS OF MARYLAND                      CH. 589

appropriate implementing legislation which would authorize the
State Roads Commission to carry out the conditions set forth in such
agreement.

Whereas, it is the intention of the General Assembly to exercise
control of outdoor advertising on the Federal-aid primary system of
highways under Eminent Domain Procedure as provided in the High-
way Beautification Act of 1965. , AND

WHEREAS, IT IS THE INTENTION OF THE GENERAL
ASSEMBLY TO PROVIDE FOR CERTAIN ON-PREMISE AD-
VERTISING ALONG THE INTERSTATE AND EXPRESSWAY
HIGHWAY SYSTEMS UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS.

Section 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Maryland,
That 40 11 new sections be and are hereby added to Article 89B of
the Annotated Code of Maryland (1964 Replacement Volume and
1967 Cumulative Supplement), title "State Roads," to be under the
subtitle "Highway Beautification," to follow immediately after Sec-
tion 249 of said Article and to read as follows:

250. Declaration of Policy:

The General Assembly finds and declares that outdoor advertising,
except on-premise advertising, along and adjacent to the Federal-aid
primary system of highways is a form of commercial use of such
highways. Such advertising should be regulated in order to prevent
unreasonable distraction of operators of motor vehicles; to prevent
confusion with regard to traffic lights, signs, controls, or signals, or
otherwise interfere with the effectiveness of traffic regulations; to
promote the prosperity, economic well-being, health, safety, morals,
order, convenience, and general welfare of the State; promote the
enjoyment of travel on and protection of the public investment in
highways within the State; and to preserve and enhance the natural
scenic beauty or esthetic features and values of the highways and
adjacent areas. The General Assembly declares it to be a policy of
this State that the erection and maintenance of outdoor advertising
should be limited to zoned and unzoned commercial and industrial
areas within 660 feet of the nearest edge of the rights of way of the
Federal-aid primary system of highways within the State and regu-
lated in accordance with the terms of this Act and the regulations
promulgated by the State Roads Commission pursuant thereto, and
finds that all outdoor advertising which does not conform to the
requirements of this Act and regulations adopted pursuant thereto
is not in the public interest. It is the intention of the General Assem-
bly, by this Act, to provide a statutory basis for regulation of out-
door advertising consistent with the public policy relating to areas
adjacent to such highways as declared by Congress in the Highway
Beautification Act of 1965. On premise advertising is not regulated

by this Act.

ON-PREMISE ADVERTISING ON THE FEDERAL-AID PRI-
MARY SYSTEM IS NOT REGULATED BY THIS ACT. ON-
PREMISE ADVERTISING ON THE INTERSTATE AND EX-
PRESSWAY HIGHWAY SYSTEMS SHALL BE REGULATED
BY LOCAL ZONING LAWS OR ORDINANCES IF THERE BE
LOCAL ZONING LAWS OR ORDINANCES RELATING TO OUT-
DOOR ADVERTISING IN EFFECT, OTHERWISE BY THE
STATE ROADS COMMISSION.