1188                             Laws of Maryland                       Ch. 526

(11) Department [.] or Administration mean [The Depart-
ment of Motor Vehicles of this State] the State Motor Vehicle Ad-
ministration established pursuant to Article 41, Section 207E, of
this Code, and acting directly or through its duly authorized officers
and agents.

7.

The [Commissioner] Administrator subject to the approval of the
[Governor] Secretary of Transportation and subject to the Mary-
land Merit System Laws shall appoint a deputy [commissioner of
motor vehicles] administrator and such other deputies, subordinate
officers, clerks, inspectors, and other employees as may be necessary
to carry out the provisions of this article. All such officers and em-
ployees shall receive such salaries as may be fixed by the Standard
Salary Board or its successor and provided for in the State budget.

10.

(a)    The [Commissioner] Administrator, subject to the au-
thority of the Secretary of Transportation, as set forth in Article
41 of this Code or elsewhere in the laws of Maryland, is hereby vested
with the power and is charged with the duty of observing, ad-
ministering, and enforcing the provisions of this article relating to
the [Department] State Motor Vehicle Administration. The Secre-
tary of Transportation, by regulations or directives, may require
that the exercise by the Administrator or other employees of the
State Motor Vehicle Administration of any particular power, duty
or function vested in the Administrator or Administration by the
provisions of this Article, be subject to the approval of the Secre-
tary of Transportation.

(b)    The [Commissioner] Administrator, subject to the provi-
sions of Article 41, Section 208(b), of this Code, is hereby au-
thorized to adopt and enforce such rules and regulations as may be
necessary to carry out the provisions of this article as they relate
to the [Department] Administration and any other laws the en-
forcement and administration of which are vested in the [Depart-
ment] Administration.

(c)     The [Commissioner] Administrator shall adopt an official
seal for the use of the [Department ] Administration.

[(e)] (d) Absence of [Commissioner] Administrator—In
case of the absence of the [Commissioner of Motor Vehicles] Admin-
istrator or his inability, from any cause, to perform the duties of
his office, the deputy [commissioner of motor vehicles] administra-
tor shall exercise all the powers and perform all the duties of the
said [Commissioner] Administrator during his absence or inability
as aforesaid.

11.

The [Commissioner] Administrator shall maintain an office in
the City of Baltimore, or in one of the counties of Maryland ad-
joining and contiguous to the City of Baltimore. It shall be kept
open daily, excepting Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, during such
hours as the [Governor] Secretary of Transportation may pre-
scribe.