1328                               Laws of Maryland                          Ch. 534

public inspection during office hours; but the commissioner in his
discretion may declare any record or entry therein which is more
than 5 years old, or which relates to any happening which occurred
more than 5 years previously, to be confidential and not open to
public inspection. Any existing record or entry therein, no matter
what its age, shall be open to inspection by duly authorized rep-
resentatives of any state, federal, or local governmental agency.

(c)    The commissioner at any time may order that any record
held by the department be maintained on microfilm or in other
microform, and the original destroyed, except records which by this
article or other applicable law are required to be maintained in their
original or other form.

(d)    With the exception of records which by this article or other
applicable law are required to be maintained for a longer period, the
commissioner may destroy any records of the department which
have been maintained on file for 3 years or longer, which he deems
obsolete and of no further service in carrying out the powers and
duties of the department.

§ 2-313. Authority to grant, approve, or reject application.

The department shall examine and determine the genuineness, reg-
ularity, and legality of every application for registration of a vehicle
and for a certificate of title therefor and for a driver's license, and
of any other application made to the department, and may in all
cases make investigation as deemed necessary or require additional
information, and shall reject any such application if not satisfied
of the genuineness, regularity, or legality thereof or the truth of any
statement contained therein, or for any other reason when author-
ized by law.

§ 2-314. Seizure of documents and plates.

The department may take possession of any certificate of title,
registration card, permit, license, or registration plate issued by it
upon expiration, revocation, cancellation, or suspension thereof, or
which is fictitious, or which has been unlawfully or erroneously is-
sued.

§ 2-315. Distribution of synopsis of laws.

The department may publish a synopsis or summary of the laws of
this state regulating the operation of vehicles and may deliver a
copy thereof without charge with each original vehicle registration
and with each original driver's license.

§ 2-316. Department may summon witnesses and take testimony.

(a)    The commissioner and officers of the department designated
by him may summon witnesses on behalf of any party in interest
to give testimony under oath or to give written deposition upon any
matter under the jurisdiction of the department. A summons may
require the production of relevant books, papers, or records.

(b)    Every summons shall be served at least 5 days before the
return date, either by personal service made by any person over 18
years of age or by registered mail, but return acknowledgment is
required to prove the latter service.

(c)    Any court of limited original jurisdiction in any county or
in Baltimore City in which the person to whom the summons is