1348                               Laws of Maryland                          Ch. 534

name of either spouse individually is transferred to their joint
names, the same registration plates, if desired by the transferee, may
continue to be used on the vehicle after the transfer as were used
before. In all other respects the transfer shall be treated the same
way as any other transfer by a private owner of a registered vehicle.

§ 3-504. Transfer by operation of law.

(a)    If the title of an owner in a registered vehicle passes to
another other than by voluntary transfer, the registration thereof
shall expire and the vehicle shall not be operated upon the highways
unless and until the person entitled to possession of the vehicle shall
apply for and obtain registration thereof, except that the vehicle
may be operated by the person entitled to its possession or his au-
thorized representative upon the highways of this State for a distance
not exceeding 200 miles, but only from the place such person or
his authorized representative obtained possession of such vehicle to
the person's place of business, residence, or other place such vehicle
is to be kept. During this operation the registration plates issued to
the former owner may be displayed upon the vehicle. After this
operation is completed, or prior thereto upon the request of the
owner or the department, any person who has obtained possession
of a registered vehicle after title has passed other than by voluntary
transfer shall return the vehicle's registration plates to the former
owner or to the department. After this request it is unlawful for any
person, other than the person to whom the registration plates were
originally issued, to have them in his possession, whether or not
such plates are in use.

(b)    If the title of an owner in or to a registered vehicle passes
to a legatee or distributee as a result of testamentary disposition or
intestate devolution, the legatee or distributee, during the course of
the administration of the estate, shall be entitled to operate the
vehicle upon the highways of this State until the expiration of the
current registration in the name of the deceased, without the neces-
sity of applying for and obtaining registration in his own name.

§ 3-505. Scrapping, dismantling, or destroying vehicles.

Any person who scraps, dismantles, or destroys a vehicle and any
person who purchases a vehicle as scrap or to be dismantled or de-
stroyed shall immediately cause the registration card and license
plates to be mailed or delivered to the department for cancellation
unless the registration plates are transferred to another vehicle pur-
suant to this subtitle.

Part VI—Special Plates for Dealers, Transporters
and Finance Companies

§ 3-601. Operation of vehicles under dealers' plates.

(a) A registered dealer owning any vehicle WHICH IS MAINLY
USED IN HIS BUSINESS AND WHICH IS otherwise required
to be registered under this subtitle may operate or move it upon the
highways solely for purposes of transporting, testing, demonstrating,
or selling it without registering the vehicle, upon condition that the
vehicle displays thereon in the manner prescribed in section 3-411
one dealer's registration plate issued to the owner by the department.