HARRY HUGHES, Governor

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(3) THE COMMISSION BY REGULATION SHALL ADOPT
PROCEDURES TO ASSURE EXPEDITIOUS DISPOSITION OF APPLICATIONS
FILED UNDER THIS SUBSECTION.

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall
take effect June 1, 1984.

May 29, 1984
The Honorable Melvin A. Steinberg
President of the Senate
State House
Annapolis, Maryland 21404

Dear Mr. President:

In accordance with Article II, Section 17 of the Maryland
Constitution, I have vetoed Senate Bill 931.

This bill increases the permitted gross weight of a
nonfreight trailer or semitrailer designed for towing by a Class
A (passenger) vehicle, a Class M (multipurpose) vehicle, or Class
E (truck) vehicle from 10,000 pounds to 20,000 pounds and makes
certain corresponding registration fee adjustments. It also
alters the definition of "commercial motor vehicle" to exclude
certain trucks with a registered or operating gross combination
weight of 40,000 pounds or less so that such vehicles are not
subject to the road tax on motor carriers.

With respect to the change in the definition of "commercial
vehicle", House Bill 530, which was signed by me on May 29, 1984,
accomplishes, among other things, the same purpose. I have been
informed by the Department of Transportation that extremely
hazardous and unsafe operating conditions on the State's highway
system would result if passenger vehicles and multipurpose
vehicles were permitted to tow trailers weighing up to 20,000
pounds. Some safety concerns include increased braking distance,
swaying, breakdowns, poor headlight directional aim, decreased
maneuverability, and inability to maintain a safe speed.

These safety problems could be minimized if the application
of increased trailer weight were to be limited to instances in
which a Class E vehicle is the towing vehicle. I have been
advised that the original intent in introducing the legislation
was to permit an increase in trailer weight only if a Class E
vehicle were the to wing vehicle. I understand that legislation
accomplishing that purpose will be introduced during the 1985
Session of the General Assembly and my Administration will
support its passage.