The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1929-06-14

AN ACT to add new section to
Article Sc of the Annotated Code of
Maryland (1924 EDITION., title eli
censes," subtitle Motor Vehicles"
said new section to be known as
Section 1904 and to follow imme-
diately after Section 100 of said
Article, providing that the use of
any public highway in the State of
Maryland by nonresident owner
or operator of a motor vehicle shall
be deemed as an appointment of
the Secretary of State of Maryland
by such nonresident as his attor-
ney upon whom may be served all
lawful process in any action arising
out of any accident in which such
nonresident may be involved while
operating a motor vehicle on the
public highways of this State.
SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the
General Assembly OF Maryland, That
new section be and it is hereby
added to Article Sc Of the Annotated
Code of Maryland (1924 Edition), title
Licenses" subtitle Motor Vehicles"
said new section to be known as Sec
ton 1904, to follow Immediately after
Section 100 of said Article, and to
read as follows:
1904. The acceptance by a nom
resident individual, firm or corpora
ton of the rights and privileges of
using the roads and highways of
Maryland, which rights and privileges
are conferred by Section 100 or any
other law, as evidenced by his, their
or its operation of motor vehicle on
any of the public highways within the
limits of this State, shall be deemed
equivalent to an appointment by such
nonresident individual, firm or cor
poration of the Secretary of State, or
his successor in office, to be his, their
or its true and lawful attorney upon
whom may be served all lawful proc
esses in any action or proceeding in
stituted, filed or pending against him,
them or it, growing out of any ac-
cident or collision in which said nom
resident may be involved. while OPP
Grating or causing to be operated, a
motor vehicle on such public highway
and said acceptance of the rights and
privileges of using said highways or
the operation of said motor vehicle by
said nonresident individual, firm or
corporation within this State, shall be
Specification of his, their or it's
agreement that any such process
against him, them or it which is so
served shall be of the same legal
force and validity as if served on him,
them or it personally. Service of such
process shall be made by leaving q
copy of the process with fee of $500
in the hands of the Secretary of State,
or in his office, and such service shall
be sufficient service upon the said
nonresident individual, firm or COR
poration, and of full force and effect
in any Court Of this State; provided
that notice of such service and a copv
Of the process shall forthwith be sent,
by registered mail by the plaintiff or
his attorney to the defendant at his
address as specified in such process.
and such address shall be conclusively
presumed to be correct If it be an
address given by the defendant in any
proceedings before any court mag
istrate or justice of the peace, or any
police officer or deputy or any other
person, at or subsequent to the col
lision or accident aforesaid. or if it be
the latest address appearing upon thu
records of the Commissioner of Motor
vehicles or other officer charged with
the administration of the motor We
hicle laws of the State in which any
motor vehicle is registered in the
name of such defendant: and the
plaintiffs or his attorneys affidavit of
compliance herewith shall be filed
with the Clerk of the Court in which
the said proceedings are pending. The
Court in which the action is pending
may order such continuances as may
be necessary to afford the defendant
reasonable opportunity to defend
the action. The fee of $500 paid by
the plaintiff to the Secretary Of State
at the time of service, shall be taxed
In the costs of the proceedings and