[HISTORY: Adopted by the County Commissioners
of Caroline County 5-13-2008 by Bill No. 2008-4. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Civil infractions — See Ch. 92.
This chapter shall be known and may be cited
as the "Recreation and Parks Code of Caroline County."
There is a Department of Recreation and Parks
established in the governmental structure of Caroline County, which
Department shall be directed by a Director of Recreation and Parks
who shall serve at the discretion of the Commissioners and shall be
an at-will employee and a department head in accordance with the Personnel
Rules and Regulations of Caroline County as from time to time in place.
The Department shall have such responsibilities, budget, employees,
and duties as the Commissioners shall from time to time determine.
The Department shall be responsible generally for the development
and administration of a comprehensive recreational program including
the construction, equipment, and use of parks, community centers,
and recreational buildings and facilities, the acquisition of sites
therefor, including financial support for artistic, musical, and cultural
public and private nonprofit organizations and activities and the
furnishing of recreational and other services in connection therewith.
When used in this chapter, the following terms
shall have the meanings set forth herein:
A vehicle that is designed, constructed, or used to transport
a boat used for recreational purposes and which is of a size and weight
that does not require a special highway movement permit when towed
by a motor vehicle. For purposes of this Chapter, a Boat Trailer or
vehicle used to transport, multiple, non-mechanically powered watercraft
such as canoes and kayaks shall be permitted to do so under a single
permit.
[Added 3-10-2009 by Bill
No. 2009-2]
The Public Local Laws of Caroline County, Maryland, as from
time to time amended.
The County Commissioners of Caroline County, Maryland.
The Department of Recreation and Parks.
The Director of the Department, including where permitted,
any person authorized to act in place of the Director.
A police officer, including a law enforcement officer, Sheriff, a Deputy Sheriff, and any person other than a police officer or law enforcement officer who is authorized by law, including this Chapter 148, to issue a citation for a violation of an ordinance, law, or regulation adopted pursuant to this Chapter 148 or the provisions of any other applicable ordinance, law, or regulation.
[Added 3-10-2009 by Bill
No. 2009-2]
All public landings, public wharves, public docks, public piers, public marinas, and public harbors, including the riparian waterways, real property, and adjacent public rights-of-way owned, maintained, and/or operated by Caroline County, or by any municipality adopting, or consenting to be including under, the provisions of this Chapter 148.
[Amended 3-10-2009 by Bill No. 2009-2]
[Amended 3-10-2009 by Bill No. 2009-2]
The Commissioners shall have the authority to
adopt rules and regulations governing all lands, structures, buildings,
and activities of Caroline County, Maryland under the control, supervision,
or direction of the Department by resolution, including the establishment
of permit classifications and permit fees, user and usage categories
and fees, parking regulations and the enforcement thereof, and all
other criteria allowed by law.
[Amended 3-10-2009 by Bill No. 2009-2]
A.
The Department is authorized to supervise, manage, and oversee the operation and maintenance of all Public Landings. This authorization shall include authority to review, issue, and revoke permits, including parking permits, required by bill, ordinance, or resolution, and to enforce the terms of this Article and all laws, resolutions, rules, and regulations now or hereafter adopted. Department personnel, as designated by the Director of the Department, and any officer, as defined in this Chapter 148, shall be authorized to issue citations for violations of the permit and parking regulations of this chapter 148. Personnel of the Caroline County Department of Planning, Codes, and Engineering (“Planning and Codes”) as designated by the Director of that Department after consultation with the Director of the Department of Recreation and Parks are also authorized generally to issue citations for violations of this chapter in accordance with Chapter 92, Civil Infractions of the Code of Caroline County and for violations of the parking and permit provisions of Article II hereof.
B.
The Department shall adopt written procedures and
propose for consideration by the Commissioners rules and regulations
for the operation and maintenance of Public Landings and the issuance
of permits, including parking permits, consistent with and subject
to this Article and to all resolutions now or hereafter adopted by
the Commissioners.
A.
Required. Public Landing permits shall authorize the
holder to launch and remove any vessel from the water at any Public
Landing designed for that purpose, and to park in any authorized area
at a Public Landing a Boat Trailer or similar vehicle used to transport
one or more boats. It shall be a violation of this Article for any
person to launch or remove any vessel from the water of a Public Landing,
or park a Boat Trailer at a Public Landing facility without a Public
Landing permit, except for emergency, state, County, and local government
vehicles and vessels. With prior permission from the Department marine
contractors may utilize boat ramps without a permit to load or unload
vessels, barges, materials, or equipment used in marine construction
projects, to the extent that such activity is safe and does not exceed
the design, weight, or other restrictions or capabilities of the Public
Landing.
[Amended 3-10-2009 by Bill No. 2009-2]
B.
Permits; display.
(1)
Annual permits. Annual Public Landing permits shall
be evidenced by a sticker issued by the Department. The sticker shall
be placed on the Boat Trailer, preferably on the tongue thereof, or
near the license plate thereon, and clearly visible.
[Amended 3-10-2009 by Bill No. 2009-2]
(2)
Daily permits. Daily Public Landing permits shall
be evidenced by a plastic tag issued by the Department. The plastic
tag shall be hung from the vehicle's rearview mirror and shall be
clearly visible from the exterior of the vehicle.
(3)
No
vehicle shall utilize a daily or seasonal permit to transport more
than one boat to a Public Landing per day; provided, however, that
for purposes of this Chapter, a Boat Trailer or vehicle used to transport
multiple, non-mechanically powered watercraft such as canoes and kayaks
shall be permitted to do so under a single permit and more than once
daily.
[Added 3-10-2009 by Bill
No. 2009-2]
C.
Bona fide boat dealers may obtain a dealer permit.
A dealer permit shall be transferable among dealer-owned vehicles
or trailers only, and may be used only for the incidental launching
or removing a vessel purchased, sold, rented, or repaired by the dealer
and any incidental parking related thereto.
[Amended 3-10-2009 by Bill No. 2009-2]
[Amended 3-10-2009 by Bill No. 2009-2]
All receipts from the sale of annual and daily
Public Landing permits and from fines incurred from enforcement of
this chapter and regulations promulgated pursuant hereto shall be
placed in a County revenue fund to be used for the operation and maintenance
of property under the control of the Department, including, but not
limited to, Public Landings. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the County
shall establish distribution procedures with respect to the office
of the Sheriff of Caroline County and any participating municipalities
to defray the costs incurred in enforcing the provision of this Article
and for the operation and maintenance of municipal Public Landings
which are made subject to this Article.
[Amended 11-27-2018 by Bill No. 2018-3]
The costs for daily and annual Public Landing permits shall
be established by resolution by the County Commissioners. Permits
rates shall be available for purchase at designated locations established
by the Director.
The Department may designate areas at any Public
Landing which shall be used exclusively for the loading and unloading
of vessels. No vessel shall dock or raft at any such location other
than temporarily while loading or unloading (such loading or unloading
time to be limited to 30 minutes maximum).
[Amended 3-10-2009 by Bill No. 2009-2]
The Department from time to time shall propose
regulations for consideration by the Commissioners defining vehicle
and Boat Trailer only parking, vehicle only parking, and other parking
restrictions and allowances to regulate adequately Public Landing
parking areas and to insure that non-boat launching visitors will
have reasonable access to Public Landings.
[Amended 3-10-2009 by Bill No. 2009-2]
Categories and specifics governing violations of this chapter and the penalties therefor under Chapter 92 of the Code from time to time shall be proposed by the Department for consideration by the Commissioners. Violations of any parking restrictions at any Public Landing shall be deemed to constitute a parking violation under state and local law and shall be prosecuted in conformance therewith. A parking violation pursuant to Article II hereof shall constitute a Class G violation as set forth in Chapter 92 of the Code.
[Amended 3-10-2009 by Bill No. 2009-2]
This Chapter may be enforced by the Director,
any employee in the Department as designated by the Director, and
any employee in the Department of Planning, Codes, and Engineering,
as designated by the Director of that Department upon the request
and concurrence of the Director of the Department of Recreation and
Parks, and by any officer.
