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<section article="gnr" article_name="Natural Resources" number="8-725.8" title_number="8" title_name="Waters" subtitle_number="7" subtitle_name="State Boat Act">
  <level label="a">
    <level label="1">
      <text>In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <level label="i">
        <text>“Marine gathering” means an intentional congregation of at least 100 vessels in the waters of the State that, by its nature, circumstances, or location, creates extra or unusual hazards to life or property.</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>“Marine gathering” does not include:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>A race, a regatta, a parade, an exhibition, or other marine event for which a permit is required by the United States Coast Guard;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>A docking competition; or</text>
        </level>
        <level label="3">
          <text>Vessels docked or moored at a marina.</text>
        </level>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>“Permit” means a marine gathering permit issued in accordance with this section.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <text>A person may not sponsor or hold a marine gathering without obtaining a written permit from the Department.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <level label="1">
      <text>The organizer or sponsor of the marine gathering shall submit a permit application to the Department and pay an application fee established by the Department.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The application fee may not exceed the cost of processing the permit.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>The Department may not require the application to be submitted more than 45 days before the marine gathering.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <level label="1">
      <text>The Department shall adopt regulations governing the application and issuance of the permit.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>If a permit is needed to ensure public safety, the Department shall issue a permit in accordance with paragraphs (3) and (4) of this subsection.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>The Department may require in the terms of a permit one or more of the following requirements:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>The presence of security officers at the marine gathering;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>The presence of rescue personnel or lifeguards at the marine gathering;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>The placement of buoys at the marine gathering; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iv">
        <text>Limitations on the duration of the marine gathering.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>The Department may:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>Recommend additional actions to an applicant to further safeguard the participants of the marine gathering; but</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Not require any additional terms or conditions in a permit beyond what may be required under paragraph (3) of this subsection.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="e">
    <text>Before issuing a marine gathering permit, the Department shall notify the local law enforcement unit of the county in which the marine gathering will occur and public safety organizations that the Department considers necessary.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="f">
    <text>A police officer may terminate and disband a marine gathering:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>Held without the necessary permit; or</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>In violation of the terms of a permit.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="g">
    <level label="1">
      <text>A person who violates this section or a regulation adopted under this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to a fine not exceeding $1,000.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>A person who commits a second or subsequent violation of this section or a regulation adopted under this section is:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>Guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to a fine not exceeding $5,000; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Liable to the State for the cost of disbanding the marine gathering.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
</section>
