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Regulations Governing the use of Queen Anne’s County Parks & Recreation Facilities Table of Contents
Click Here for A Printer Friendly Version Chapter I - Purpose and Authority 1. Hunting trapping and firearms are prohibited on County owned lands. 2. Fishing is permitted except in posted areas, provided it is done in conformity with County and State Law. 3. No person may enter a County Park or areas controlled by the Queen Anne’s County Parks and Recreation when such lands are closed to public entry by proclamation of the Director of Parks and Recreation. All entry when County property is closed will be considered trespassing 4. Bathing and swimming are permitted only in places and at time designated by the Department of Parks and Recreation. Bathers must be properly clad in a bathing suit. 5. Camping is allowed in designated areas by permit only and only in the place and the period specified in the permit. 6. Private watercrafts are permitted only by Department permit. 7. No person may sell, offer for sale, hire, lease or let out merchandise in County parks without a permit from the Queen Anne’s County Department of Parks and Recreation. 8. Fires are permitted only in designated areas by consent of the Department of Parks and Recreation and with a permit issued by the Fire Marshall. Fires must be continuously under the care of a competent person over 16 years of age. Every fire must be thoroughly extinguished before leaving. 9. No sign, notice or noise shall be made to attract attention to any kind of exhibition without written permission from the Parks and Recreation Department. 10. Lighted matches, cigars, cigarettes or other burning objects shall be properly extinguished prior to being discarded. 11. Refuse and rubbish must be properly disposed of in trash receptacles. Any litter or discharge of waste materials on the lands or waters of County parks is prohibited. Dumping of household or commercial trash is prohibited on any County property whether or not said dumping occurs in a trash receptacle. 12. Injury, defacement or disturbance of any building, sign, equipment or public property, and except under permit, the removal or destruction of any tree, flower, fern, shrub, rock or other plant or mineral in a County Park is prohibited. Standing, parking, driving vehicles on unpaved areas without permission is prohibited. The intentional disturbance or harassment of any animal or animal habitat is prohibited. 13. Games of chance or fortune telling is prohibited in County Parks. 14. No minors are allowed to transport or possess intoxicating beverages in any County park. NO consumption of intoxicating beverages by players, coaches, managers, etc. before or during competitive league or tournament games is permitted. Glass containers are prohibited. Sales of intoxicating beverages are prohibited. 15. No person may perform obscene or indecent acts; throw stones or missiles; annoy people, interfere with, encumber, obstruct or render dangerous any drive, path, walk, dock, beach, or public place. No person may perform any act that ends or amounts to a breach of the peace; climb upon any structure other than playground equipment; enter or leave park except at established entranceways or exits; engage in, instigate and/or encourage a contention or fight, or assault a person. Every legal order of a park official must be properly obeyed. 16. Traffic and parking in County parks is under direction of the Department of Parks and Recreation. All posted signs and the instructions of park officials must be obeyed. The interior of a car on parkland must be at all times fully open to view. It is prohibited to drive or park a vehicle within or upon a safety zone, walk, trail or bridal path, or any other place not customarily used for vehicular traffic. Drivers must obey all posted speeds and operate their car in a safe manner. 17. Park users must pay the fixed charges for permit or use as established by the Queen Anne’s County Department of Parks and Recreation. 18. Grazing of animals is not allowed on County parklands without special permission. 19. All pets, except for seeing-eye dogs, are prohibited from bathing, picnic or other areas that are specifically restricted and posted. All pets must be on a leash and under control at all times. Chapter III - Enforcement Violation and Penalties 1. The provisions of this Ordinance shall be enforced by those persons or agencies designated by the County Commissioners of Queen Anne’s County (hereinafter referred to as the “Designee”). It shall be a violation of this Ordinance to interfere with the Designee in the performance of his/her duties. 2. Violation of this Ordinance shall be a “civil infraction”. Any person, firm, corporation or other legal entity found to have committed a civil infraction by violating any provisions of this Ordinance or any amendment thereto shall be fined not more than One Hundred ($100.00) Dollars and the person receiving a citation must correct the violation. Each and every day during which such violation continues may be deemed a separate offense. 3. Citations shall be in the form designated and promulgated by the District Court of Maryland. The fines shall be payable within twenty (20) calendar days of receipt of the citation. A trial for the offense can be arranged by notifying the County of his/her intention to stand trail. The notice of intent to stand trail shall be given at least five (5) days before the date of payments as set forth in the citation. Upon receipt of the notice of intent to stand trail, the Designee shall forward to the District Court of Queen Anne’s County, a copy of the citation and the notice of intent to stand trial. On receipt of the same, the District Court shall schedule the case for trial and notify the Defendant(s) of the trial date. All penalties, fines and forfeitures collected by the District Court of violations of the Ordinance shall be remitted to the Treasurer of Queen Anne’s County. 4. If a person who receives a citation for a violation fails to pay the fine by the date of payment set forth on the citation, and fails to file a notice of intention to stand trial, formal notice of the violation shall be sent to the person’s last known address. If the citation is not satisfied within fifteen (15) days from the date of notice, the person is liable to an additional fine not to exceed twice the original fine. If after thirty-five (35) days, the citation is not satisfied, the Designee may request adjudication of the case through the District Court. The District Court shall schedule the case for trial and summons the Defendant(s) to appear. 5. In any proceeding before the District Court, the violation shall be prosecuted in the same manner and to the same extent as set forth for municipal infractions under Article 25B, Section 13C of the Annotated code of Maryland. The County Commissioners may authorize either the County Attorney or an appointed attorney or prosecute any violation of this Ordinance. 6. If the person is found by the District Court to have committed a violation of this Ordinance he/she shall be liable for the costs of the proceedings in District Court. Chapter IV - Regulations of Recreational Activities The following activities are restricted to designated areas. 1. Aeronautical Activities Aeronautical activities are permitted pursuant to airport regulations. Airplanes, helium/hot air balloons, hang gliders, parachutes, ultra-light planes, or any other person operated aircraft shall not be flown or launched from any County property except in officially designated areas by permit. 2. Athletics Persons reserving an athletic field are entitled to exclusive use of such areas on the dates and between the hours specified during the reservation, except they, and all other users, are prohibited from exercising the privilege of play if the grounds are wet or otherwise unsuitable for play without causing damage to the field. 3. Bicycling Bicycle riding is permitted only on roads or on other trails designated for that purpose, and is prohibited on walking trails. Bicycle riding is subject to the following requirements: A. Bicycles must yield to pedestrians along the trail. B. Use of any authorized motorized vehicle on the trail is prohibited. C. Bicycles shall not be operated at a speed greater than reasonable and prudent for existing conditions. D. The maximum speed limit on the trails is twenty-five (25) miles per hour. E. Bicycle trail users shall yield to vehicular traffic at intersecting roadways. F. Bicycles and hikers shall keep right except to pass and bicyclists must alert other trail users before passing. G. Bicycle trails are considered to be “Public Bicycle Areas” and as such subject to regulations in the Maryland Vehicle Code. No person shall violate the relevant bicycle regulations of the Maryland Vehicle Code. 4. Boating A. No boat or other watercraft is allowed on lakes, streams, ponds, or riverbanks on County property except by permit. B. Operators and occupants of permitted watercraft will comply with all local, State and Federal regulations governing the use and operation of watercraft. C. Operators and occupants of permitted watercraft will comply with any special regulation promulgated by the Director and posted near watercraft launch sites. 5. Camping Camping is permitted only in designated areas by payment of a fee and possession of a permit. 6. Fires A. Fires are permitted only on public campgrounds and picnic areas, and are restricted to established fireplaces constructed for this purpose, and privately owned grills or stoves. B. Before leaving the site, persons who have made fires shall wet hot coals until they are thoroughly soaked and cold. C. Building of fires may be prohibited or limited by the Director when a fire hazard exists. 7. Fishing Fishing is permitted only in designated areas and in compliance with Maryland State Angler’s license requirements. 8. Golf Golf practice is not permitted except at golf courses. 9. Horseback Riding Horses are permitted only in designated areas and trails. 10. Hunting/Trapping Hunting and trapping are prohibited unless deemed necessary by the County for animal control purposes and will require a permit. 11. Picnicking Picnicking may be prohibited in inappropriate areas. Picnic areas not requiring a permit are operated on a “first come, first served’ basis. 12. Roller Skating – Skateboards Roller skating and skateboarding are permitted only in areas designated for such use and are prohibited in areas designated for basketball and tennis. 13. Swimming. Water Sports Swimming and other water sports are permitted only in areas designated for such use. 14. Winter Sports Ice-skating, sledding skiing, and snowmobiling or tobogganing are permitted on park property only where authorized by posted notice and only in accordance with special regulations on the posted notice.
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