Queen Annes County, MD Use of County Parks

The Department will establish hours of operation for park property under its jurisdiction and will post accordingly.

Any park property may be closed by the Director to the public entirely or for certain uses and such closings shall be posted in advance for public notice.

Permits. The Department may issue permits for use of County parks and facilities upon such rules and regulations as may be approved by the County Commissioners of Queen Anne's County.

§ 22-19 General conduct and personal behavior.

Posting notices. Attaching or posting of notices, signs or any other objects on park property is prohibited except by permit (Class e offense).

Audio devices and noise. No person may play an audio device or create excessive noise so as to disturb the peace (Class e offense).

Fireworks and explosives. No person may possess and discharge any fireworks or other explosive pyrotechnics on park property without the expressed written permission of the Director (Class b offense).

Littering, dumping and storage. (See definitions of "garbage," "refuse" and "rubbish" Queen Anne's County Code, Ch. 19, Nuisances; Right-to-Farm, Art. I, Definitions.)

Garbage, junk, refuse and rubbish must be properly disposed of in trash receptacles (Class b offense).

Dumping of household or commercial trash and refuse is prohibited on any County property whether or not said dumping occurs in a trash receptacle (Class b offense).

No person may store material of any description on park property except by written authorization from the Director (Class e offense).

Glass containers are prohibited in County parks and facilities (Class e offense).

Destruction of park property. Injury, defacement, disturbance or destruction of any building, sign, equipment, tree, flower, fern, shrub, rock, plant or mineral in a County park is prohibited. (Class c offense).

Wildlife. The intentional disturbance, harassment or injury of any animal or animal habitat is prohibited. (Class c offense).

Vegetation.

Planting of vegetation or causing vegetation to be planted on park property is prohibited except by permit (Class e offense).

Removal of any vegetation from parklands is prohibited (Class d offense).

Metal detectors; digging. Patrons are prohibited from using metal detectors and/or digging as in treasure hunting or archeological investigation into the surface of park property except by permit. (Class e offense).

Gambling. Gambling, games of chance and fortune-telling are prohibited in County parks, except with the specific permission and a permit issued by the Director. (Class e offense).

Alcohol.

Consumption of alcoholic beverages is strictly prohibited except with the specific permission of and a permit issued by the Director (Class d offense).

The sale of alcoholic beverages is strictly prohibited without a permit and permission of the Director and proper liquor license (Class d offense).

Projectiles. No person may throw or launch projectile objects in such a way as to annoy, interfere, impede or endanger another park patron (Class e offense).

Breach of peace. No person may perform, 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 (Class c offense).

Indecent conduct.

Urinating or defecating on park property other than in the places officially provided is prohibited (Class c offense).

No person shall engage in any sexual or indecent act on park property (Class c offense).

Powered model airplanes, rockets and drones. No powered model airplanes, rockets or drones shall be flown or launched from any park area except on officially designated areas and by permit (Class d offense).

Erecting structures. The enclosure of any area or erection of any structures on park property is prohibited unless authorized by permit (Class e offense).

Automobile service. No person may service any automobile on park property, except waxing. Prohibited activities include washing, repairing or performing other work, except in case of an emergency (Class e offense).

Weapons. No person shall carry, possess or discharge a bow and arrow, dart, firearm, knife with blade of more than three inches in length, or other dangerous weapon on park property except where permitted in designated areas. This provision does not apply to firearms carried by law enforcement officers and persons with legal permits (Class b offense).

§ 22-20 Regulation of recreational activities.

The following regulations apply to all property under the supervision or control of the Department:

Aeronautical activities. Aeronautical activities are permitted pursuant to airport regulations. Airplanes, helium/hot air balloons, hang gliders, parachutes, ultra-light planes, drones, or any other person-operated aircraft shall not be flown or launched from any County property except in officially designated areas by permit (Class e offense).

Athletics/leagues.

Persons reserving an athletic field are entitled to exclusive use of such areas on the dates and between the hours specified by permit. They, and all other users, are prohibited from playing on the fields if the grounds are wet or otherwise unsuitable for play (Class e offense).

Any athletic field other than an artificial turf field that is not reserved shall be available on a first-come, first-served basis. Artificial turf fields shall be available only through a permit issued by the Department of Parks and Recreation.

Bicycling.

Bicycle riding is permitted only on roads or on other trails designated for that purpose (Class e offense).

Bicycle riding is subject to the following requirements (Class e offense):

(a)

Bicycles must yield to pedestrians and horses along the trail.

(b)

Bicycles shall not be operated at a speed greater than reasonable and prudent for existing conditions. The maximum speed limit on the trails is 15 miles per hour.

(c)

Bicycle trail users shall dismount prior to crossing intersecting roadways.

(d)

Bicycles and hikers shall keep right except to pass and bicyclists must alert other trail users before passing.

Boating. (Violation of below regulations constitute a Class e offense.)

No boat or other watercraft is allowed on lakes or ponds on County property except by permit.

Operators and occupants of permitted watercraft will comply with all local, state and federal regulations governing the use and operation of said watercraft.

Operators and occupants of permitted watercraft will comply with any special regulation promulgated by the Director and posted near watercraft launch sites.

Fires. (Violation of below regulations constitute a Class e offense.)

Fires are permitted only on public campgrounds and picnic areas, and are restricted to established fireplaces constructed for this purpose, and/or privately owned grills or stoves in areas specifically designated by the Director.

Before leaving the site, persons who have made fires shall wet hot coals until they are thoroughly soaked and cold.

Building of fires may be prohibited or limited by the Director when a fire hazard exists. The lighting and use of tobacco products are prohibited on County property.

Ground fires are prohibited.

Fishing. Fishing is permitted only in designated areas and in compliance with Maryland state angler's license requirements (Class e offense).

Golf. Golf practice is not permitted except at golf courses (Class e offense).

Horseback riding. Horses are permitted only in designated areas and trails (Class e offense).

Hunting; trapping.

Hunting and trapping are permitted only for scientific and animal control purposes.

Hunting is permitted only in areas designated for hunting and upon compliance with federal and/or Maryland state licensing requirements (Class d offense).

No person may hunt or trap without the required permit issued from the Department.

Picnicking. Picnicking may be prohibited in areas identified as inappropriate by the Director. Unrestricted picnic areas are operated on a first-come, first-served basis. (Class e offense).

Roller-skating, in-line skating, skateboarding. Roller-skating and skateboarding are permitted only in areas designated for such use and are prohibited in areas designated for basketball and tennis (Class e offense).

Swimming, water sports.

Bathing and swimming are permitted only in places and at times designated by the Department of Parks and Recreation (Class e offense).

Bathers must be properly clad in a bathing suit or appropriate swimming attire (Class e offense).

Lifeguards are not in attendance within County parks. Users assume their own risk.

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 (Class e offense).

Camping. Camping is authorized by permit only in designated areas and within specific periods as indicated on the permit (Class e offense).

Motorized vehicle. Use of any unauthorized motorized vehicle on park property is prohibited. This includes but is not limited to ATVs, minibikes, motor scooters, and dirt bikes (Class a offense).

§ 22-21 Animal control provisions.

All animals must be controlled in accordance with the Queen Anne's County Department of Parks and Recreation Rules and Regulations and abide by all provisions as set forth within the Queen Anne's County Animal Control Ordinance (Chapter 9 of the Code of Queen Anne's County).

Pets are strictly prohibited from Romancoke Pier, and Matapeake Pier (Class e offense).

Nondomesticated animals. Grazing of animals is not allowed on County parklands without special permission (Class e offense).

Domesticated animals.

All pets, except for documented service animals, are prohibited from bathing, picnic or other areas that are specifically restricted and posted (Class e offense).

All animals must be controlled by a leash or other similar restraining device at all times (Class e offense).

The owner or custodian of an animal may not allow his or her animal or any animal under his or her care to defecate on public property, unless the owner or custodian of the animal immediately thereafter removes and disposes of any and all waste in a sanitary manner (Class e offense).

At no time may an animal injure, molest or intimidate another individual or animal, chase vehicles or bicycles (Class b offense).

§ 22-22 Regulation of traffic.

Enforcement. 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 (Class e offense).

Speed limit. No person shall operate any motorized vehicle in excess of 15 miles per hour unless the speed limit is otherwise posted or directed (Class e offense).

Permissible roadways. No person shall operate any motorized vehicle on park property other than a road or street on which public access is permitted (Class b offense).

Large truck, buses. Trucks over one ton, buses and tractor trailers shall not be operated or parked on park property except by special permit (Class e offense).

Parking regulations.

No persons may stop, stand or park a motor vehicle on park property (Class e offense).

(a)

In front of a public driveway;

(b)

Within an intersection;

(c)

Within 20 feet of, or so as to obstruct, a crosswalk, or within 20 feet of an intersection;

(d)

On a bridge;

(e)

Any place an official sign prohibits, or regulates, stopping, standing, parking, or the manner of parking in general;

(f)

On the traveled portion of a roadway or public driveway;

(g)

On, or obstructing the entrance to, any bicycle path, hiker path, bridle path or access road;

(h)

So as to obstruct another vehicle or traffic;

(i)

So as to occupy more than one parking space or across painted parking lines;

(j)

During those hours when park property is not open to the public;

(k)

On any grass area unless specifically allowed or so as to injure any tree shrub, plant or vegetation;

(l)

In a designated fire lane;

(m)

In a designated loading area;

(n)

On park property other than that designated for vehicular parking;

(o)

Within 15 feet of a fire hydrant;

(p)

Within 30 feet of the approach to any traffic control device located at the side of a roadway or at an intersection.

Any vehicle, which receives a permit to park adjacent to any roadway must be removed from the traveled portion of the roadway and parked in the direction of authorized traffic movement, with left wheels parallel to and within 36 inches of the right edge or boundary of the roadway (Class e offense).

§ 22-23 Fees.

Park users shall pay the rental fees for permit or use as established by the Department.

Rental fees or permit for use. All fixed charges or permit for use must be paid in full prior to use or event.

Waiver of rental fees or permit for use. No fixed charges or permit for use may be waived without written directive from the Director and/or the County Commissioners.

§ 22-24 Enforcement.

Enforcement authority. The provisions of this article shall be enforced by any Queen Anne's County employee designated by resolution of the County Commissioners. In addition, these provisions may be enforced by the Department of Natural Resources, Queen Anne's County Sheriff, Maryland State Police and any local law enforcement agencies or agencies designated by the County Commissioners.

Interference with enforcement efforts. It shall be a violation of this article to interfere with the designee in the performance of the designee's duties.

§ 22-25 Civil infractions.

In general. Violation of this article shall be a civil infraction.

Fine; obligation to correct.

Any person found in violation of any provision of this chapter shall be punishable by a fine not to exceed $500. Any person convicted of a second or subsequent offense shall be punishable by a fine not to exceed $1,000.

Each day during which a violation continues may be deemed a separate offense.

Amount of fine. Unless another amount for a specific violation has been established by law or regulation, the pre-set civil fine shall be in the minimum amount shown below:

Class of Offense	Minimum Fine	Minimum Suspension	Maximum Suspension
a	$500	1 year	Permanent
b	$250	4 months	1 year
c	$100	1 month	3 months
d	$50	1 week	1 month
e	$50	1 day	1 week

Suspension from park facility. The Director has the authority to suspend in addition to fines. In addition to the fines, the Director may suspend park privileges as set forth above.

§ 22-26 Restitution.

In addition to or in lieu of enforcing the provisions of this article, the Department of Parks and Recreation may seek and obtain restitution from any individual for costs incurred by the Department in restoring, repairing, replacing, removing encroachments or otherwise mitigating the loss of or damage to any natural resources or other parkland property destroyed, defaced, damaged, altered or removed by the individual.

§ 22-27 Citations.

Form. Citations shall be in the form designated and promulgated by Queen Anne's County Department of Parks and Recreation and approved by the District Court of Maryland.

Payment of fine. Citations shall be payable within 20 calendar days of receipt of the citation. The preset fine will be the minimum amounts as set forth in § 22-25C.

Right to stand trial.

A person receiving a citation for civil infraction may elect to stand trial for the offense by notifying the Queen Anne's County Finance Department of the person's intention to stand trial.

The notice of intent to stand trial shall be given in writing within 10 calendar days of receipt of the citation.

On receipt of the notice of intent to stand trial, the County Finance Department shall forward to the District Court of Queen Anne's County a copy of the citation and the notice of intent to stand trial.

The District Court shall schedule the case for trial and notify the defendant of the trial date.

Fines remitted to County.

All penalties, fines, and forfeitures collected by the District Court for violations of this article shall be remitted to the Finance Office of Queen Anne's County.