As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
The County Department of Parks and Recreation.
[HISTORY: Adopted by the Harford County Council by Bill No. 75-7.[1] Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Mass public assemblies — See Ch. 68.
Littering — See Ch. 161.
Peace and good order — See Ch. 193.
[1]
Editor's Note: This legislation was included as Ch. 15, Art. I of the 1978 Code.
The provisions of this chapter shall apply in and upon all department parklands and facilities within the county.
A.
Permits for exclusive use of any park facility may be issued to any group or organization at the discretion of the Department.
B.
Application for a permit shall be made upon a form furnished by the Department and shall be accompanied by any fee required by the Department of Inspections, Licenses and Permits.
C.
No permit shall be issued to anyone under the age of eighteen (18) years.
D.
The holder of a group permit issued by the Department shall be financially responsible for the destruction of park property by any person covered by the permit.
E.
All permits shall be displayed upon request of Department personnel or law enforcement agencies with enforcement duties within the county.
No person shall deface, alter, injure or disturb any monuments, boundary lines, physical structures, lands, installations, notices, signs or historical or prehistorical ruins.
No person shall fish in any park waters where fishing is expressly prohibited.
No person shall:
A.
Operate any watercraft upon any park waters, except at such time or place as may be designated for such purpose by the Department.
B.
Operate any powered watercraft on any park waters without written permission of the Department.
C.
Operate any watercraft in any park waters in such a negligent manner as to endanger life, limb or property.
No person shall swim in any park waters or pools, except at such times and places as may be designated for such purpose.
No person shall camp on park grounds, except by permit and in such areas as may be designated for such purpose by the Department.
No person shall:
A.
Operate, stop, stand or park a vehicle in such a manner as to block or partially block any fire trail, campsite, road, maintenance road, boat ramp or horse trail.
B.
Operate any type of minibike, trail bike, all-terrain vehicle, snowmobile or other vehicle that cannot be registered for operation on the public highways, except in areas designated for such use by the Department and then only while wearing protective safety glasses or shield and helmet.
C.
Operate any vehicle of a class eligible for registration for operation on public highways, except upon roadways or within areas otherwise designated by the Department for the use of such vehicles.
D.
When operating any vehicle, fail to yield the right-of-way to any person riding a horse, unless such vehicle is being operated on federal, state, county or municipal roads.
No person shall ride a horse, pony or other animal upon park property in such a negligent manner as to endanger life, limb or property or on any park property, except in areas designated for such use by the Department.
A.
No person shall remain upon park property at any time between sunset of any day and sunrise of the following day, except at areas designated for camping or upon the issuance of a permit by the Department.
B.
No person shall remain upon park property after a lawful command to remove by any law enforcement officer or by the Director of Parks and Recreation or his authorized representative.
No person shall peddle, solicit business of any nature whatever, collect any funds for any service or charity, distribute handbills or other advertising matter or post any signs on any park lands, waters or structures, unless authorized by the Department in writing.
No person shall interfere with any employee or agent of the Department in the performance of any official duty.
No person shall use a loudspeaker, public-address system or amplifier within or upon Department property without a permit issued by the Department.
No person shall have in his possession any firearm while upon park property. This section shall not apply to persons authorized by law to carry firearms in the discharge of their official duties.
No person shall:
A.
Discard, deposit, dump or allow to blow away refuse of any kind in or upon park property, except by placing such refuse in a container provided for such purpose.
B.
Dispose of any refuse on park property, whether disposed of in a receptacle or not, if such refuse is not a result of use within the park property.
No person shall:
A.
Skate, sled, walk or go upon any ice, or ski, except at such time and place as may be designated for such purpose by the Department.
B.
Coast with handsleds, bobsleds, carts or other vehicles on wheels or runners, except at such time and place as may be designated for such purpose by the Department.
C.
Skate, sled or coast in such negligent manner as to endanger life, limb or property.
No person shall exhibit any machine, show any animals or indulge in any exhibitions, nor shall any person carry on any performance which shall cause persons to congregate so as to interfere with the proper use of the park by the general public or to obstruct the passage of vehicles or persons, without first having obtained a permit from the Department.
No person shall use any facility, land or area for which a fee or charge has been established by the Department without payment of such fee or charge.
A.
Any person violating any provision of this chapter shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be subject to a fine of not less than one hundred dollars ($100.) nor more than one thousand dollars ($1,000.) or imprisonment not to exceed six (6) months, or both fine and imprisonment, in the discretion of the court.
B.
In addition to the penalties prescribed by this section, the Director of Parks and Recreation shall have the authority to revoke or suspend any license or permit of any person violating any of the provisions of this chapter.