MD. Natural Resources Code Ann. §  4-1201 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Natural Resources|Title 4 - Fish and Fisheries|Subtitle 12 - Penalties and Fines, Searches, Seizures and Forfeitures|Section 4-1201 - Penalties

    (a)    Except as otherwise specifically provided in this title, a person who violates any provision of this title is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, is subject to a fine not exceeding $1,000, with costs imposed in the discretion of the court.    (b)    Unless another penalty is specifically provided elsewhere in this title, any person found guilty of a second or subsequent violation of any provision of this title is subject to a fine not exceeding $2,000, or imprisonment not exceeding one year, or both, with costs imposed in the discretion of the court. For the purpose of this subsection, a second or subsequent violation is one which has occurred within two years of any prior violation of this title.    (c)    In addition to any administrative penalty provided in this title, violation of any rule or regulation adopted by any unit within the Department pursuant to the provisions of this title is a misdemeanor and is punishable as provided in subsections (a) and (b) of this section.    (d)    (1)    In addition to any other applicable penalty set forth in subsections (a) and (b) of this section, a person who violates any provision of this title or any regulations adopted by the Secretary under the authority of this title concerning the taking of or creel limits for striped bass, commonly known as rockfish, shall be subject to the following penalties:            (i)    For a first violation, a fine not exceeding $1,500 per fish;            (ii)    For a second violation, within a 2–year period, a fine not exceeding $2,500 per fish and revocation of the fishing license for a period not less than 1 year but not more than 2 years; and            (iii)    For a third violation within a 4–year period, a fine not exceeding $2,500 per fish and revocation of the fishing license for a period not less than 2 years but not more than 5 years.        (2)    In addition to any other penalty provided under this title, a person who commits any of the following violations, and the violation results in the unlawful capture of over $20,000 worth of striped bass as determined by the proceeds of the unlawful capture, is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to imprisonment not exceeding 2 years:            (i)    Using unlawful gear;            (ii)    Harvesting during closed seasons;            (iii)    Harvesting from a closed area;            (iv)    Violating established harvest, catch, or size limits; or            (v)    Violating tagging and reporting requirements.    (e)    A common carrier transporting fish who is not the buyer, seller, or catcher of the fish or is not controlled by the buyer, seller, or catcher of the fish is not subject to any penalty under this section for transporting fish which is either unlawfully caught or of unlawful size provided that the operator of the common carrier has in his possession a valid bill of lading, stating the origin, shipper, destination and receiver of the fish and the common carrier does not know or have reason to know that the fish were unlawfully caught or of unlawful size.    (f)    In addition to any other applicable penalty set forth in this title, a person who unlawfully takes oysters from a leased oyster bottom, an oyster sanctuary, an oyster reserve, or an area closed to shellfish harvest by the Department of the Environment, when the area is designated and marked by buoys or other signage or the person knew or should have known that taking the oysters from the area was unlawful, is subject to a fine not exceeding $3,000.    (g)    (1)    If a person is convicted of violating any provision of this title and the violation causes or results in the injury, death, or destruction of any fish, including a protected species of animal, in addition to any other penalty provided in this title, the Secretary may order the person to pay restitution to the Department for the resource value of the fish, as determined by the regulations adopted by the Department under paragraph (2) of this subsection.        (2)    The Department, in consultation with the Tidal Fisheries Advisory Commission and the Sport Fisheries Advisory Commission, shall adopt regulations that establish a schedule of resource values for individual species.        (3)    If two or more defendants are convicted for the same violation causing or resulting in the injury, death, or destruction of protected species of animals, the court may impose restitution against the defendants jointly and equally.        (4)    (i)    Restitution under this section shall be paid within 30 days or a time prescribed by regulation.            (ii)    In each instance, restitution paid under this section shall be credited to the Department to be used only for the replacement, habitat management, or enforcement programs for injured, killed, or destroyed fish or protected species of animals.    (h)    In addition to any other applicable penalty under this title, a person who violates § 4–708(a)(1) of this title (Committing separate commercial fishing violation while license or authorization is suspended or revoked) or § 4–708(a)(2) of this title (Engaging in commercial fishing activity without holding appropriate license or authorization) is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to imprisonment not exceeding 1 year or a fine not exceeding $25,000 or both, with costs imposed in the discretion of the court.