§ 30-1-201. PROHIBITED ACTIVITIES.

(a)

Hunting. A person may not:

(1)

Hunt on any lands in the county under the control and supervision of the Department;

(2)

Hunt, trap, or remove wildlife except, as authorized by the Director, for scientific study, environmental education, or wildlife management purposes; or

(3)

Injure, destroy, or otherwise interfere in any way with wildlife or wildlife habitat.

(b)

Exceptions.

(1)

In this subsection, "Deer Cooperator Program" means a program conducted by the United States Department of Agriculture or a licensed wildlife management company under the supervision of the Department of Natural Resources, in cooperation with the county, to reduce the wildlife population of protected wildlife determined to be overpopulated.

(2)

This section does not prohibit:

(i)

The use of duck blinds installed by the Department; or

(ii)

The use of a Deer Cooperator Program subject to the following conditions:

1.

A program shall be conducted only during nighttime hours;

2.

All venison shall be donated to a food bank or other charitable organization, and all processing or butchering services shall be provided by Baltimore County contractors, if feasible;

3.

Notification of the dates and times of a program shall be published in a newspaper of general circulation and prominently posted at multiple locations on the land at least two weeks prior to the program; and

4.

During a program, the land shall be closed to the general public.

(c)

Possession of weapons.

(1)

In this subsection, "weapon" means:

(i)

A device capable of propelling a projectile at high velocity by mechanical means, by explosion, or by expanding gas, including a firearm, crossbow, or longbow;

(ii)

A dirk knife, bowie knife, switchblade, sand club, metal knuckles, razor, nunchaku, or dart; and

(iii)

A device capable of:

1.

Inflicting death or bodily harm to an individual;

2.

Maiming or destroying wildlife; or

3.

Destroying property.

(2)

Except for an active or retired law enforcement officer or a person otherwise authorized by the Director, a person may not carry, possess, or discharge a weapon on park property.

(3)

(i)

During hunting season, a licensed hunter may carry firearms and bows and arrows across a park in order to get to other property that is open to hunting.

(ii)

The firearms shall be carried unloaded and cased, or carried unloaded with breech broken open.

(iii)

Arrows shall be carried in a quiver or case.

(4)

Unauthorized weapons may be confiscated.

(d)

Closed against entry. An unauthorized person or vehicle may not enter or remain in a park or portion of a park closed to public entry.

(e)

Advertising. Without first obtaining a permit from the Department, a person may not:

(1)

Erect or post a sign, notice, or literature in a park; or

(2)

Use a loudspeaker or public address system in a park.

(f)

Animals.

(1)

An owner of an animal shall comply with the provisions of Article 12 of the Code while in a park.

(2)

A person may not ride a horse, pony, or other animal in a park except in an area of a park that the Department has designated for riding animals.

(g)

Damage to park property. A person may not damage, deface, destroy, injure, disturb, befoul, dump upon, in any way misuse or remove or vandalize any part of a park or any building, sign, equipment, or other park property.

(h)

Disturbing or damaging wildlife or flora prohibited. A person may not, unless otherwise authorized by the Director, in consultation with the Director of Environmental Protection and Sustainability, or by law:

(1)

Catch, harass or kill wildlife in a park or disturb a nest, burrow, or den of an animal or fowl in a park;

(2)

Damage or destroy flora in a park;

(3)

Conduct an activity that:

(i)

Is detrimental to the natural resources and ecological function of park property;

(ii)

Interferes directly or indirectly with the use of park property; or

(iii)

Is harmful to human, animal, plant, or aquatic life on park property;

(4)

Mow, cut, remove, dump, deposit, or otherwise disturb vegetation within a stream or wetland buffer or a floodplain located on park property; or

(5)

Plant or cause the planting, seeding, or propagation of vegetation on park property.

(i)

Fees for admittance. If the Department establishes a fee for the use of a park, a person may not make use of or enter the park unless the person pays the fee.

(j)

Commercial activities. Unless the person first obtains a permit from the Department, a person may not:

(1)

Sell, hire, or lease any object or merchandise or any boat or vehicle in a park; or

(2)

Use a tennis court, basketball court, athletic field, or other activity area in a park in order to conduct private instruction or lessons for a fee.

(k)

Use of alcoholic beverages.

(1)

A person may not use an alcoholic beverage in a park without written permits.

(2)

State laws regarding the use of alcohol shall apply on park property.

(3)

Alcohol shall be consumed or possessed only within the specific facility or area designated on the Department issued permit and, as applicable, during a park's hours of operation.

(l)

Gambling. Gambling, wheels of fortune, or other games of chance are prohibited unless a permit is first obtained from the Department and all state laws are complied with.

(m)

Motorized vehicles.

(1)

A person may not operate:

(i)

A self-propelled motorized vehicle, including, without limitation, an all-terrain vehicle, on a pathway, trail, or other nonpaved area on park property; or

(ii)

An all-terrain vehicle or a go-kart on a road or street within park property.

(2)

Except for a county maintenance vehicle, emergency vehicle, or police vehicle, a person shall operate a motor vehicle within park property only on a road or street with public access.

(n)

Frozen bodies of water. A person may not:

(1)

Use a snowmobile; or

(2)

Skate or walk on a frozen body of water.

(o)

Roller skates, in-line skates, and skateboards.

(1)

A person may roller skate, in-line skate, or skateboard on a pathway or sidewalk.

(2)

A person may not roller skate, in-line skate, or skateboard on a road, parking area, or multipurpose recreational surface, including a basketball court, tennis court, or racquetball court.

(p)

Swimming. A person may swim or engage in other water sports only in an area designated for water activities and only during the hours specified.

(q)

Refuse. A person may not deposit refuse generated off-site onto park property.

(r)

Private encroachments.

(1)

Without first obtaining a permit, a private encroachment is prohibited on park property.

(2)

For purposes of this subsection, a private encroachment shall include a fence, wall, dog run, dog house, storage structure, driveway, compost pile, swimming pool, tree house, playhouse, wood pile, garden, play equipment, TV or radio reception device, or any other device, structure, refuse, or material.

(s)

Indecent exposure. While on park property, a person may not:

(1)

Be nude or indecently expose himself or herself;

(2)

Engage in a sexual act; or

(3)

Urinate or defecate except in a designated facility.

(t)

Interference with employees and other individuals prohibited. A person may not:

(1)

Interfere with a county employee on park property acting in the course of the employee's official duties;

(2)

Interfere with other individuals on park property, including:

(i)

Obstructing, delaying, or interfering with the free movements of any other individual;

(ii)

Seeking to coerce or physically disturb any other individual; or

(iii)

Hampering or impeding the conduct of any authorized business or activity on park property;

(3)

Interfere with, encumber, obstruct, damage, destroy, or render dangerous, any drive, path, trail, walk, dock, fence, wall, bridge, bench, play equipment, structure, improvement, or plant on park property; or

(4)

Hinder or obstruct the proper use of a restroom, concession stand, or other public structure on park property.

(u)

Excessive noise. A person may not play an audio device or create excessive noise so as to disturb the peace.

(v)

Storm drains, sewers, and other devices.

(1)

A person may not throw, cast, lay, drop, deposit, leave, spill, pour, dump, discharge, dispose of, or otherwise place any matter, substance, thing, liquid, or solid onto or into any park property, in any storm drain, sewer, or other device which drains onto park property, or in waters within or which run into or out of park property.

(2)

The prohibition in this subsection shall include the application of a herbicide, fertilizer, fungicide, insecticide, or other substance on park property without first obtaining a permit from the Director.

(w)

Flammable or explosive devices. A person may not possess or discharge fireworks, pyrotechnics, ammunition, or other flammable or explosive devices on park property without first obtaining a permit from the Director and subject to the requirements of § 14-2-203 of the Code.

(x)

Smoking.

(1)

"Smoking" means:

(i)

The act of smoking or carrying a lighted cigar, cigarette, electronic cigarette, pipe of any kind, or any lighted tobacco; or

(ii)

Lighting a cigar, cigarette, electronic cigarette, pipe of any kind, or tobacco of any kind.

(2)

A person may not smoke within the general boundary of the outdoor area of the following Recreation and Parks facilities:

(i)

Playgrounds and tot lots;

(ii)

Dog parks;

(iii)

Organized games or events at athletic fields sponsored by the Department of Recreation and Parks or a local recreation council; and

(iv)

Within 30 feet of a Recreation and Parks building.

(1988 Code, § 29-7) (Bill No. 114-99, § 5, 7-1-2004; Bill. No. 42-16 , § 2, 8-21-2016; Bill No. 67-18 , § 1, 10-15-2018)