Natural Resources – Marine Gathering Permit – Establishment Senate Bill 127??

M

madgrit

Member
Jul 15, 2009
63
Mount Airy, MD
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2003 320 Sundancer
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I was just wondering if anyone heard of this bill being proposed in MD. Seems kind of ridiculous and open ended if you ask me.

I got this from another site.

"HEARING scheduled for January 31 at 1:30 pm!! Read the bill! Contact your representative. This is a punitive action by the DNR to control your enjoyment of boating and Constitutional rights. This bill is in committee and your opposition will help to kill the bill."


http://mlis.state.md.us/2012rs/bills/sb/sb0127f.pdf
 
I agree on the open-ended nature of the bill. Have there been issues in the area with large gatherings? We all know law enforcement does not want to do it's job without being paid. (This is an administrative point not directed at the Field officers). MM
 
I found the supporting article as to why this bill was introduced. I still think they need to tighten it up a bit and not leave up to DNR to decide. I guess this what happens when you get a few bad apples in a crowd. I attended the one two years ago with my family and had no issues. Then again I kept my distance as well.

http://www.mdgazette.com/content/police-want-control-raft-ups
 
My county newspaper the Cecil Whig had this story on the front page today. Unlike the MdGazette, the Whigs story did not include that the DNR leadership would like the number of boats in a raftup to be less then 20.
Many times I have had been rafted up to 20 and more boats, all friends, on the North East,Bohemia and the Sassafras. These raftups just happens with out planning or an event in mind. Still after reading this law proposal our raftups could be viewed by the DNR to be an illegal gathering. On any summer weekend on the upper bay there is places that have over 50 boats anchored near each other.

Where is this goverment control over our pursuit of happiness going to stop? We need to get our boat clubs,marinas and everyone associated with boating to protest this law. Everyone who boats in Maryland needs to fight this. Maryland ranks the third highest boat ownership in the U.S. We boater are voters.

One more thing, Maryland wants to add 6% and soon 7% sales tax to our fuel.
 
We live in Maryland and we are right on the water. All they are concerned about in Maryland is a way to Tax and Spend.
You have to get a permit for just about everything here. We belong to a local Yacht Club and I believe that it will be defeated or watered down as it would affect all the clubs opening ceremonies.
 
The part of that law that's going to be difficult/impossible to enforce is determining who is the "sponsor" of the event. It only applies to gatherings of 50 boats or more, so if a group of 40 boats gets together no permit is required. If more boats show up and the number exceeds 50, there's no way to determine if anyone "sponsored" the larger event. It just happened and they're not going to be able to prosecute any one person for the event growing too large.

If the water cops start asking questions of the boaters present they're going to get a lot of "Who, me? I didn't sponsor anything, I just showed up!"
 
md.jpg
 
What happened to our right of freedom to assemble and why do we have to pay to excercise it.

Freedom of assembly, sometimes used interchangeably with the freedom of association, is the individual right to come together and collectively express, promote, pursue and defend common interests.[SUP][1][/SUP] The right to freedom of association is recognized as a human right, a political freedom and a civil liberty.
Freedom of assembly and freedom of association may be used to distinguish between the freedom to assemble in public places.
.
 
I'm at Baltimore Yacht Club, been to a couple of Bodkin's openings, nice facility. Bodkin Creek is one of my yearly destinations for lunch, a cigar and a few cold ones...........I will have to look you up this summer.

John
 
cmount1 said:
What happened to our right of freedom to assemble and why do we have to pay to excercise it.

Freedom of assembly, sometimes used interchangeably with the freedom of association, is the individual right to come together and collectively express, promote, pursue and defend common interests.[SUP][1][/SUP] The right to freedom of association is recognized as a human right, a political freedom and a civil liberty.
Freedom of assembly and freedom of association may be used to distinguish between the freedom to assemble in public places.
.
Click to expand...

There is no limit to the number of people that would trample our constititional rights.

MM
 
The Maryland legislature has passed the Marine Gathering law this month. According to the Cecil Whig newspaper this week, the DNR has taken aim at Chesapeake City Canal Day Fest June 30th.
Canal Day has attracted nearly 200 boats in Engineer Cove each year. This year the DNR will allow no more then 100 boats in the cove. The DNR plans to search for an (organizer person) of the raftup. If an organizer person can not be found, then all the boats must leave the cove. The DNR now has the power to fine or arrest a gathering organizer of 50 boats or more if a permit has not been obtained. ( Maybe this is why the DNR will allow up to 100 boats in the cove. )
The Canal Day Fest commitee has said they have nothing to do with the boat gathering in the cove.
 
Hart/Miller will be next, just wait and see, Marine Max has the Aquapoloza there. On any given summer weekend thare are way more then 200 boats there, not rafted up, but they are so close they might as well be. F'ng Maryalnd "lawmakers" don't have nothing better to screw with
 
What part of this do they not understand??? They will take until we stop them

"First Amendment to the United States Constitution"
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."
 
DNR vows to break up floating party on Canal Day

http://www.marinerchesapeake.com/news/article_4521d81c-8cc6-11e1-9a3c-0019bb2963f4.html?TNNoMobile

Not that I was planning on going but this is some BS. What if you anchor out with the intentions to spend the night and get a few cocktails in ya? Are they going to make you BWI? It will be interesting what they do to all the other spots people hang out at? (Hartmiller Island, Fairlee Creek, Dobbins Island, South River, Annapolis, Still Pond) Anyone getting a permit for the Battle of 1812 celebration in the Inner Harbor or are they going to make everyone leave once 100 boats arrive?
 
They do not own the water, but they act like it. "What if you anchor out with the intentions to spend the night and get a few cocktails in ya? Are they going to make you BWI?" Great question.

MM
 
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