Ch. 634                                          LAWS OF MARYLAND

Approved May 27, 1988.

CHAPTER 634

(House Bill 95)

AN ACT concerning

Theft from Leased Oyster Bottoms - Penalties

FOR the purpose of requiring the Department of Natural Resources
to cause request the local State's Attorney's office to
bring a criminal action for theft against a person catching,
destroying, or transferring oysters on an oyster bottom
leased by another person; requiring authorizing the
Department to revoke suspend certain licenses of a person
convicted of theft of oysters from a leased oyster bottom;
and providing a mandatory minimum and discretionary maximum
time before which the Department of Natural Resources may
reissue certain licenses; requiring the Department to
provide certain notice and hearing requirements before
suspending certain licenses; and generally relating to
penalties for catching, destroying, or transferring oysters
on oyster bottoms leased by another person.

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments,

Article - Natural Resources

Section 4-1118 and 4-1201

Annotated Code of Maryland

(1983 Replacement Volume and 1987 Supplement)

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:

Article - Natural Resources

4-1118.

(a) (1) A person, other than the lessee, may not willfully
and without authority catch oysters on any leased oyster bottom,
or willfully destroy or transfer oysters on this land in any
manner.

(2) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL CAUSE REQUEST THE OFFICE OF
THE LOCAL STATE'S ATTORNEY TO BRING A CRIMINAL ACTION UNDER
ARTICLE 27, § 342 OF THE CODE AGAINST A PERSON FOUND TO BE IN
VIOLATION OF THIS SUBSECTION.

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