Ch. 6 LAWS OF MARYLAND

reported within 10 days. This subsection does not apply to a vessel required to have a
certificate of inspection under Chapter 1, Title 46, Code of Federal Regulations.

(c) If any vessel numbered in the State is involved in an accident on waters
outside of the State, and the accident results in the death, disappearance, or injury of
any person[,] or in property damage exceeding $200, the operator or owner, within 30
days, shall file a complete report with the Department including any information the
Department requires by [rule or] regulation. This subsection does not exempt or excuse
any operator or [owner] OWNER, if the operator cannot submit the report, from the
requirements of any federal or other State law or rule or regulation having jurisdiction
over the waters in which the accident occurs. Furthermore, any accident-reporting
requirement in the federal or other State law or rule or regulation may not exonerate or
excuse any failure of the operator or owner of a vessel numbered in the State to report
the accident in the State.

(d) The required report of a boating accident may not be referred to during any
judicial proceeding. It is not subject to subpoena or admissible as evidence in any
proceeding. Subject to these restrictions, information contained in a boating accident
report and any statistical information based on [it] THE REPORT is available on
request for official purposes to the United States Coast Guard and its successor agency.

(e) Any person who complies with subsection (a) of this section or who
gratuitously and in good faith renders or attempts to render assistance to any vessel in
distress on any of the waters of the State without objection from any person assisted, is
not liable for any civil damage as the result of any act or omission by [him] THE
PERSON in rendering assistance, if the act or omission does not amount to gross
negligence.

8-725. 1.

(a) A person may not abandon, as defined in § 8-721 OF THIS SUBTITLE, any
vessel upon any waters of the State.

(b) The last known registered owner shown on the certificate of title issued
under § 8-715 OF THIS SUBTITLE shall be considered:

(1) [the] THE prima facie owner of a vessel at the time [it] THE VESSEL
was abandoned; and

(2) [the] THE person who abandoned [it] THE VESSEL.

(c) (1) Any person who violates any provision of this section is guilty of a
misdemeanor. Upon conviction, the person is subject to a fine not exceeding $1, 000 or
imprisonment not exceeding [six] 6 months, or both.

(2) Any person found guilty of a second or subsequent violation of any
provision of this section is subject to a fine not exceeding $2, 000 or imprisonment not
exceeding [one] 1 year, or both.

8-728.

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