1280                            LAWS OF MARYLAND                      [CH. 591

103. 17.

(a)   Any person possessing or discharging fireworks in violation
of the provisions of this sub-title shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and
shall be punished for each offense by a fine of not more than [$50.00]
$250.00. Any person selling fireworks in violation of the provisions
of this sub-title shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be pun-
ished for each offense by a fine of not more than [$200.00; $1,000.00;
provided, however, that nothing in this sub-title shall prevent the
manufacture of fireworks or the possession of the materials for the
manufacture of same, or the storage thereof in any warehouse or
building maintained by the manufacturer of fireworks in the State
of Maryland, nor shall anything in this sub-title prevent any manu-
facturer of fireworks from experimenting with pyrotechnics or mate-
rials used in the manufacture thereof, under such rules and regula-
tions as may be promulgated from time to time by the Insurance
Commissioner of Maryland.] $1,000.00.

104A. 18A. (a) The State Insurance Department of Maryland
shall have sole authority to issue licenses for the operation of fire-
works plants. Such licenses shall be issued only after applicants'
plants have been inspected and found to be in compliance with the
provisions of this sub-title and of all regulations promulgated here-
under; shall be valid for a period not to exceed one year from date of
issue; shall be subject to suspension and/or revocation for cause, at
the discretion of the department; and shall be contingent upon pay-

ment of such annual fee as the Department may determine, but not

to exceed the following: AND AN ANNUAL FEE AS FOLLOWS:

(i) Type 1—Plants manufacturing Class A or B explosives

$500.00

(ii) Type 2—Plants manufacturing Class B AND C, but
not Class A or B explosives.......................................................................................$250.00

(iii) Type 3—Plants manufacturing only signal flares, sparklers
or other fireworks not classed as A, B, or C explosives..................$100.00

(b)   The department will promulgate and enforce, through the of-
fice of the State Fire Marshal, such regulations, consistent with this
sub-title, as it may find necessary or advisable to protect the safety
of plant employees and the general public, and to protect public
property. The scope of such regulations includes, but is not limited
to the implementation of the provisions of this sub-title relating to
the location, construction, arrangement and operation of fireworks
plants.

104B. 18B. (a) All fireworks plants, except Type 3 plants as de-
fined in Section 104A (a) (ii), (iii), shall be completely surrounded
by a chain link SUBSTANTIAL fence having a minimum height of
six feet and surmounted by not less than three strands of barbed
wire. All buildings, except office buildings in which no processing or
storage is permitted, must be located inside said fence. All openings
in said, fence shall be fitted with SUITABLE gates of the same con-
struction as the fence, which shall be kept securely locked at all
times except when in actual use; except that the main gate of the
plant may be left open during the regular hours of plant operation
while in plain view of, and under observation by authorized respon-
sible employees or guards.