Section 4-604 - Angler's license - In general.
§ 4-604. Angler's license - In general [Subject to amendment effective January 1, 2011; amended version follows this section].
(a) Intent of section.- This section provides a fund to pay the expense of protecting and managing game and freshwater fish and preventing unauthorized persons from fishing or attempting to fish for any game and freshwater fish without first procuring an angler's license.
(b) "Resident" defined.-
(1) In this section, "resident" means a person who resides in this State on the date he applies for a license.
(2) "Resident" includes a member of the armed forces of the United States who is on active duty and stationed officially in this State.
(c) License required.- Any person 16 years old or older shall secure an angler's license to fish in the nontidal waters of the State. An angler's license entitles the holder to fish in the nontidal waters of the State only during the open season.
(d) Exemptions from license requirement.- An angler's license is not required of the following:
(1) The owner or tenant of land bordering on nontidal water, his spouse and children, or the spouse of any child who resides on the land with the owner or tenant when he fishes in nontidal water adjoining his land;
(2) Any resident serving in the armed forces of the United States, while on leave in the State, during his leave period, if, while angling, he possesses a copy of his official leave orders;
(3) A person who fishes in nontidal waters of the State on free fishing days designated by the Secretary;
(4) A person holding a current resident consolidated senior sport fishing license issued under § 4-216 of this title; or
(5) A person authorized by a disability exemption issued under § 4-217 of this title.
(e) How license obtained.- A person may apply for an angler's license to any person designated by the Department. The application shall be on a form the Department prepares and supplies. The applicant shall fill out, sign and submit the application to the person designated to issue an angler's license. A person may apply by mail.
(f) Contents of applications; statement to be signed.-
(1) The application shall contain the applicant's name and place of residence.
(2) A person may not use an assumed name or an address other than the person's legal place of residence or make any false statement to obtain an angler's license.
(3) Before an angler's license may be issued, the applicant for the license shall sign a statement that says:
"I understand that this license does not of itself permit me to fish on private property, and if I do so without permission of the owner I may be subject to a fine."
(g) Schedule of license fees.-
(1) The following annual license fees shall apply:
(i) Resident ............ $20.50
(ii) Subject to paragraph (2)(ii) of this subsection, short-term license valid for 5 consecutive days from date of issuance ............ $7.50
(iii) Resident and nonresident blind persons ............ No fee
(iv) Complimentary license ............ No fee
(2) For a nonresident:
(i) The fee for an annual angler's license is the greater of:
1. $30.50; or
2. A fee equal to the fee charged a Maryland resident by the nonresident's home state for a similar license; and
(ii) The fee for a short-term license valid for 5 consecutive days from the date of issuance is the greater of:
1. $7.50; or
2. A fee equal to the fee charged a Maryland resident by the nonresident's home state for a license that permits an equal number of days of fishing or the next higher number of days as permitted by the Maryland license.
(iii) The fee for a short-term license valid for 3 consecutive days from the date of issuance is the greater of:
1. $5; or
2. A fee equal to the fee charged a Maryland resident by the nonresident's home state for a license that permits an equal number of days of fishing or the next higher number of days as permitted by the Maryland license.
(3) (i) All fees collected by the Department under this section may only be used in accordance with § 4-208 of this title.
(ii) The Department shall publicly report annually the amounts collected and the expenditures under this section.
(h) Issuance of license and collection of fees; procedure.- A person designated to sell an angler's license shall issue the license and collect the fee prescribed in subsection (g) of this section. The Department shall furnish the licenses to the designated persons. An angler's license shall bear the Secretary's facsimile signature and the countersignature of the issuing person. The person who issues the license shall enter the name and address of the licensee. The collected money shall be transmitted to the Department as prescribed by the Department. As compensation, the agent shall retain $1 for each license issued.
(i) Duration of license; signature; nontransferability.-
(1) Every angler's license shall expire on December 31 of each year following the date of issuance.
(2) The licensee shall sign his name in ink on the license at the time of purchase.
(3) The license may not be transferred to another person, nor used or presented by any person other than the person to whom it was issued.
[An. Code 1957, art. 66C, §§ 219, 219A, 221; 1973, 1st Sp. Sess., ch. 4, § 1; 1974, chs. 47, 76; 1978, ch. 108; 1980, chs. 323, 774; 1982, ch. 820, § 3; 1990, ch. 40; 1992, ch. 602; 1994, ch. 3, § 1; ch. 202; 2000, ch. 414; 2001, ch. 514; 2002, ch. 268; 2003, ch. 21, § 1; 2005, ch. 25, § 1; ch. 288; 2007, ch. 217.]