Chapter 4: The Legal Requirements of Boating
Enforcement
Maryland Natural Resources Police officers enforce the boating
laws of Maryland. Patrol vessels can be identified by the blue
emergency light, the “POLICE” identification on the
side of the vessel, and the uniformed officers on board. The U.S.
Coast Guard also has enforcement authority on federally controlled
waters.
- Officers have the authority to stop and inspect a vessel to
determine whether the vessel is properly registered, numbered,
and equipped.
- On the immediate approach of a patrol vessel using a flashing
blue light, a vessel operator, unless otherwise directed by the
officer, must yield the right-of-way, stop their vessel, and
stay in that position until the Natural Resources Police vessel
has passed.
- Failure to stop and/or permit boarding or inspection may subject
the operator or owner to a penalty of up to $2,000.
- An operator of a vessel may not elude or attempt to elude
a police officer who gives a visual or audible signal to the
operator to stop.
Maryland Regulations for Specific Waters
Deep Creek Lake
- No vessel may exceed 26 feet in length, except pontoon boats, which may not exceed 30 feet.
- Personal watercraft and hovercraft operations are prohibited between 11:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day.
- No person may operate a vessel in excess of three knots within 100 feet of the shoreline anywhere on the lake, except to begin towing a skier from a pier or a shore directly away from the restricted area.
- For further information on Deep Creek Lake regulations, contact:
Lake Manager, Deep Creek Lake NRMA
898 State Park Road
Swanton, MD 21561
301-387-4111
Upper Potomac River
- Any person aboard a vessel, raft, or tube shall wear a Coast Guard–Approved Type I, II, III, or V life preserver at all times when on the Upper Potomac River between November 15 and the following May 15. This regulation is in addition to class III, IV, and
V White Water Stream segment regulations which require life preservers to be worn at all times by persons navigating those stream segments.
- Magothy River, Severn River, and South River Special regulations apply to the Magothy, Severn, and South Rivers and tributaries. Speed limits and time restrictions
are in effect. For specific information about these Management Plans, contact the Maryland Natural Resources Police at 410-260-3280.
Maryland’s Coastal Bays
- The Coastal Bays, also known as the back bays behind Ocean City and Assateague, are a very popular area for boating, particularly during the summer months. Many of the primary waterways, especially the northern bays, are often congested and require
cautious and responsible boating.
- The bays have very unpredictable boating conditions since they are very shallow with strong currents and tides in many areas. Local knowledge is required to operate outside the main channels. Extra care needs to be taken when boating in coastal areas with sensitive habitat such as submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) beds and waterbird nesting locations. Running aground can harm the bay’s environment as well as cause expensive damage to a vessel.
- For more information, contact the Maryland Coastal Bays Program at 410-213-2297 or the local Natural Resources Police 410-548-7070.
Personal Watercraft (PWCs)
All PWCs operated in Maryland waters and registered in the State of Maryland must have a Maryland Department of Natural
Resources–approved PWC regulations sticker properly
affixed to the PWC.
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