1. (a)

   1. (1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.
   2. (2) “Livery vessel owner” means a person who engages in whole or in part in the business of renting, leasing, or chartering a vessel that is less than 16 feet in length for a period of less than 24 hours.
   3. (3) “Seaworthy condition” means the ability to withstand ordinary stress of wind, waves, and other weather that the vessel might normally be expected to encounter.

2. (b) A livery vessel owner or an agent or employee of the livery vessel owner may not rent or offer for rent a vessel that is less than 16 feet in length to be operated on the waters of the State unless:

   1. (1) Each vessel is in seaworthy condition and equipped for the waters where the vessel is intended to be used; and
   2. (2) The livery vessel owner or agent or employee of the livery vessel owner possesses a boating safety certificate approved by the Department.
3. (c) A violation of subsection (b) of this section shall be considered a boating safety violation for purposes of § 8-740(a) of this subtitle.

Added by Acts 1998, c. 9, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 1998. Amended by Acts 2008, c. 36, § 6, eff. April 8, 2008; Acts 2025, c. 433, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2025.