Maryland Attorney General Opinion 100OAG003

NATURAL RESOURCES LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS – AUTHORITY TO INSPECT VESSELS FOR AQUATIC INVASIVE SPECIES February 27, 2015 The Honorable Wendell R. Beitzel The House of Delegates of Maryland The Honorable George C. Edwards The Senate of Maryland You have asked whether Maryland law authorizes the Department of Natural Resources (“DNR”) to inspect vessels, and prevent their use on State waters, in an effort to control the spread of aquatic invasive species (“AIS”). We understand your inquiry to be primarily directed at whether members of the Department’s Natural Resources Police Force (“NRP” or…