15A NCAC 03O .0114      SUSPENSION, REVOCATION, AND REISSUANCE OF LICENSES

(a)  All commercial and recreational licenses issued under Article 14A, Article 14B, and Article 25A of Chapter 113 shall be subject to suspension and revocation.

(b)  A conviction resulting from being charged by an inspector under G.S. 14-32, 14-33, 14-72, or 14-399 shall be deemed a conviction for the purposes of license suspension or revocation.

(c)  Upon receipt of notice of a licensee's conviction as specified in G.S. 113-171 or a conviction as specified in Paragraph (b) of this Rule, the Fisheries Director shall determine whether it is a first, second, third, fourth, or subsequent conviction. Where several convictions result from a single transaction or occurrence, the convictions shall be treated as a single conviction for the purposes of license suspension or revocation. For a second conviction, the Fisheries Director shall suspend all licenses issued to the licensee for a period of 30 days; for a third conviction, the Fisheries Director shall suspend all licenses issued to the licensee for a period of 90 days; for a fourth or subsequent conviction, the Fisheries Director shall revoke all licenses issued to the licensee, except:

(1)           for a felony conviction under G.S. 14-399, the Fisheries Director shall suspend all licenses issued to the licensee for a period of one year;

(2)           for a first conviction under G.S. 113-187(d)(1), the Fisheries Director shall suspend all licenses issued to the licensee for a period of one year; for a second or subsequent conviction under G.S. 113-187(d)(1), the Fisheries Director shall revoke all licenses issued to the licensee;

(3)           for a conviction under G.S. 14-72, 113-208, 113-209, 113-268, or 113-269, the Fisheries Director shall revoke all licenses issued to the licensee; and

(4)           for a conviction under G.S. 14-32 or 14-33, if the offense was committed against a marine fisheries inspector, the Fisheries Director shall revoke all licenses issued to the licensee and the former licensee shall not be eligible to apply for reinstatement of a revoked license or for any additional license authorized in Article 14A, Article 14B, or Article 25A of Chapter 113 for a period of two years.

(d)  After the Fisheries Director determines that a conviction requires a suspension or revocation of the licenses of a licensee, the Fisheries Director shall cause the licensee to be served with written notice of suspension or revocation. If the licensee is not an individual, the written notice shall be served upon any responsible individual affiliated with the corporation, partnership, or association. The notice of suspension or revocation shall be served by an inspector or other agent of the Department or by certified mail, shall state the ground upon which it is based, and shall take effect immediately upon service. The agent of the Fisheries Director making service shall collect all license certificates and plates and other forms or records relating to the license as directed by the Fisheries Director. Upon service of a notice of suspension or revocation of a license, it shall be unlawful to fail to surrender any license so suspended or revoked.

(e)  If a license has been suspended, the former licensee shall not be eligible to apply for reissuance of license or for any additional license authorized in Article 14A, Article 14B, or Article 25A of Chapter 113 during the suspension period. Licenses shall be returned to the licensee by the Fisheries Director or the Director's agents at the end of a period of suspension.

(f)  Where a license has been revoked, the former licensee shall not be eligible to apply for reinstatement of a revoked license or for any additional license authorized in Article 14A, Article 14B and Article 25A of Chapter 113 for a period of one year, except as provided in Subparagraph (c)(4) of this Rule. For a request for reinstatement following revocation, the former licensee shall describe in the request how the licensee will conduct the operations for which the license is sought in accordance with all applicable laws and rules, shall submit the request in writing, and shall mail the request to the Fisheries Director, Division of Marine Fisheries, 3441 Arendell Street, P.O. Box 769, Morehead City, NC 28557. Upon the application of an eligible former licensee after revocation, the Fisheries Director may issue one license sought but not another, as necessary to prevent the hazard of recurring violations of the law.

History Note:        Authority G.S. 113-134; 113-168.1; 113-171; 113-182; 143B-289.52; S.L. 2010-145, s. 1;

Eff. October 1, 2012;

Amended Eff. May 1, 2017;

Readopted Eff. March 15, 2023.