In 1990, the Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) adopted Ordinance 90-13 which imposed an annual registration fee of 50% of the applicable state registration fee on vessels registered, operated, or stored in the county and for the use of such fees for marine law enforcement. Later that year, the BOCC directed that the County Administrator form a Marine Law Enforcement Citizens Advisory Committee (MLECAC) to monitor the use of monies generated by the registration fees and to ensure that the boat registration fee program functions consistent with the intent of the BOCC and Hillsborough County Ordinance 90-13. Ordinance 90-13 has recently been updated and replaced by Hillsborough County Ordinance 08-32. Marine law enforcement programs of the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, the City of Tampa Police Department, and the City of Temple Terrace Police Department are enhanced by funds provided from annual boat registration fees through inter-local agreements.

The MLECAC is comprised of seven members appointed by the County Administrator who receives recommendations from committee members and from law enforcement and county staff agencies. Committee members serve at the pleasure of the County Administrator for two-year terms, reappointments permitted.

MLECAC meetings are held quarterly at 3:00 p.m. on the first Monday of February, May, August, and November at the Hillsborough County Emergency Operations Center, 2711 E. Hanna Avenue, Tampa. For additional information, please call the Hillsborough County Marine Safety Office at 813-964-2929.