<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<baltimore-city-law heading="Subtitle 57 – Vandalism">
  <section prefix="§" num="57-1" heading="In general.">
    <para num="(a)" heading="Prohibited conduct.">It is unlawful for any person to wilfully and maliciously destroy, injure, deface, molest, or spray or splash with paint, lacquer, or similar substance any theatre, place of worship, public building, or any real or personal property of another.</para>
    <para num="(b)" heading="Penalties.">
      <para num="(1)">Any person who violates the provisions of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, is subject to a fine of not less than $100 and not more than $1,000, or imprisonment in jail not exceeding 90 days, or to both fine and imprisonment, in the discretion of the court.</para>
      <para num="(2)">In addition to a fine or imprisonment, or both, or in lieu of a fine or imprisonment or both, a judge may sentence a person convicted under this section to perform community service, which may include the cleaning of any property defaced by such vandalism.</para>
    </para>
    <annotation type="Prior Codifications">City Code, 1976/83, art. 19, §217</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 71-1002</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 86-763</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 90-533</annotation>
  </section>
  <section prefix="§" num="57-2" heading="Religious desecration.">
    <para num="(a)" heading="Prohibited conduct.">Any person who wilfully or maliciously:<para num="(1)">defaces or molests the real or personal property or premises of a church, religious organization, religious institution, parsonage, or church home;</para>
      <para num="(2)">inscribes or places upon, adjacent, or near to any such property or premises, a mark, letter, or symbol for the purpose of inciting or causing the hatred, criticism, ridicule, disaffection, or disturbance of a religious group, sect, or congregation, or of any member thereof; or</para>
      <para num="(3)">desecrates, mutilates, or disfigures any such property or premises,
is guilty of a misdemeanor.</para>
    </para>
    <para num="(b)" heading="Penalties.">Upon conviction thereof, he is subject to a fine not to exceed $500 or to imprisonment for a period not to exceed 12 months or to both such fine and imprisonment in the discretion of the court.</para>
    <annotation type="Prior Codifications">City Code, 1966, art. 19, §115</annotation>
    <annotation type="Prior Codifications">1976/83, art. 19, §133</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 60-239</annotation>
  </section>
  <section prefix="§" num="57-3" heading="Utility structures, etc.">
    <para num="(a)" heading="Prohibited conduct.">No person may wilfully break, defile, remove, deface, carry away, or otherwise damage or injure any street lighting or other public utility structure, or any equipment, part, or appurtenance of a public utility structure.</para>
    <para num="(b)" heading="Liability.">Any person who violates this section is, in addition to any other applicable penalty, liable to the City or other owner of the structure, equipment, etc., for the expense of repairing, cleaning, and restoring it.</para>
    <para num="(c)" heading="Penalties.">
      <para num="(1)">Any person who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and, on conviction, is subject to a fine of not more than $1,000 or to imprisonment for not more than 12 months or to both fine and imprisonment for each offense.</para>
      <para num="(2)">Each structure damaged or injured under this section is a separate offense.</para>
    </para>
    <annotation type="Prior Codifications">City Code, 1950, art. 24, §10</annotation>
    <annotation type="Prior Codifications">1966, art. 19, §17</annotation>
    <annotation type="Prior Codifications">1976/83, art. 19, §19</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 50-1326</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 09-152</annotation>
  </section>
</baltimore-city-law>
