# Business Occupations and Professions (GBO)

## Title 13. Private Detectives

### Subtitle 7. Prohibited Acts; Penalties

#### Section 13-701

(a) A person may not engage in, attempt to engage in, offer to engage in, or solicit to engage in a business for the purpose of providing private detective services in the State unless licensed as a private detective agency by the Secretary.

(b) An individual may not provide, attempt to provide, offer to provide, or solicit to provide private detective services in the State unless certified as a private detective by the Secretary.

#### Section 13-702

(a) Unless authorized under this title to engage in business for the purpose of providing private detective services, a person may not represent to the public, by use of a title, including "licensed private detective agency", "private detective agency", "private detectives", or "private investigators", by description of services, methods, or procedures, or otherwise, that the person is authorized to engage in the business of providing private detective services in the State.

(b) Unless an individual is certified as a private detective under this title, the individual may not represent to the public, by use of a title, including "certified private detective", "licensed private detective", "private detective", or "private investigator", by use of a badge or identification card, by description of services, methods, or procedures, or otherwise, that the individual is authorized to provide private detective services in the State.

#### Section 13-703

(a) Except as authorized under this title, a private detective agency may not provide any person with a badge or a certification card or other document indicating that any individual is a private detective.

(b) A certified private detective may not lend the private detective's certification card or badge to another person or allow another person to use or display the card or badge.

(c) Regardless of any association that an individual may have with a private detective agency, unless authorized under this title, the individual may not wear or carry a badge that:

  (1) represents that the individual is a private detective; or

  (2) otherwise represents that the individual is associated with a private detective agency.

#### Section 13-704

(a)

  (1) A licensee may not display or allow to be displayed the agency license certificate at any location other than the principal office of the licensee, as specified in the certificate.

  (2) A licensee may not display or allow to be displayed a branch office certificate at any location other than the branch office specified in the certificate.

(b) A licensee may not knowingly alter, deface, or destroy or knowingly allow the alteration, defacement, or destruction of an agency license certificate or branch office certificate.

#### Section 13-705

A person may not willfully make a false statement on any application form, annual statement, or other document submitted to the Secretary under this title.

#### Section 13-706

An individual whom a licensee employs as a private detective may not willfully make a false statement or report to the licensee about any case conducted or services provided by the licensee.

#### Section 13-707

(a) A person who violates any provision of this title is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to a fine not exceeding $1,000 or imprisonment not exceeding 1 year or both.

(b) The fines assessed under Sec.Sec. 13-313 and 13-409 of this title may not exceed $5,000 per violation, or a maximum aggregate of $10,000 for a 2-year license term, and shall be paid to the Secretary within 10 days after final adjudication of any hearing or upon the waiver of any hearing.

(c) Notwithstanding the provisions of Sec.Sec. 13-313 and 13-409 of this title, the Secretary may fine either the licensed agency or the individual working on behalf of the licensed agency, but not both, for the same violation.

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Md. Code Ann., Bus. Occ. & Prof. (as displayed at mgaleg.maryland.gov, October 16, 2026)