# Criminal Law (GCR)

## Title 9. Crimes Against Public Administration

### Subtitle 6. Interference With Government Operations

#### Section 9-601

(a) In this section, "emergency" means a circumstance in which:

  (1) an individual is or is reasonably believed by the person transmitting the communication to be in imminent danger of death or serious bodily harm; or

  (2) property is in imminent danger of damage or destruction.

(b) A person may not:

  (1) knowingly, intentionally, or recklessly interrupt, disrupt, impede, or otherwise interfere with the transmission of a two-way radio communication made:

    (i) to inform or inquire about an emergency; and

    (ii) on a frequency commonly used or monitored by an emergency services organization; or

  (2) transmit false information about an emergency on a two-way radio frequency commonly used or monitored by an emergency services organization.

(c) A person who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to imprisonment not exceeding 6 months or a fine not exceeding $1,000 or both.

(d)

  (1) A two-way radio and related equipment used in violation of this section is subject to seizure.

  (2) On conviction of a violation of this section, any property seized under paragraph (1) of this subsection shall be forfeited to the State and no property right shall exist in the property.

  (3) Any property that is forfeited under paragraph (2) of this subsection shall be turned over to the Secretary of General Services, who may:

    (i) order that the property be retained for official use of State units; or

    (ii) otherwise dispose of the property as the Secretary considers appropriate.

#### Section 9-602

(a)

  (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, a State official or employee may not directly or indirectly monitor or record in any manner a telephone conversation made to or from a State unit.

  (2) If prior approval is granted by the Attorney General, a State official or employee may monitor or record a telephone conversation:

    (i) on telephone lines used exclusively for incoming police, fire, and rescue calls; or

    (ii) with recorder-connector equipment that automatically produces a distinctive recorder tone repeated at approximately 15-second intervals.

(b) A person who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to a fine not exceeding $1,000.

(c) Conviction of a violation of this section is also grounds for immediate dismissal from State employment.

#### Section 9-603

(a) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, a person may not use a device that dials by remote control a preprogrammed telephone number and transmits a prerecorded message communicating an existing emergency condition, including fire, illness, or crime, without written approval for the use of the device from the holder of the number dialed.

(b) This section does not apply to:

  (1) a State or local law enforcement agency that is conducting an official investigation or communicating an emergency condition;

  (2) a State or local emergency management agency that is communicating an emergency condition; or

  (3) a person that is specifically designated by an agency described in item (1) or (2) of this subsection to participate in an official investigation or communicate an emergency condition.

(c) A person who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to a fine not exceeding $50 for each violation.

#### Section 9-604

(a) A person may not knowingly make or cause to be made a false:

  (1) fire alarm; or

  (2) call for an ambulance or rescue squad.

(b) A person who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to imprisonment not exceeding 5 years or a fine not exceeding $5,000 or both.

#### Section 9-607

(a) In this part the following words have the meanings indicated.

(b) "Alarm system" means a burglary alarm system, robbery alarm system, or automatic fire alarm system.

(c)

  (1) "Alarm system contractor" means a person who installs, maintains, monitors, alters, or services alarm systems.

  (2) "Alarm system contractor" does not include a person who only manufactures or sells alarm systems.

(d) "Alarm user" means:

  (1) a person in control of an alarm system within, on, or around any building, structure, facility, or site; or

  (2) the owner or lessee of an alarm system.

(e)

  (1) "False alarm" means a request for immediate assistance from a law enforcement unit or fire department regardless of cause that is not in response to an actual emergency situation or threatened suggested criminal activity.

  (2) "False alarm" includes:

    (i) a negligently or accidentally activated signal;

    (ii) a signal that is activated as the result of faulty, malfunctioning, or improperly installed or maintained equipment; and

    (iii) a signal that is purposely activated in a nonemergency situation.

  (3) "False alarm" does not include:

    (i) a signal activated by unusually severe weather conditions or other causes beyond the control of the alarm user or alarm system contractor; or

    (ii) a signal activated within 60 days after a new installation of an alarm system.

(f) "Law enforcement unit" means the Department of State Police, the police department of a county or municipal corporation, and a sheriff's department or other governmental law enforcement unit having employees authorized to make arrests.

(g) "Signal" means the activation of an alarm system that requests a response by a law enforcement unit or a fire department.

#### Section 9-608

(a) A person may not intentionally activate a signal for a nonemergency situation.

(b) A person who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to imprisonment not exceeding 90 days or a fine not exceeding $500 or both.

#### Section 9-609

(a) This section does not apply:

  (1) to alarm systems activated by weather conditions or causes beyond the control of the alarm user;

  (2) in Frederick County if regulations are adopted under Sec. 12-806 of the Local Government Article providing for the registration of alarm system contractors and alarm users, the issuance of civil citations, and penalties for a violation of a regulation;

  (3) in Calvert County if the Board of County Commissioners of Calvert County adopts regulations under Sec. 12-806 of the Local Government Article providing for the registration of alarm system contractors and alarm users, the issuance of civil citations, and penalties for a violation of a regulation; or

  (4) in Washington County if the Board of County Commissioners of Washington County adopts regulations under Sec. 12-806 of the Local Government Article providing for the registration of alarm system contractors and alarm users, the issuance of civil citations, and penalties for a violation of a regulation.

(b) An alarm system that is activated more than once within a 12-hour period when a premises with an alarm system is unoccupied and that is not in response to an actual emergency situation or threatened suggested criminal activity constitutes one false alarm if:

  (1) access to the building is provided to the alarm system contractor; and

  (2) an alarm system contractor or an employee of an alarm system contractor responds to the activated alarm system.

(c)

  (1) A law enforcement unit or fire department may issue a civil citation to an alarm user for the negligent or accidental activation of an alarm system as a result of faulty, malfunctioning, or improperly installed or maintained equipment or for a false alarm if the number of activations or false alarms to which the law enforcement unit or fire department responds exceeds:

    (i) three responses within a 30-day period; or

    (ii) eight responses within a 12-month period.

  (2) A civil citation issued under this section shall assess a penalty of $30 for each negligent or accidental activation or false alarm.

#### Section 9-610

(a) In this section, "defective alarm system" means an alarm system that activates:

  (1) more than three false alarms within a 30-day period; or

  (2) eight or more false alarms within a 12-month period.

(b)

  (1) A law enforcement unit or fire department that responds to false alarms from a defective alarm system shall provide written notice of the defective condition to the alarm user.

  (2) The alarm user, within 30 days after receiving the notice, shall:

    (i)

      (1) if qualified, inspect the alarm system; or

      (2) have the alarm system inspected by an alarm system contractor; and

    (ii) within 15 days after the inspection, file with the law enforcement unit or fire department that issued the notice a written report that contains the:

      (1) result of the inspection;

      (2) probable cause of the false alarms; and

      (3) recommendations or action taken to eliminate the false alarms.

(c) An alarm user may not use a defective alarm system after receiving a written notice under subsection (b) of this section.

(d) A person who violates subsection (c) of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to imprisonment not exceeding 90 days or a fine not exceeding $500 or both.

#### Section 9-611

(a) In this section, "audible alarm system" means an alarm system that, when activated, emits an audible noise from an annunciator.

(b) An audible alarm system shall be equipped to:

  (1) automatically silence the annunciator within 30 minutes after activation; and

  (2) allow an accidental or negligent activation to be halted or reset.

(c) An alarm system contractor may not sell, lease, rent, or offer to sell, lease, or rent an audible alarm system that does not comply with the requirements of this section.

(d) A person who violates this section is subject to a civil penalty of $100 for each violation.

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Md. Code Ann., Crim. Law (as displayed at mgaleg.maryland.gov, October 16, 2026)