<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<section article="gps" article_name="Public Safety" number="3-601" title_number="3" title_name="Law Enforcement" subtitle_number="6" subtitle_name="Missing Persons">
  <level label="a">
    <level label="1">
      <text>A law enforcement agency may not establish a mandatory waiting period before taking a missing person report.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>A law enforcement agency shall make every effort to inform the general public and the family of a missing person that the agency does not impose a mandatory waiting period before taking a missing person report.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <text>In accordance with subsection (a) of this section, a law enforcement agency:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>shall accept without delay a report of a missing person provided in person; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>may accept a report of a missing person by phone or other electronic means if:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>that form of reporting is consistent with the policy of the law enforcement agency; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>the reporting person completes the report in person as soon as possible.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <text>With regard to a missing person as defined in § 3–604 of this subtitle, a law enforcement agency shall enter all necessary and available information into the National Crime Information Center computer network within 2 hours after receipt of the minimum information necessary to make the entry.</text>
  </level>
</section>
