<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<section article="gps" article_name="Public Safety" number="6-316" title_number="6" title_name="State Fire Prevention Commission and State Fire Marshal" subtitle_number="3" subtitle_name="State Fire Marshal">
  <level label="a">
    <text>The State Fire Marshal, a designee of the State Fire Marshal, or a full-time fire prevention inspector who is employed by a fire department may apply to a judge of the District Court or a circuit court for an administrative search warrant to enter a building or premises to conduct a fire prevention inspection.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <text>An application under subsection (a) of this section shall:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>be in writing;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>be signed and sworn to by the applicant; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>particularly describe the building or premises to be searched and the nature, scope, and purpose of the search to be performed by the applicant.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <text>A judge of the District Court or a circuit court may issue the warrant on finding that:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>the applicant is authorized or required by law to make the inspection;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>the applicant has demonstrated that the inspection of the premises is sought as a result of:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>evidence of an existing violation of this article that relates to fire safety, the State Fire Prevention Code, or a local fire prevention code, if applicable; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>a general and neutral administrative plan to conduct fire prevention inspections;</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>the owner, tenant, or other individual in charge of the property has denied access to the property, or after making a reasonable effort, the applicant has been unable to locate any of these individuals; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>the inspection is sought for safety related purposes.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <level label="1">
      <text>An administrative search warrant issued under this section shall specify the building or premises to be searched.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The inspection conducted may not exceed the limits specified in the warrant.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="e">
    <text>An administrative search warrant issued under this section shall be executed and returned to the judge who issued it within:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>the time specified in the warrant, not exceeding 30 days; or</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>if no time period is specified in the warrant, 15 days after its issuance.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="f">
    <text>Information obtained in accordance with an administrative search warrant under this section is confidential and may not be disclosed except:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>to the extent used in an administrative or judicial proceeding that arises out of a violation that relates to the purpose for which the warrant was issued and within the scope of the warrant; or</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>to an owner or occupant of the building or premises.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
</section>
