{"data":{"id":"us-md/md.-code-criminal-law-3-802","jurisdiction":"us-md","citation":"Md. Code, Criminal Law § 3–802","heading":"","body":"(a) In this section:\n(1) “stalking” means a malicious course of conduct that includes approaching or pursuing another where:\n(i) the person intends to place or knows or reasonably should have known the conduct would place another in reasonable fear:\n1. A. of serious bodily injury;\nB. of an assault in any degree;\nC. of rape or sexual offense as defined by §§ 3–303 through 3–308 of this title or attempted rape or sexual offense in any degree;\nD. of false imprisonment; or\nE. of death; or\n2. that a third person likely will suffer any of the acts listed in item 1 of this item; or\n(ii) the person intends to cause or knows or reasonably should have known that the conduct would cause serious emotional distress to another; and\n(2) “stalking” includes conduct described in item (1) of this subsection that occurs:\n(i) in person;\n(ii) by electronic communication, as defined in § 3–805 of this subtitle; or\n(iii) through the use of a device that can pinpoint or track the location of another without the person’s knowledge or consent.\n(b) The provisions of this section do not apply to conduct that is:\n(1) performed to ensure compliance with a court order;\n(2) performed to carry out a specific lawful commercial purpose; or\n(3) authorized, required, or protected by local, State, or federal law.\n(c) A person may not engage in stalking.\n(d) 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.\n(e) A sentence imposed under this section may be separate from and consecutive to or concurrent with a sentence for any other crime based on the acts establishing a violation of this section.","path":["Article - Criminal Law"],"source_url":"https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Laws/StatuteText?article=gcr\u0026section=3-802","current_through":"2026-01-01","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-14T19:57:08Z","sha256":"e76cf56b7c62e8d22d20a36d4cbabd5efac8b1c610f0697517b7b849ee66829e","source_id":"us-md","stale":false,"prev":"us-md/md.-code-criminal-law-3-801","next":"us-md/md.-code-criminal-law-3-803"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}