{"data":{"id":"us-md/md.-code-public-utilities-8-204","jurisdiction":"us-md","citation":"Md. Code, Public Utilities § 8–204","heading":"","body":"(a) This section does not apply to:\n(1) a unit of federal, State, or local government that uses an automated dialing prerecorded message machine for emergency purposes; or\n(2) a person who has a preexisting business relationship with, or the consent of, the person called.\n(b) A person may not use an automated dialing, push-button, or tone-activated address signaling system with a prerecorded message to:\n(1) solicit persons to purchase, lease, or rent goods or services;\n(2) offer a gift or prize;\n(3) conduct a poll; or\n(4) request survey information if the results will be used directly to solicit persons to purchase, lease, or rent goods or services.\n(c) The sender of an automated dialing, push-button, or tone-activated address signaling call shall disconnect the prerecorded message machine from the recipient’s telephone line within 5 seconds after the termination of the call by either the person calling or the person called.\n(d) A person who violates a provision of subsection (b) or (c) of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to a fine:\n(1) not exceeding $1,000 for the first offense; and\n(2) not exceeding $5,000 for each subsequent offense.","path":["Article - Public Utilities"],"source_url":"https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Laws/StatuteText?article=gpu\u0026section=8-204","current_through":"2026-01-01","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-14T20:00:28Z","sha256":"d3bacbca0b1233462c9e63d3ba710dbf7af6c35e6384b08007f6cfc5929c9cf4","source_id":"us-md","stale":false,"prev":"us-md/md.-code-public-utilities-8-203","next":"us-md/md.-code-public-utilities-8-205"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}