{"data":{"id":"us-md/md.-code-transportation-21-1004.1","jurisdiction":"us-md","citation":"Md. Code, Transportation § 21–1004.1","heading":"","body":"(a) A person may not leave a cat or dog unattended in a standing or parked motor vehicle in a manner that endangers the health or safety of the cat or dog.\n(b) Except as provided in subsection (c) of this section, a person may use reasonable force to remove from a motor vehicle a cat or dog left in the vehicle in violation of the provisions of subsection (a) of this section if the person is:\n(1) A law enforcement officer;\n(2) A public safety employee of the State or of a local governing body;\n(3) An animal control officer under the jurisdiction of the State or a local governing body;\n(4) An officer of a society or association, incorporated under the laws of this State for the prevention of cruelty to animals, authorized to make arrests under the provisions of § 10-609 of the Criminal Law Article; or\n(5) A volunteer or professional of a fire and rescue service.\n(c) A person may not use force of any kind to remove from a motor vehicle:\n(1) A dog used by the State or a local governing body for police work while the dog is on duty; or\n(2) A cat or dog in the custody of an animal control officer.\n(d) A person described in subsection (b) of this section may not be held liable for any damages directly resulting from actions taken under the provisions of subsection (b) of this section.","path":["Article - Transportation"],"source_url":"https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Laws/StatuteText?article=gtr\u0026section=21-1004.1","current_through":"2026-01-01","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-14T20:01:38Z","sha256":"1484739625ac46b8500248f6e86fd476267cc8c1dfb51ec1e0c94d2a848dcb3a","source_id":"us-md","stale":false,"prev":"us-md/md.-code-transportation-21-1004","next":"us-md/md.-code-transportation-21-1005"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}