Maryland Public Utility Companies Section 8-204

      (a)      This section does not apply to:

            (1)      a unit of federal, State, or local government that uses an automated dialing prerecorded message machine for emergency purposes; or

            (2)      a person who has a preexisting business relationship with, or the consent of, the person called.

      (b)      A person may not use an automated dialing, push-button, or tone-activated address signaling system with a prerecorded message to:

            (1)      solicit persons to purchase, lease, or rent goods or services;

            (2)      offer a gift or prize;

            (3)      conduct a poll; or

            (4)      request survey information if the results will be used directly to solicit persons to purchase, lease, or rent goods or services.

      (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.

      (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:

            (1)      not exceeding $1,000 for the first offense; and

            (2)      not exceeding $5,000 for each subsequent offense.