2016 Maryland Code
Criminal Law
Title 3 - Other Crimes Against the Person
Subtitle 9 - Surveillance and Other Crimes Against Privacy
§ 3-907. Publication of information by videotape distributor.

(a) Definitions. --

(1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.

(2) "Protected individual" means an individual who buys, rents, or borrows a videotape, video disk, or film from a videotape distributor.

(3) "Publish" means to distribute to a person other than the protected individual or an agent of the protected individual.

(4) "Videotape distributor" means a retail establishment operating for profit that sells, rents, or loans videotapes, video disks, or films.

(b) Prohibited. -- Except as provided in subsection (d) of this section, a videotape distributor, or an agent or employee of a videotape distributor, may not publish the following information relating to sales, rentals, or loans of videotapes, video disks, or films to a protected individual:

(1) any numerical designation used by the videotape distributor to identify the protected individual; or

(2) any listing of videotapes, video disks, or films bought, rented, or borrowed by the protected individual from the videotape distributor.

(c) Penalty. -- A person who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to imprisonment not exceeding 6 months for all violations or a fine not exceeding $ 500 for each violation or both.

(d) Exceptions. -- This section does not prohibit the distribution of information protected under subsection (b) of this section to:

(1) a person designated by the videotape distributor and authorized by the protected individual before distribution to receive the information;

(2) any appropriately authorized law enforcement personnel; or

(3) a collection agency used or person designated by the videotape distributor to collect unreturned rental videotapes, video disks, or films, or an amount equal to their value.