2018 Maryland Code
Criminal Law
Title 8 - Fraud and Related Crimes
Subtitle 1 - Bad Checks
§ 8-106. Penalty
(a) Obtaining property or services with value of $1,500 or more -- One check. --
(1) A person who obtains property or services with a value of at least $ 1,500 but less than $ 25,000 by issuing or passing a check in violation of § 8-103 of this subtitle is guilty of a felony and on conviction is subject to imprisonment not exceeding 5 years or a fine not exceeding $ 10,000 or both.
(2) A person who obtains property or services with a value of at least $ 25,000 but less than $ 100,000 by issuing or passing a check in violation of § 8-103 of this subtitle is guilty of a felony and on conviction is subject to imprisonment not exceeding 10 years or a fine not exceeding $ 15,000 or both.
(3) A person who obtains property or services with a value of $ 100,000 or more by issuing or passing a check in violation of § 8-103 of this subtitle is guilty of a felony and on conviction is subject to imprisonment not exceeding 20 years or a fine not exceeding $ 25,000 or both.
(b) Obtaining property or services with value of $1,500 or more -- More than one check. -- A person who obtains property or services by issuing or passing more than one check in violation of § 8-103 of this subtitle is guilty of a felony and on conviction is subject to imprisonment not exceeding 5 years or a fine not exceeding $ 10,000 or both if:
(1) each check that is issued is for at least $ 1,500 but less than $ 25,000 and is issued to the same person within a 30-day period; and
(2) the cumulative value of the property or services is at least $ 1,500 but less than $ 25,000.
(c) Obtaining property or services -- Value less than $1,500. -- Except as provided in subsections (b) and (d) of this section, a person who obtains property or services with a value of at least $ 100 but less than $ 1,500 by issuing or passing a check in violation of § 8-103 of this subtitle is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to imprisonment not exceeding 1 year or a fine not exceeding $ 500 or both.
(d) Obtaining property or services -- Value less than $100; certain defenses not available. --
(1) A person who obtains property or services with a value of less than $ 100 by issuing or passing a check in violation of § 8-103 of this subtitle is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to imprisonment not exceeding 90 days or a fine not exceeding $ 500 or both.
(2) It is not a defense to the crime of obtaining property or services with a value of less than $ 100 by issuing or passing a check in violation of § 8-103 of this subtitle that the value of the property or services at issue is $ 100 or more.