2023 Maryland Statutes
Criminal Law
Title 3 - Other Crimes Against the Person
Subtitle 9 - Surveillance and Other Crimes Against Privacy
Section 3-907 - Publication of Information by Videotape Distributor
(a) (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) 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) 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) 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.
