J. MILLARD TAWES, Governor                      211

ately after Section 557 thereof, providing that it is unlawful under
certain circumstances to make sale, offer or advertise for sale,
possess or otherwise transfer to another, certain apparatus or
device for obtaining telephone or telegraph service without pay-
ment of charges or for concealing the existence or place of origin
or of destination of certain telephone or telegraph messages, and
relating generally to the procedures, requirements and penalties
for this prohibition.

Section 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Maryland,
That new Section 557A be and it is hereby added to Article 27 of
the Annotated Code of Maryland (1957 Edition), title "Crimes and
Punishments", sub-title "Telegraphs and Telephones", to follow im-
mediately after Section 557 thereof, and to read as follows:

557A. It is unlawful for any person knowingly to make, sell,
offer or advertise for sale, possess, or give or otherwise transfer to
another any instrument, apparatus, equipment, or device or plans
or instructions for making or assembling any instrument, apparatus,
equipment, or device which has been designed, adapted, used, or
employed with the intent or for the purpose of (1) obtaining tele-
phone or telegraph service or the transmission of a message, signal,
or other communication by telephone or telegraph, or over telephone
or telegraph facilities, without the payment of charges therefor; or
(2) concealing or assisting another to conceal from any supplier of
telephone or telegraph service or from any person charged with the
responsibility of enforcing this section, the existence or place of
origin or of destination of any message, signal, or other communi-
cation by telephone or telegraph, or over telephone or telegraph
facilities.

Any person who violates any provision of this section is guilty of
a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof, shall be punished by
imprisonment not exceeding twelve months, or by a fine not exceed-
ing five hundred dollars, or by both such fine and imprisonment in
the discretion of the court. Any such instrument, apparatus, equip-
ment, or device, or plans or instructions therefor, may be seized by
court order or under a warrant; and, upon a conviction, which has
become final, of any person owning the seized materials, or having
any ownership interest therein, for a violation of any provision of
this section, the instrument, apparatus, equipment, device, or plans
or instructions shall be destroyed as contraband by the court in
which the person is convicted.

Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That nothing in this Act
applies to or affects any case pending on June 1, 1965, and nothing
in this Act applies to or affects any happening or circumstances
occurring prior to June 1, 1965.

Sec. 3. And be it further enacted, That this Act shall take effect
June 1, 1965.

Approved April 8, 1965.