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LAWS OF MARYLAND

Ch. 105

CHAPTER 106

(Senate Bill 270)

AN ACT concerning

Collection Agencies - Penalties

FOR the purpose of imposing penalties for certain violations
of the law regulating collection agencies and
permitting the Collection Agency Licensing Board to
apply for injunctive relief in certain cases.

BY adding to

Article 56 - Licenses

Section 329B and 329C

Annotated Code of Maryland

(1972 Replacement Volume and 1978 Supplement)

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That section(s) of the Annotated Code of Maryland
be repealed, amended, or enacted to read as follows:

Article 56 - Licenses

329B.

ANY PERSON WHO SHALL KNOWINGLY AND WILLFULLY ENGAGE IN
THE BUSINESS OF A COLLECTION AGENCY WITHOUT OBTAINING A
LICENSE AS REQUIRED BY THIS SUBTITLE, AND ANY PERSON HAVING
OBTAINED A LICENSE WHO CONTINUES IN BUSINESS AFTER
REVOCATION OR DURING SUSPENSION THEREOF, IS GUILTY OF A
MISDEMEANOR AND UPON CONVICTION IS SUBJECT TO A FINE OF NOT
MORE THAN $1,000, OR IMPRISONMENT FOR NOT MORE THAN 6
MONTHS, OR BOTH.

329C.

THE BOARD, IF IT CONCLUDES THAT ANY ALLEGED CONTINUING
VIOLATION WILL RESULT IN IRREPARABLE DAMAGE, OR THAT ANY
COLLECTION AGENCY AS DEFINED BY THIS SUBTITLE HAS CONTINUED
IN BUSINESS WITHOUT OBTAINING A LICENSE, MAY APPLY FOR
RELIEF BY INJUNCTION IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE COUNTY OR
IN THE BALTIMORE CITY COURT, AS THE CASE MAY BE, EITHER
WHERE THE ALLEGED VIOLATION IS OCCURRING OR WHERE THE
VIOLATOR HAS HIS PRINCIPAL PLACE OF BUSINESS.

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act
shall take effect July 1, 1979.