PARRIS N. GLENDENING, Governor

Ch. 569

emergency services personnel while dispatched on a call for emergency service; and
generally relating to fire and emergency services personnel.

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments,
Article 27 - Crimes and Punishments
Section 11D

Annotated Code of Maryland
(1992 Replacement Volume and 1995 Supplement)

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:                                     

Article 27 - Crimes and Punishments

11D.

(a)     It is unlawful for any person willfully to interfere with or obstruct the State
Fire Marshal, a Deputy State Fire Marshal, Special Assistant State Fire Marshal, Special
Deputy State Fire Marshal, fire fighter, rescue squad member, or emergency services
personnel, while the State Fire Marshal, Deputy State Fire Marshal, Special Assistant
State Fire Marshal, Special Deputy State Fire Marshal, fire fighter, rescue squad
member, or the emergency services personnel is fighting a fire, performing emergency
service, [ or] proceeding to a fire or other emergency, OR WHILE DISPATCHED ON A
CALL FOR EMERGENCY SERVICE.

(b)     It is unlawful for any person willfully to interfere with or obstruct the State
Fire Marshal, a Deputy State Fire Marshal, Special Assistant State Fire Marshal, or
Special Deputy State Fire Marshal in the course of conducting an inspection or
investigating a fire or explosion.

(c)     It is unlawful for any person to:

(1)     Falsely represent himself as being a State Fire Marshal or a sworn
employee of the Office of the State Fire Marshal, or a member of any paid or volunteer
fire department, rescue squad, or emergency service unit of the State, Baltimore City, or
any county or municipal corporation of the State, with fraudulent design on a person or
property; or

(2)     Have, use, wear, or display without proper authority, for the purpose of
deception, any uniform, shield, button, ornament, identification, or shoulder patch, or any
simulation or imitation of these articles, adopted by the Office of the State Fire Marshal,
or by any paid or volunteer fire department, rescue squad, or emergency service unit.

(d)     Violation of this section is a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not
more than three (3) years.

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect
October 1, 1996.

Approved May 23, 1996.

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