ROBERT L. EHRLICH, JR., Governor

Ch. 5

FIRE MARSHAL WHILE THE STATE FIRE MARSHAL, DEPUTY STATE FIRE MARSHAL,
OR SPECIAL ASSISTANT STATE FIRE MARSHAL:

(1)      IS FIGHTING A FIRE, PERFORMING EMERGENCY SERVICE, OR
PROCEEDING TO A FIRE OR OTHER EMERGENCY; OR

(2)      IS DISPATCHED ON A CALL FOR EMERGENCY SERVICE.

(B)     INTERFERENCE WITH OR OBSTRUCTION OF INVESTIGATION PROHIBITED.

A PERSON MAY NOT WILLFULLY INTERFERE WITH OR OBSTRUCT THE STATE
FIRE MARSHAL, A DEPUTY STATE FIRE MARSHAL, OR A SPECIAL ASSISTANT STATE
FIRE MARSHAL IN THE COURSE OF CONDUCTING AN INSPECTION OR INVESTIGATING
A FIRE OR EXPLOSION.

(C)     IMPERSONATING FIRE MARSHAL PROHIBITED.

A PERSON MAY NOT, WITH FRAUDULENT DESIGN ON PERSON OR PROPERTY,
FALSELY REPRESENT THAT THE PERSON IS A STATE FIRE MARSHAL OR A SWORN
EMPLOYEE OF THE OFFICE OF STATE FIRE MARSHAL.

(D)     WEARING ARTICLES OF FIRE MARSHAL OR IMITATIONS PROHIBITED.

A PERSON MAY NOT HAVE, USE, WEAR, OR DISPLAY WITHOUT PROPER
AUTHORITY, FOR THE PURPOSE OF DECEPTION, A UNIFORM, SHIELD, BUTTON,
ORNAMENT, IDENTIFICATION, OR SHOULDER PATCH, OR A SIMULATION OR
IMITATION OF THESE ARTICLES, ADOPTED BY THE OFFICE OF STATE FIRE MARSHAL.

(E)     PENALTY.

A PERSON WHO VIOLATES THIS SECTION IS GUILTY OF A MISDEMEANOR AND
ON CONVICTION IS SUBJECT TO IMPRISONMENT NOT EXCEEDING 3 YEARS.

REVISOR'S NOTE: This section is new language derived without substantive
change from former Art. 27, § 11D(b), (d), and, except as they related to
firefighters, rescue squad members, and emergency services personnel, (a)
and (c).

In subsections (a) and (b) of this section, the former references to a "Special
Deputy State Fire Marshal" are deleted because this position no longer
exists.

In subsection (e) of this section, the reference to a person "on conviction"
being subject to a certain penalty is added to state expressly that which
was only implied in the former law, and for consistency with other penalty
provisions in this and other revised articles of the Code.

Also in subsection (e) of this section, the reference to "[a] person who
violates this section [being] guilty of" a misdemeanor is substituted for the
former reference to "[v]iolation of this section [being]" a misdemeanor for
consistency with other penalty provisions in this and other revised articles
of the Code. Similarly, the phrase "is subject to" imprisonment is
substituted for the former phrase "punishable by" imprisonment.

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