WES MOORE, Governor Ch. 101
– 1 –
Chapter 101
(Senate Bill 273)
AN ACT concerning
State and Local Correctional Facilities – Operation of Unmanned Aircraft
– Image Recording and Delivery of Contraband
FOR the purpose of prohibiting a person from intentionally using operating an unmanned
aircraft over a correctional facility to record images of a State or local correctional
the facility without the authorization of the managing official of the correctional
facility or the Secretary of Public Safety and Correctional Services; prohibiting a
person from using an unmanned aircraft to deliver contraband to a person detained
or confined in a place of confinement; and generally relating to unmanned aircraft
and correctional facilities.
BY adding to
Article – Correctional Services
Section 8–804
Annotated Code of Maryland
(2017 Replacement Volume and 2023 Supplement)
BY adding to
Article – Criminal Law
Section 9–417.1
Annotated Code of Maryland
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2023 Supplement)
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND,
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:
Article – Correctional Services
8–804.
(A) (1) IN THIS SECTION THE F OLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE MEANIN GS
INDICATED.
(2) “AIRCRAFT” MEANS A DEVICE THAT IS USED OR INTENDED TO BE
USED FOR FLIGHT IN T HE AIR.
(3) “UNMANNED AIRCRAFT ” MEANS AN AIRCRAFT TH AT IS OPERATED
WITHOUT THE POSSIBIL ITY OF DIRECT HUMAN INTERVENTION FROM WI THIN OR ON
THE AIRCRAFT.
Ch. 101 2024 LAWS OF MARYLAND
– 2 –
(B) A PERSON MAY NOT INTEN TIONALLY PHOTOGRAPH OR OTHERW ISE
RECORD IMAGES OF A C ORRECTIONAL FACILITY THROUGH THE USE OF A N
UNMANNED AIRCRAFT OPERATE AN UNMANNED AIRCRAFT OVER A CORR ECTIONAL
FACILITY FOR THE PUR POSE OF PHOTOGRAPHIN G OR RECORDING IMAGE S OF THE
CORRECTIONAL FACILIT Y THROUGH THE USE OF THE UNMANNED AIRCRAF T
WITHOUT THE AUTHORIZ ATION OF THE MANAGIN G OFFICIAL OF THE
CORRECTIONAL FACILIT Y OR THE SECRETARY.
(C) A PERSON WHO VIOLATES THIS SECTION IS GUIL TY OF A MISDEMEANOR
AND ON CONVICTION IS SUBJECT TO IMPRISONM ENT NOT EXCEEDING 3 YEARS OR A
FINE NOT EXCEEDING $1,000 OR BOTH.
(D) A CORRECTIONAL FACILIT Y SHALL POST SIGNAGE WARNING OF THE
PROVISIONS OF THIS S ECTION ON THE EXTERI OR OF THE PROPERTY I N AN AREA
VISIBLE TO THE GENER AL PUBLIC.
Article – Criminal Law
9–417.1.
(A) (1) IN THIS SECTION THE F OLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE MEANINGS
INDICATED.
(2) “AIRCRAFT” MEANS A DEVICE THAT IS USED OR INTENDED TO BE
USED FOR FLIGHT IN T HE AIR.
(3) “UNMANNED AIRCRAFT ” MEANS AN AIRCRAFT TH AT IS OPERATED
WITHOUT THE POSSIBIL ITY OF DIRECT HUMAN INTERVENTION FROM WI THIN OR ON
THE AIRCRAFT.
(B) A PERSON MAY NOT DELIV ER ANY CONTRABAND TO A PERSON
DETAINED OR CONFINED IN A PLACE OF CONFIN EMENT USING AN UNMAN NED
AIRCRAFT.
(C) A PERSON WHO VIOLATES THIS SECTION IS GUILTY OF A MISDEMEANOR
AND ON CONVICTION IS SUBJECT TO IMPRISONM ENT NOT EXCEEDING 3 YEARS OR A
FINE NOT EXCEEDING $1,000 OR BOTH.
(D) A CORRECTIONAL FACILIT Y SHALL POST SIGNAGE WARNING OF THE
PROVISIONS OF THIS S ECTION ON THE EXTERI OR OF THE PR OPERTY IN AN AREA
VISIBLE TO THE GENER AL PUBLIC.
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect
October 1, 2024. WES MOORE, Governor Ch. 101
– 3 –
Approved by the Governor, April 9, 2024.