Maryland Pen Register and Trap and Trace Devices law
MD Pen Register Act
Communications
This law bars anyone from installing or using a device that records the numbers or routing information of calls and electronic communications without first getting a court order, except for service providers protecting their networks and users.
- Where
- Maryland
- Citation
- Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 10-4B-01 et seq.
- Status
- In force
- Enforced by
- State's Attorneys (criminal)
- People can sue
- No
- Penalties
- Installing or using a pen register or trap and trace device without a court order is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine up to $5,000, up to 1 year in prison, or both (10-4B-02(c)).
- Applies to
- Any person installing or using a pen register or trap and trace device; communication service providers have operational and fraud-protection exceptions (10-4B-02(b))
Practices it requires
- Do not install or use a pen register or trap and trace device without first obtaining a court order under 10-4B-04.Cts. & Jud. Proc. 10-4B-02(a) · Only if: Provider exceptions for operation, maintenance, protection from fraud or abuse, or with user consent (10-4B-02(b))
Sources
- Official text
- Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 10-4B-02
- Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 10-4B-01 (definitions)
Checked against these sources on 2026-09-25 by research agent (Claude), primary sources.
Unverified: Subtitle heading, full section range, and enactment date not verified; government-order provisions not reviewed.
Research reference, not legal advice.