HARRY HUGHES, Governor

2805

CHAPTER 738

(House Bill 692)

AN ACT concerning

Bad Checks - Notice of Dishonor - Criminal
Prohibitions and Penalties

FOR the purpose of providing that criminal prohibitions and
penalties relating to the making, sending, or delivering of
threatening letters do not apply to a holder of an
instrument who gives to the maker a bona fide reasonable
notice of dishonor of a bad check and warning of criminal
prosecution.

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments,

Article 27 - Crimes and Punishments

Section 561

Annotated Code of Maryland

(1982 Replacement Volume and 1985 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

561.

(A)  EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN SUBSECTION (B) OF THIS SECTION,
EVERY [Every] person who shall knowingly send or deliver, or
shall make, and, for the purpose of being delivered or sent,
shall part with the possession of any letter or writing with or
without a name subscribed thereto, or signed with a fictitious
name, or with any letter, mark or other designation, threatening
therein to accuse any person of any crime of an indictable nature
under the laws of this State, or of anything, which, if true,
would bring such person into contempt or disrepute or to do any
injury to the person or property of anyone, with a view or intent
to extort or gain any money, goods or chattels or other valuable
thing shall be guilty of felony, and being convicted thereof
shall be punished by imprisonment in the penitentiary for not
less than two nor more than ten years.

(B)  THIS SECTION DOES NOT APPLY TO ANY HOLDER OF AN
INSTRUMENT WHO GIVES TO THE MAKER A BONA FIDE REASONABLE NOTICE
OF DISHONOR AND WARNING OF CRIMINAL PROSECUTION UNDER § 143 §§
140 THROUGH 144 OF THIS ARTICLE.