Harassment And Stalking
Crim. Law § 3-803 and § 3-802 — harassment after a warning to stop; stalking up to 5 years
Harassment in Maryland is following someone in or about a public place, watching an area of the person's home where the person expects privacy, or maliciously engaging in a course of conduct that alarms or seriously annoys the person, with intent to harass, alarm or annoy, after a reasonable warning or request to stop, and without a legal purpose. It does not apply to peaceable activity meant to express a political view or provide information.
| Harassment | Penalty up to |
|---|---|
| HarassmentFirst offense | Penalty up to90 days, a $500 fine, or both |
| HarassmentSecond or later | Penalty up to180 days, a $1,000 fine, or both |
Stalking: up to 5 years. Stalking is a malicious course of conduct, including approaching or pursuing, meant or reasonably known to place someone in reasonable fear of serious bodily injury, assault, sexual offense, false imprisonment or death, for that person or a third person, or to cause serious emotional distress. It counts in person, by electronic communication, or by a device that tracks someone's location without consent. It carries up to 5 years, a $5,000 fine, or both.
Sources for this section (2)
- Md. Code, Crim. Law § 3-803 — Harassment
- Md. Code, Crim. Law § 3-802 — Stalking
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of October 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Maryland attorney.