Section 8-520 - Fundraising.
§ 8-520. Fundraising.
(a) "Public safety officer" defined.- In this section, "public safety officer" means:
(1) a police officer;
(2) a paid or volunteer fire fighter;
(3) an emergency medical technician;
(4) a rescue squad member;
(5) the State Fire Marshal; or
(6) a sworn officer of the State Fire Marshal.
(b) Scope of section.- This section does not prohibit, limit, or interfere with the right of an off-duty public safety officer who is not in uniform from participating in a charitable or other fundraising campaign.
(c) Prohibited.- A person may not encourage, solicit, or receive contributions of money or any thing of value for, or offer any thing for sale in, a charitable or other fundraising campaign by representing to the public that the charitable or other fundraising campaign is approved by:
(1) a police or fire department in the State without the prior written consent of the chief administrative officer of the police or fire department or from the chief administrative officer's designee; or
(2) a public safety officer or member of the family of a public safety officer without the prior written consent of the public safety officer or a family member of the public safety officer.
(d) Penalty.- A person who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to imprisonment not exceeding 60 days or a fine not exceeding $1,000 or both for each violation.
[An. Code 1957, art. 27, § 233A; 2002, ch. 26, § 2.]