1. (a)

   1. (1) A person may not knowingly require a purchaser or consignee to receive obscene matter as a condition to a sale, allocation, consignment, or delivery for resale of a paper, magazine, book, periodical, publication, or other merchandise.

   2. (2) In response to a person's return of or failure to accept obscene matter, a person may not knowingly:

      1. (i) deny or revoke a franchise;
      2. (ii) threaten to deny or revoke a franchise; or
      3. (iii) impose a financial or other penalty.

2. (b) A person who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to:

   1. (1) for a first violation, imprisonment not exceeding 1 year or a fine not exceeding $1,000 or both; and
   2. (2) for each subsequent violation, imprisonment not exceeding 3 years or a fine not exceeding $5,000 or both.

Added by Acts 2002, c. 26, § 2, eff. Oct. 1, 2002.

Formerly Art. 27, §§ 422, 424.