[HISTORY: Adopted by the County Council of Wicomico County 2-13-1995
as Bill No. 1995-2. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Fire and ambulance companies and rescue squads — See Ch. 39.
Fire Marshal — See Ch. 41.
Sheriff — See Ch. 86.
Fire prevention — See Ch. 144.
Fires — See Ch. 146.
STATUTORY REFERENCES
False alarms — See Anno. Code of Md. (1957), Art. 27,
§§ 156 to 156E; § 594B.
The purpose of this chapter is to provide standards applicable to alarms
other than fire alarms, such as burglar or intrusion, hold up or robbery alarms,
etc., alarm contractors, alarm agents, and alarm users, as defined in this
chapter. It is the intent of this chapter to provide for the registration
of alarm contractors, to control false alarms, to ensure proper use of alarms,
to place a time limit on audible alarms and to provide penalties for violations
of this chapter.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings
indicated:
The activation of an alarm system.
A burglary alarm or a robbery alarm system.
A person engaged in installing, maintaining, monitoring, altering
or servicing alarm systems. An alarm system contractor does not include a
person who only sells or manufactures alarm devices unless that person also
services, installs, monitors or responds to alarm systems at protected premises.
A person, including the owner or lessee of an alarm system, in control
of an alarm system within, in or around any building, structure, facility
or site.
Any request for immediate assistance by a law enforcement agency,
regardless of cause, that is not in response to an actual emergency situation
or threatened suggested criminal activity.
The Wicomico County Sheriff's Office or other law enforcement
agency that has the power of arrest.
Any person, firm, partnership, association, corporation, company
or organization.
A.
Required. A person shall not engage in the alarm system
contracting business, including, but not limited to, installing, altering,
leasing, monitoring, maintaining, repairing, replacing or servicing an alarm
system within the county without first obtaining an alarm system contractor's
license.
B.
Application and fee. The Wicomico County Sheriff shall
prepare and have available application forms for an alarm system contractor's
license, containing such provisions and information as, in the opinion of
the Sheriff, may be necessary to keep a proper and complete listing of the
persons in Wicomico County who are engaged in this occupation from time to
time. The application shall be signed by the individual proprietor of the
business, or by a partner, or by the proper corporate official as is appropriate
for the form of business seeking to apply for a license. The initial registration
and license fee shall be $125, and the cost shall not be prorated for portions
of a year. All licenses shall expire on June 30 of each year and shall be
renewed annually thereafter upon written application to the Wicomico County
Sheriff's office. Renewal fees shall be $25.
C.
Issuance. The Sheriff shall, within 60 days after receipt
of the application, either approve or deny the issuance of a license. In the
case of approval, the Sheriff shall notify the applicant in writing of the
approval and shall issue a license on a form established by the Sheriff. In
the case of denial, the Sheriff shall notify the applicant in writing of the
denial. The notice of denial shall inform the applicant that he has the right
of appeal to the Board of Appeals.
[Amended 7-6-2004 by Bill No. 2004-6]
D.
Standards. The Sheriff shall propose standards which
an alarm system contractor must meet to obtain an alarm system contractor
license. Those standards shall be submitted to and approved by the County
Council and may be amended from time to time for the protection of the public
health, safety and welfare. The Sheriff shall refuse a license to any alarm
system contractor that fails to meet the alarm system contractor standards.
[Amended 10-17-2006 by Bill No. 2006-11]
E.
Grandfather provisions. Any alarm system contractor doing
business in Wicomico County on the effective date of this chapter shall apply
for a license within 30 days of the effective date of this chapter and may
continue doing business while its license application is being processed.
F.
Penalty. Any person who violates any provision of this
section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be subject to a fine of
$1,000 for each violation. Each day the violation continues shall constitute
a separate violation.
[Amended 10-24-2000 by Bill No. 2000-9]
A.
All licensed alarm contractors shall provide the Wicomico
County Sheriff's office with the following information:
(1)
A complete list of names and addresses of all persons/businesses
to whom alarm systems have been sold, leased, rented or otherwise given use
of.
(2)
The alarm system location.
(3)
Names and addresses of all employees of the alarm system
contractor.
(4)
Any other information requested by the Sheriff.
B.
It shall be the responsibility of the alarm system contractor to ensure that the information requested in § 105-4A is kept current.
C.
Failure to comply with this section will result in the
vendor being assessed additional administrative fees when it becomes necessary
for the Wicomico County Sheriff's office to contact the alarm system
contractor for correction information.
Any person who intentionally activates an alarm signal for any nonemergency
situation is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, is subject to a
fine not exceeding $500 or imprisonment not exceeding 90 days.
If a law enforcement agency responds to more than three false alarms,
other than those intentional, at the same location within a thirty-day period
or to eight such alarms within a twelve-month period, the alarm user may be
issued a civil citation, imposing a fine of $30 for each excess false alarm.
B.
Notice of condition. A law enforcement agency that answers
false alarms shall provide written notice to the alarm user and alarm system
contractor of the defective condition.
C.
Action by alarm user. Upon notice from the appropriate
law enforcement agency, an alarm user who has a defective system shall:
E.
Penalty for continued use. Any alarm user who continues
to use a defective alarm system shall be subject to a civil penalty of a fine
of $500 for each violation.
B.
Compliance required. An alarm system contractor may not
sell, offer for sale, lease, offer to lease, rent or offer to rent an audible
alarm system that does not comply with the requirements of this section.
C.
Violation penalty. A person who violates any provision
of this section shall be subject to a civil penalty of a fine of $100 for
each violation.
[Amended 10-24-2000 by Bill No. 2000-9]
A.
A person who violates a provision of this chapter for
which a criminal penalty is not specified is guilty of a civil infraction
and shall be liable for the fine specified for the violation.
B.
If the section of this chapter violated does not set
forth a specific monetary penalty, then the fine shall be $100 for each violation.
C.
Each day the violation continues shall constitute a separate
violation.
D.
The office of the Sheriff or its designee is hereby authorized
to issue citations for civil infractions of this chapter.
