[HISTORY: Adopted and amended as indicated in text. Former Ch. 45, Fences (1959 Code, sec. 116; 1965 Code, sec. 114; 1969 Code, sec. 120. P.L.L., 1860, Art. 9, sec. 41; 1888, sec. 62; 1930, sec. 106 was repealed by the Acts of 1991, Ch. 248.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Building code — See Ch. 15.
Electrical apparatus and wiring — See Ch. 41.
Fire companies and rescue squads — See Ch. 54.
[1997, ch. 734]
A. 
The County Commissioners may establish by ordinance a prohibition against any person making repeated false alarms or engaging in any other pattern of unnecessary or abusive use of emergency and public safety services in the County.
B. 
An ordinance enacted by the County Commissioners under this section shall:
(1) 
Provide for the licensing of alarm systems contractors;
(2) 
Establish a license fee;
(3) 
Subject to Subsection C of this section, allow County to revoke or suspend a license of an alarm systems contractor for grounds specified in the ordinance;
(4) 
Establish a schedule of fines that may be imposed for each offense or series of offenses established by the County Commissioners under this section;
(5) 
Designate the appropriate County agency to enforce and administer the requirements of the ordinance and the assessment and collection of fines;
(6) 
Authorize the designated County enforcement agency to maintain records of alarm systems contractors, monitor service entities, and manufacturers of security systems;
(7) 
Authorize the designated County enforcement agency, if it finds a pattern of false alarms attributed to a particular manufacturer's model or to installation by a particular alarm systems contractor, to inform:
(I) 
Manufacturer or contractor.
1. 
The manufacturer of the model; or
2. 
The alarm systems contractor who installed the alarm system; and
(II) 
Any appropriate state or national licensing agency or the certification standards entity having jurisdiction pertaining to the manufacture or installation of alarm systems;
(8) 
Provide procedures for public notice of the requirements of an ordinance enacted under this section;
(9) 
Provide an opportunity for a public hearing for an offender to respond to allegations relating to the violation of the ordinance; and
(10) 
Require that any funds obtained through the imposition and collection of fines under this section shall be dedicated to the response and communications system of Charles County.
C. 
Before the County takes any action under Subsection B(3) of this section, it shall give the licensee against whom the action is contemplated an opportunity for a hearing.