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§ 9-609. Multiple false alarms

West's Annotated Code of MarylandCriminal LawEffective: December 1, 2014

West's Annotated Code of Maryland
Criminal Law (Refs & Annos)
Title 9. Crimes Against Public Administration
Subtitle 6. Interference with Government Operations
Part II. Alarm Systems
Effective: December 1, 2014
MD Code, Criminal Law, § 9-609
Formerly cited as MD CODE Art. 27, § 156A; MD CODE Art. 27, § 156C
§ 9-609. Multiple false alarms
Currentness
Scope of section
(a) This section does not apply:
(1) to alarm systems activated by weather conditions or causes beyond the control of the alarm user;
(2) in Frederick County if regulations are adopted under § 12-806 of the Local Government Article providing for the registration of alarm system contractors and alarm users, the issuance of civil citations, and penalties for a violation of a regulation;
(3) in Calvert County if the Board of County Commissioners of Calvert County adopts regulations under § 12-806 of the Local Government Article providing for the registration of alarm system contractors and alarm users, the issuance of civil citations, and penalties for a violation of a regulation; or
(4) in Washington County if the Board of County Commissioners of Washington County adopts regulations under § 12-806 of the Local Government Article providing for the registration of alarm system contractors and alarm users, the issuance of civil citations, and penalties for a violation of a regulation.
Rule of construction--Occurrences as single alarm
(b) An alarm system that is activated more than once within a 12-hour period when a premises with an alarm system is unoccupied and that is not in response to an actual emergency situation or threatened suggested criminal activity constitutes one false alarm if:
(1) access to the building is provided to the alarm system contractor; and
(2) an alarm system contractor or an employee of an alarm system contractor responds to the activated alarm system.
Civil citation and penalty
(c)(1) A law enforcement unit or fire department may issue a civil citation to an alarm user for the negligent or accidental activation of an alarm system as a result of faulty, malfunctioning, or improperly installed or maintained equipment or for a false alarm if the number of activations or false alarms to which the law enforcement unit or fire department responds exceeds:
(i) three responses within a 30-day period; or
(ii) eight responses within a 12-month period.
(2) A civil citation issued under this section shall assess a penalty of $30 for each negligent or accidental activation or false alarm.

Credits

Added by Acts 2002, c. 26, § 2, eff. Oct. 1, 2002. Amended by Acts 2005, c. 25, § 1, eff. April 12, 2005; Acts 2005, c. 72, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2005; Acts 2013, c. 43, § 5; Acts 2014, c. 645, § 1, eff. Dec. 1, 2014.
Formerly Art. 27, §§ 156A, 156C.
MD Code, Criminal Law, § 9-609, MD CRIM LAW § 9-609
Current through legislation effective through April 25, 2024, from the 2024 Regular Session of the General Assembly. Some statute sections may be more current, see credits for details.
End of Document