[HISTORY: Adopted by the Harford County Council
by Bill No. 92-66. Amendments noted where applicable.]
The purpose of this Article is to establish
standards and regulate the various types of intrusion, hold-up, and
other emergency signals from alarm users that require police response
or investigation.
Unless it is apparent from the context that
another meaning is intended, the following terms, phrases, words,
and their derivations shall have the meaning given herein. When not
inconsistent with the context, words used in the present tense include
the future, words used in the plural number include the singular number
and words in the singular number include the plural number. The word
"shall" is always mandatory and not merely directory.
An assembly of equipment and devices, including, but not
limited to, automatic dialing devices, automatic hold-up alarm systems,
burglar alarm systems, and hold-up alarm systems, as those terms are
defined in this ordinance, arranged to signal the presence of a hazard
requiring urgent attention and to which police are expected to respond.
This definition does not include alarms on motor vehicles or fire
alarm systems. If, however, an alarm system on a motor vehicle is
connected with an alarm system on premises, the system is an alarm
system as defined in this ordinance. This definition also does not
include alarm systems that are used only to alert or signal persons
located within the premises in which the alarm system is located of
an attempted unauthorized intrusion or holdup attempt. If such a system,
however, employs an audible signal or a flashing light or beacon designed
to signal persons outside the premises, such a system shall be subject
to the provision of this ordinance.
Any person owning, occupying, or controlling any building
or premise, in Harford County, in, on, or at which an alarm system
is maintained. For purposes of this ordinance, any tenant, lessee,
licensee, or invitee who or which causes an alarm system to be maintained
within Harford County shall be deemed to be an alarm user subject
to this ordinance.
An alarm system which automatically sends over regular telephone
lines, by direct connection or otherwise, a pre-recorded voice message
or coded signal indicating the existence of an emergency situation
that the alarm system is designated to detect.
An alarm system in which the signal transmission is initiated
by the action of the intruder.
An alarm system signaling an entry or attempted entry into
the area protected by the system.
Harford County, Maryland.
An alarm system which has the capability of transmitting
system signals directly to the Sheriff's Office communication center
or the Bel Air Barrack of the Maryland State Police.
[Amended by Bill No. 07-22]
The activation of an alarm system, to include an automatic
dialing device, through mechanical failure, malfunction, improper
installation, or the negligence of the owner or lessee of an alarm
system or of his employees or agents that results in a response by
the Harford County Sheriff's Office. Such terminology does not include,
for example, alarms caused by hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes,
electrical storms or other violent conditions, or an alarm signal
activated during the first 60 calendar days after an alarm system
is installed.
[Amended by Bill No. 07-22]
An alarm system signaling a robbery or attempted robbery.
The Harford County Sheriff's Office or any authorized agent
thereof, to include the Maryland State Police.[1]
Any person, firm, partnership, association, corporation,
company or organization of any kind.
[1]
Editor's Note: The former definition of "law
enforcement executive," which immediately followed this definition,
was repealed by Bill No. 07-22.
No direct connections shall be permitted in
Harford County unless authorized by the Sheriff or the commander of
the Bel Air Barrack of the Maryland State Police.
A.Â
Each alarm user, at his expense, is required to maintain
all components of his alarm system in good working order at all times
to insure that the sensory mechanism used in connection with such
device is adjusted to suppress false indications of emergencies. The
device shall not be activated by impulses due to short flashes of
light, wind noises, vehicular noise or other forces unrelated to genuine
alarms.
B.Â
No alarm system designed to transmit emergency messages
shall be tested or demonstrated without first notifying the communications
center of the Harford County Sheriff's Office and the Maryland State
Police, Bel Air Barrack.
[Amended by Bill No. 07-22]
[Amended by Bill No. 07-22]
No person shall allow, permit, cause or fail
to prevent the emission, for any reason, by any alarm used by him,
or any alarm serving a premises or a building occupied and controlled
by such person, of more than 2 false alarms within any calendar year.
The emission by any alarm system of more than 2 false alarms in any
calendar year is deemed to be excessive and constitutes a serious
public nuisance, and is subject to service charges set out in the
section following.
A.Â
For response to excessive false alarms by the Sheriff's
Office, the alarm user shall be charged a service fee by the county
of $100 for the first alarm in excess of 2 false alarms in any calendar
year, $150 for the second false alarm in excess of 2 in any calendar
year, and $200 for the third and each successive false alarm in excess
of 2 in any calendar year. The Sheriff shall determine whether a false
alarm has occurred and the frequency of such false alarms. The alarm
user will be notified by the communication section each time an alarm
occurs. The County Treasurer or his designee shall notify alarm users
of amounts owed to the county and shall make demand therefore, pursuant
to the provisions of this section.
[Amended by Bill No. 07-22]
B.Â
Once notified by the Treasurer's office, the user
will have 30 days to pay any said service charges.
[Amended by Bill No. 07-22]
C.Â
False alarm service charges for building owners shall be treated in the same manner as property taxes for enforcement of payments as provided in Section 123-32 of the Harford County Code, as amended. Tenants who have installed alarm systems shall be responsible for false alarm service charges.
D.Â
Delinquent false alarm service charges shall bear interest at the same rate per month or any fraction thereof as provided in Section 123-27 of the Harford County Code. Invoices for false alarm service charges are to be paid within 30 days of the date rendered and deemed delinquent if not paid. Any administrative costs or legal fees the county incurs in the collection of the fees shall be the responsibility of the alarm user.
[Amended by Bill No. 07-22]
E.Â
The county may proceed by a suit in a court of competent
jurisdiction to collect said charge after demand therefor has been
made by the county and the payment thereof refused by the alarm user.
Service charges will be deposited to the general
fund.
