§ 28-3. Unlawful false alarms.

(a)

The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this section, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this subsection, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:

As used in this section false alarm shall mean any security or fire alarm signal communicated directly or indirectly to the communications center of any law enforcement or fire department, in Dorchester County which is not in response to actual or threatened criminal activity, or an actual incident of fire, smoke or hazardous material requiring immediate fire service response or any other emergency response. False alarms include negligently or accidentally activated signals or signals which are purposely activated to summon the police or fire service or other emergency services in situations where there is no actual or threatened criminal activity or presence of fire, smoke or hazardous material or other emergency. False alarms shall not include signals activated by unusually severe weather conditions or other cause, which are identified and determined by the sheriff or his/her designee for law enforcement related alarms, the fire chief of his/her designee for fire department related alarms, to be beyond the control of the user.

User means any person or entity using a security or fire alarm system regardless of whether or not the person owns the premises on which the security alarm system is located. Upon installation of an alarm system, the user shall be responsible for the proper maintenance of all equipment and systems to eliminate false alarms.

(b)

A payment of a service charge of $50.00 will be required for the fifth and each subsequent false alarm which requires a law enforcement, fire service or other emergency response within a calendar year. The county sheriff's office shall be responsible for billing the user for the applicable service charge for law enforcement related alarms, which shall then be paid by the user to the county general fund. The county fire chief shall be responsible for billing the user for the applicable service charge for fire department related alarms, which shall be paid by the user to the county fire fund. Payment of the service charges must be made within 30 days of the date of the bill. Any service charge for any fifth and subsequent false alarm within a calendar year may be appealed to the public safety committee of the county council upon providing to the county clerk within ten days after the mailing of such service charge a written notice of such appeal and the basis for such appeal.

(Ord. No. 00-04, 3-20-2000; Ord. No. 15-19, 11-12-2015 )