Maryland Criminal Law Section 9-609

      (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 the Board of County Commissioners of Frederick County adopts regulations under Article 25, § 221A of the Code 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 Article 25, § 236D of the Code 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 Article 25, § 236E of the Code providing for the registration of alarm system contractors and alarm users, the issuance of civil citations, and penalties for a violation of a regulation.

      (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.

      (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.