Md. LOCAL GOVERNMENT Code Ann. § 12-806
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
DIVISION III. COUNTIES
TITLE 12. OTHER POWERS OF COUNTIES -- GENERALLY
SUBTITLE 8. PUBLIC SAFETY
Md. LOCAL GOVERNMENT Code Ann. § 12-806 (2013)
§ 12-806. Alarm systems in Calvert, Frederick, and Washington counties
(a) Definitions. --
(1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.
(2) "Alarm system contractor" means a person who installs, maintains, monitors, alters, or services an alarm system.
(3) (i) "Alarm user" means a person in control of an alarm system in, on, or around any building, structure, facility, or site.
(ii) "Alarm user" includes the owner or lessee of an alarm system.
(4) (i) "False alarm" means any request for immediate assistance by a law enforcement agency or fire department or, in Washington County, an emergency services agency, regardless of cause, that is not in response to an actual emergency situation or threatened or suggested criminal activity.
(ii) "False alarm" includes:
1. a negligently or accidentally activated signal;
2. a signal that is the result of faulty, malfunctioning, or improperly installed or maintained equipment;
3. a signal that is purposely activated to summon a law enforcement agency or fire department or, in Washington County, an emergency services agency, in a nonemergency situation;
4. the second and any later signal from an alarm system that is activated two or more times in a 12-hour period when the premises are unoccupied if access to the building is provided to an alarm system contractor and an alarm system contractor responds; and
5. the third or any later signal from an alarm system that is activated two or more times in a 12-hour period when the premises are unoccupied if access to the building is not provided to an alarm system contractor and an alarm system contractor does not respond.
(iii) "False alarm" does not include:
1. a signal activated by unusually severe weather conditions or other causes beyond the control of the alarm user or alarm system contractor; or
2. a signal activated during the initial 60-day period following new installation.
(b) Scope of section. -- This section applies only to Calvert County, Frederick County, and Washington County.
(c) Regulations. --
(1) The county commissioners may adopt regulations to:
(i) register alarm system contractors operating in the county;
(ii) register alarm users in the county;
(iii) provide penalties for failure to register as an alarm system contractor or alarm user;
(iv) provide civil citations and penalties for false alarms, notwithstanding Title 9, Subtitle 6, Part II of the Criminal Law Article;
(v) provide exemptions from the issuance of civil citations and penalties for false alarms;
(vi) authorize the designated county enforcement agency to maintain a record of the alarm system contractor, monitoring service, and manufacturer of each security system in operation in the county; and
(vii) 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 system contractor, to inform:
1. the manufacturer of the model or the alarm system contractor that installed the alarm system; and
2. the appropriate State or national licensing agency or the certification standards entity.
(2) The County Commissioners of Washington County may adopt regulations to establish fees for registering an alarm system contractor or alarm user.
BUSINESS OCCUPATIONS AND PROFESSIONS
TITLE 18. SECURITY SYSTEMS TECHNICIANS
SUBTITLE 1. DEFINITIONS; GENERAL PROVISIONS
Md. BUSINESS OCCUPATIONS AND PROFESSIONS Code Ann. § 18-102 (2013)
§ 18-102. Scope of title
(a) Applicability generally. -- This title does not apply to an officer or employee of any unit of the United States, of any state, or of any county, municipal corporation, or other political subdivision of any state, while performing a duty of the office or employment.
(b) Local laws or ordinances not superseded. --
(1) This title does not supersede any local law or ordinance in the State that establishes standards or qualifications for electricians or for electrical work involved in the installation of security systems or security alarms.
(2) This title does not authorize an individual to perform electrical work that otherwise requires an electrician's license under any State or local law or ordinance.
(3) Except as provided in paragraph (4) of this subsection, this title supersedes any local law or ordinance in the State that requires registration, training, bonding, or insurance for security systems technicians or other individuals who have access to circumventional information.
(4) This title does not preempt local governments from licensing or regulating security system agencies or security system users.
(c) Currently licensed electricians. --
(1) The licensing requirements of this title do not apply to a master electrician who:
(i) currently is licensed in that occupation under State or local law; and
(ii) is acting only within the scope of that occupation.
(2) A master electrician may not:
(i) personally provide security systems services unless the master electrician is registered as a security systems technician; or
(ii) obtain access to circumventional information unless the master electrician is registered as an individual with access to circumventional information.
(d) Seller of security systems. -- This title does not apply to a person who sells security systems at a retail establishment or by means of a catalog or brochure for future delivery, provided that the person does not:
(1) enter the premises of the customer's property; or
(2) have access to circumventional information.
(e) Applicability to commercial property owner. -- This title does not apply to a commercial property owner or its authorized agent performing the routine operation, including the changing of the passcodes, of a security system that protects the premises of the owner's commercial property.
(f) Licensing requirements. -- This title may not be construed to require:
(1) a person engaged in the business of providing security systems services for compensation to obtain more than one license under this title to provide security systems services;
(2) a security systems technician, in addition to being registered under this title, to obtain a license under this title, if the security systems technician is employed by or under contract with a security systems agency; or
(3) an individual who is licensed under this title to be registered under Subtitle 3A of this title.
§ 18-3A-02. Qualifications of applicants
(a) General requirements. -- To qualify for registration as a security systems technician or other individual who has access to circumventional information, an applicant shall:
(1) be at least 18 years old; and
(2) be of good moral character.
(b) Training requirements. -- In addition to any other requirements and except for those applicants who survey properties only for the purpose of installing a security system, an applicant for registration as a security systems technician shall meet any training requirements that the Secretary establishes by regulation.
(c) Cooperative education program. -- The State Department of Education, in conjunction with the Secretary, may establish by regulation a cooperative education program under which a minor may learn the security systems trade with on-site supervision by a security systems registrant under the auspices of cooperative education registration with the schools.
§ 18-3A-06. Scope of registration
(a) Authorization to conduct business. -- While an individual is registered as a security systems technician and employed by or under contract with a security systems agency licensed under this title, the individual is authorized to personally provide security systems services.
(b) Authorization to access circumventional information. -- While an individual is registered as a security systems technician and employed by or under contract with a security systems agency licensed under this title, the individual is authorized to have access to circumventional information.
§ 18-3A-09. Denials, reprimands, suspensions, and revocations -- Grounds
Subject to the hearing provisions of § 18-3A-10 of this subtitle, the Secretary may deny registration to any applicant, reprimand any registrant, fine any registrant, or suspend or revoke a registration if the applicant or registrant:
(1) fraudulently or deceptively obtains or attempts to obtain a registration for the applicant or registrant or for another;
(2) fraudulently or deceptively uses a registration;
(3) has a similar license or registration denied, suspended, or revoked in another jurisdiction;
(4) pleads guilty or nolo contendere to or is convicted of a felony, theft offense, or crime of moral turpitude;
(5) aids an individual in obtaining or attempting to obtain fraudulently or deceptively registration under this title;
(6) while not registered as a security systems technician and employed by or under contract with a security systems agency licensed under this title, solicits to engage in or willfully engages in personally providing security systems services;
(7) while not registered as a security systems technician and employed by or under contract with a security systems agency licensed under this title, willfully advertises as a security systems technician;
(8) willfully makes a false statement or misrepresentation in any renewal application or in any other document that the Secretary requires to be submitted; or
(9) violates any other provision of this title or any regulation adopted by the Secretary under this title.