Agency Name Howard County Department of Police
Street Address 3210 Courthouse Drive
City Ellicott City
State Maryland
Zip Code 21043
Phone 410-313-6199
Contact Name False Alarm Reduction Coordinator
Email falsealarmreduction@howardcountymd.gov
Website/URL https://hcfalsealarms.howardcountymd.gov
Dispatch Number 410-313-2911 (For Alarm Companies)
What is Included in Your Program Burglar Alarms – Professionally Installed & Monitored, Burglar Alarms – Do it Yourself & Professionally Monitored, Holdup or Panic Alarms
User Permit/Registration Required
User Permit/Registration Term Every Two Years
User Permit /Registration Required to Request Dispatch N/A
Who is Responsible To get the User Permit/Registration? Either
Initial User Permit/Registration Fee $25.00
Renewal User Permit/Registration Fee -0-
Ways to Do User Permit/Registration Online, Mail
Installing Alarm Company Permit/Registration Required
Installing Alarm Company Permit/Registration Term Every Two Years
Initial Installing Alarm Company Permit/Registration Fee $25.00
Renewal Installing Alarm Company Permit/Registration Fee -0-
Monitoring Alarm Company Permit/Registration Required
Monitoring Alarm Company Permit/Registration Term Every Two Years
Initial Monitoring Alarm Company Permit/Registration Fee $25.00
Renewal Monitoring Alarm Company Permit/Registration Fee -0-
Ways to Do Alarm Company Registration Mail
Description Of User Fines & Penalties
The first two false alarms are warnings. False Alarm 3 =$50, 4=$100, 5=$150, 6=$200, 7=$250, 8=$300, 9=$350, 10=$400, 11=$500, 12=$600, 13=$700, 14=$800, 15+=$1000
At false alarm 3 there is an opportunity to attend “Alarm School”, must score at least 70% on the test to have the $50.00 fine adjudicated.
An alarm user or alarm monitor may request an appeal hearing for an assessment of a penalty to the alarm administrator within 30 days of the date the notice was processed for mailing. The appeal request must be in writing and contain sufficient information to allow the alarm administrator to make a determination. Each appeal shall be accompanied by a filing fee of $20, which shall be returned if the appeal is successful.
Description of Alarm Co Fines & Penalties
An alarm monitor is subject to a civil penalty of $200.00 for each dispatch request to an unregistered alarm site.
Cancellation Policy
Cancelation must be from the alarm company. Accepted prior to police arrival on scene.
Options To Pay Fines Online, Mail
Verification Policy
Accept for duress or robbery activations requires at least one call prior to dispatch.
Description and Comments
Howard County does not have a no response policy. Regardless of the status of an alarm user’s account police will be dispatched for an alarm activation unless the call is canceled by the alarm company prior to the arrival of police personnel at the site.