(a) The enforcing agency may refuse to grant a license under this Chapter to an alarm business, and may suspend, revoke, or refuse to renew the license of an alarm business, if the agency finds that the alarm business:
(1) repeatedly did not perform installation, repairs, maintenance, or other work competently;
(2) repeatedly provided customers with faulty, defective, or malfunctioning equipment;
(3) requested a police response to an alarm signal when the alarm user had not authorized the alarm business to make the request;
(4) requested a police response to an alarm signal after the enforcing agency notified the alarm business that:
(A) the alarm system that produced the signal was not registered under Section 3A-3;
(B) the alarm user did not pay an alarm response fee due under Section 3A-4 after expiration of the time allowed for, or the conclusion of, any appeal under Section 3A-5; or
(C) conformed the user’s alarm system to the installation standards established under Section 3A-6(d);
(5) did not comply with procedures set by regulation for requesting a police response to an alarm signal;
(6) submitted false information on an alarm business license application;
(7) contracted for business in the County with an unlicensed alarm business;
(8) had a similar license suspended, revoked, or refused in another jurisdiction;
(9) knowingly after reasonable inquiry, employed an officer, manager, agent, or employee in the sale, installation, monitoring, or maintenance of alarm systems who was convicted of a felony, or a misdemeanor involving theft, within the past 7 years; or
(10) violated any other provision of this Chapter, Chapter 11, or any other law or regulation relating to the sale, installation, monitoring, or maintenance of alarm systems.
(b) Before revoking, suspending, or refusing to grant or renew a license under this Section, the enforcing agency must give the licensee an opportunity for a hearing to show cause why the license should not be revoked or suspended, or the license application should be granted or renewed. The enforcing agency must give the licensee or applicant 15 days' written notice of the hearing, by personal service or certified mail delivered to the last address provided by the licensee or applicant. The notice must specify the time, date, and place of the hearing, and must contain sufficient information to give the licensee or applicant notice of the nature of the complaint. The notice must specify that the licensee or applicant has a right to representation by counsel and that the license could be suspended, revoked, or denied.
(c) The hearing officer may revoke, suspend, or refuse to grant or renew a license if the hearing officer finds that the licensee or applicant has violated this Chapter, Chapter 11, or any other law or regulation relating to the sale, installation, or maintenance of an alarm system. Any decision to revoke, suspend, or refuse to grant or renew a license must be in writing and must state the facts on which the decision is based. Any decision must be served on the licensee or applicant by personal service or by certified mail. The license or applicant may appeal a decision to revoke, suspend, or refuse to grant or renew a license to the Circuit Court as an administrative appeal under the Maryland Rules of Procedure.
(1983 L.M.C., ch. 19, § 1; 1989 L.M.C., ch. 6, § 1; 1993 L.M.C., ch. 14, § 1; 1996 L.M.C., ch. 13, § 1; 1997 L.M.C., ch. 29, §1.)
Note-Formerly, § 3A-5.