DORCHESTER, S.C.—The Dorchester County Council voted on March 20, 2000, to begin fining alarm owners $50 for a fifth false alarm, and every false alarm thereafter. This amendment to the County’s noise ordinance is intended to alleviate the burden on sheriff’s deputies, who spend an average of 17 minutes on each false alarm. The revenue from the fines will be deposited in Dorchester County’s general fund.
