A. It is unlawful to maintain, operate, connect, or to allow to be maintained, operated, or connected any automatic dialing device which automatically dials the police department and then relays any prerecorded message to report any robbery, burglary or other emergency. A violation of this section shall result in an assessment of a civil penalty of $500.00 per occurrence and $500.00 per day for each day after notification that an automatic dialing device prohibited under this section remains operational.

B. Nothing in this section shall preclude authorized law enforcement agencies from utilizing specialized alarm equipment for investigative or surveillance purposes, when such equipment involves the use of prerecorded messages and dialing and the use of city or communications center trunk lines; provided, that such authorized law enforcement use has been authorized by the Bellingham chief of police. [Ord. 2004-08-059].