According to Loudoun County Sheriff Steve Simpson, his deputies responded to roughly 10,000 security alarm calls in 2005, of which more than 99% were false alarms. To help manage the problem in Middleburg, the Town enacted "Loudoun County Ordinance #655" which requires that "all commercial and home security alarm systems be registered with the False Alarm Reduction Unit of the County Sheriff's Department" before April 1, 2008. After that date fines will also be levied for "excessive" false alarms, beginning with a $100 fine for the third false alarm in a year, and escalating after that. Registrations are valid for two years, and may be made on line at www.loudoun.gov/sheriff (click on False Alarm Reduction Unit). For further information call the Unit at 703-737-8344 or 703-737-8165.