§15-3B-5 Notice to participating media; broadcast of alert. - West Virginia Statutes

§15-3B-5. Notice to participating media; broadcast of alert.
(a) To participate, the media may agree, upon notice from the State Police via email or facsimile, to transmit information to the public about a missing cognitively impaired person that has occurred within their broadcast service region.

(b) The alerts shall include a description of the missing cognitively impaired person, such details of the circumstance surrounding him or her becoming missing, as may be known, and such other information as the State Police may deem pertinent and appropriate. The State Police shall in a timely manner update the broadcast media with new information when appropriate concerning the missing cognitively impaired person.

(c) The alerts also shall provide information concerning how those members of the public who have information relating to the missing cognitively impaired person may contact the State Police or other appropriate law-enforcement agency.

(d) Concurrent with the notice provided to the broadcast media, the State Police shall also notify the Department of Transportation, the Division of Highways and the West Virginia Turnpike Commission of the "Silver Alert" so that the department and the affected authorities may, if possible, through the use of their variable message signs, inform the motoring public that a "Silver Alert" is in progress and may provide information relating to the missing cognitively impaired person and how motorists may report any information they have to the State Police or other appropriate law-enforcement agency.

(e) The alerts shall terminate upon notice from the State Police.

(f) The secretary shall develop and undertake a campaign to inform law-enforcement agencies about the "Silver Alert" program established under this article.