West Virginia Code 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 or senior citizen that has occurred within their broadcast service region.
Terms Used In West Virginia Code 15-3B-5
- Cognitively impaired: means a person having a deficiency in his or her short-term or long-term memory, orientation as to person, place, and time, deductive or abstract reasoning, or judgment as it relates to safety: Provided, That the cognitive impairment is not caused by the use of alcohol or drugs not legally prescribed by a physician. See West Virginia Code 15-3B-3
- Senior citizen: means a person over sixty-five years of age. See West Virginia Code 15-3B-3
- State: when applied to a part of the United States and not restricted by the context, includes the District of Columbia and the several territories, and the words "United States" also include the said district and territories. See West Virginia Code 2-2-10
(b) The alerts shall include a description of the missing cognitively impaired person or senior citizen, 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 or senior citizen.
(c) The alerts also shall provide information concerning how those members of the public who have information relating to the missing cognitively impaired person or senior citizen 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 or senior citizen 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.