--- a/include/db/servicealert-dao.inc.php
+++ b/include/db/servicealert-dao.inc.php
@@ -21,7 +21,8 @@
     $query = "Select * from calendar_dates where date = :date and exception_type = '1' LIMIT 1";
     // debug($query,"database");
     $query = $conn->prepare($query); // Create a prepared statement
-    $query->bindParam(":date", date("Ymd", ($date != "" ? $date : time())));
+    $date = date("Ymd", ($date != "" ? $date : time()));
+    $query->bindParam(":date", $date);
     $query->execute();
     if (!$query) {
         databaseError($conn->errorInfo());