Unless the context or subject matter otherwise requires, terms defined herein shall have the following meaning when used in this chapter.
(a) “Alarm company” means any person that engages in business or accepts employment to install, maintain, alter, sell, monitor, service, respond to or cause others to respond to an alarm device located in the City. This includes an alarm company that is located outside the limits of the City which monitor alarms installed within the limits of the City.
(b) “Alarm permit” means a permit issued by the City allowing the operation of an alarm system within the City.
(c) “Alarm signal” means a detectable signal; audible or visual, generated by an alarm system.
(d) “Alarm system” means any system, device or mechanism which, when activated, transmits a telephonic, wireless, electronic, video, or other form of message to an alarm company, or some other number, or emits an audible or visible signal that can be heard or seen by persons outside a protected premises or protected property, or transmits a signal beyond a protected premises or protected property in some other fashion. The definition of “alarm system”" includes, but is not limited to, a manual alarm, a remote alarm and/or an outdoor alarm system. A fire alarm system solely designed to detect a fire condition and actuate an alarm or warning of fire is not included within this definition.
(e) “Alarm user” means any person owning, leasing or operating an alarm system, or on whose property or premises an alarm system is maintained for the protection of such property or premises.
(f) “Cancellation” means the process where response is terminated when the alarm company (designated by the alarm user) notifies the Police Department that there is not an existing situation at the alarm site requiring police response after an alarm dispatch request.
(g) “City” means the City of Anaheim.
(h) “Chief of Police” means the Chief of the Anaheim Police Department, or his/her designee.
(i) “Day” means business day.
(j) “False alarm” means an alarm signal activated willfully, unintentionally, negligently or inadvertently; due to mechanical or electrical malfunction; due to improper installation or maintenance; or due to weather conditions, necessitating a response and arrival by the Police Department that was not cancelled by the alarm user or his/her agent before law enforcement personnel arrive at the alarm location. An alarm is false within the meaning of this chapter when, upon inspection by the Police Department, evidence indicates that no unauthorized entry, robbery, or other such crime was committed or attempted in or on the property or premises which would have activated a properly functioning alarm system.
(k) “Fire alarm system” means a system consisting of a control unit and a combination of electrical interconnected devices solely designed and intended to detect a fire condition and to actuate an alarm or warning of fire in a building or structure by either manual or automatic activation, or both.
(l) “Hearing Officer” shall have the same meaning as set forth in Section 1.12.110.0102 of the Anaheim Municipal Code.
(m) “Manual alarm” means any system, device, or mechanism, manually activated by a person to alert others that a crime, attempted crime, or other emergency at a protected premise or protected property is occurring, is about to occur, or has occurred, which, when activated, transmits a telephonic, wireless, electronic, video, or other form of message, or emits an audible or visible signal that can be heard or seen by persons outside the protected premises or protected property, or transmits a signal beyond the protected premises or protected property.
(n) “Notice” means written notice, given by personal service upon the addressee, or given by the United States mail, postage prepaid, addressed to the person to be notified at his last known address. Service of such notice shall be effective upon the completion of personal service or upon the placing of the same in the custody of the United States Postal Service.
(o) “Outdoor alarm system” means a manual or remote alarm system designed to cover an outdoor area not secured by a structure, building or facility.
(p) “Person” means any individual, sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation, limited liability company, trust, incorporated or unincorporated entity, or other entity or group of persons, but excludes the United States, the State of California, and any political subdivision or municipal corporation thereof.
(q) “Police Department” or “police” means the Anaheim Police Department, and includes other law enforcement agencies assisting the Anaheim Police Department.
(r) “Protected premises” means any structure, building, or facility, or portion thereof, protected by an alarm system.
(s) “Protected property” means the outdoor areas of real property that are not secured by a structure, building, or facility which are protected by an alarm system.
(t) “Remote alarm” means any system, device, or mechanism for detection and reporting of any unauthorized entry, attempted entry or property damage upon real property protected by an alarm system which is not manually activated by a person and which, when activated, transmits a telephonic, wireless, electronic, video, or other form of message, or emits an audible or visible signal that can be heard or seen by persons outside the protected premises or protected property, or transmits a signal beyond the protected premises or protected property. As used in this chapter, alarms on Automatic Teller Machines (ATMs) are included in this definition.
(u) “Responsible person” means each and all of the following: (1) any person actually in charge of the protected premises or protected property from which a false alarm originates; and (2) the owner, tenant or other person lawfully occupying the protected premises or protected property from which a false alarm originates.
(v) “Runaway alarm” means an alarm system that produces repeated alarm signals that do not appear to be caused by separate human action.
(w) “SIA Control Panel Standard CP-01" means the American National Standard Institute (ANSI) approved Security Industry Association (SIA) CP-01 Control Panel Standard, as may be updated from time to time, that details recommended design features for security system control panels and their associated arming and disarming devices to reduce false alarms.
(x) “Verify” means an attempt by the alarm company to determine whether an alarm signal is valid before requesting law enforcement dispatch by: having an alarm company representative personally verify that the alarm is valid; contacting the alarm site and/or alarm user by telephone, whether or not actual contact with a person is made; and/or verifying by electronic means. Telephone verification shall require at a minimum that a second call be made to a different number, if the first attempt fails to reach an alarm user who can properly identify themselves, to attempt to determine whether an alarm signal is valid before requesting law enforcement dispatch. Electronic verification shall require verification of a crime by video and/or audible means.
(Ord. 4035 § 1 (part); August 29, 1979: Ord. 5752 § 1; January 9, 2001: Ord. 5866 § 9; June 17, 2003: Ord. 6215 § 1 (part); June 14, 2011.)