.010 When emergency alarms, messages, signals or notices are received by the Police Department that evidence a failure to comply with the requirements of this chapter, or an alarm permit issued hereunder, the Chief of Police is authorized to demand that the owner or lessee of the alarm system initiating such alarms, messages, signals or notices, or his or her representative, disconnect the alarm system until it is made to comply with said requirements.
.020 No person shall install, maintain, operate, or use an alarm system that generates a false alarm. There is hereby imposed and assessed upon a responsible person a fine for each false alarm call in excess of one in any twelve month period, which fine shall be determined by resolution of the City Council. The fine will be paid to the Finance Director for deposit into the General Fund.
.030 The fine imposed, pursuant to this chapter, shall be a debt owed, jointly and severally, by the responsible persons, as defined in this chapter, to the City. Any such responsible persons owing money, pursuant to the provisions of this chapter, shall be jointly and severally liable in an action brought in the name of the City for recovery of such amount, together with reasonable attorneys’ fees.
.040 The Police Department may provide an educational program for the prevention of false alarms.
(a) The Police Department shall allow an alarm user to attend any established false alarm prevention program designated by the Chief of Police.
(b) Each alarm user who attends a false alarm prevention program shall be responsible for paying all provider fees associated with the program.
(c) If the alarm user successfully completes the false alarm prevention program, the Police Department shall issue the person a certificate. The certificate may be used in lieu of one (1) payment for one fine assessed, pursuant to this Section, provided that the certificate is submitted within one (1) year of its issuance.
(d) An alarm user who attends a false alarm prevention program provided pursuant to this section is not eligible to attend another program within one year from the time in which the person last attended the program.
.050 An alarm permit may be revoked, as provided in Section 4.95.070, in addition to the payment of the prevention fine, as provided in this Section, or in the event of failure to pay the false alarm fine.
(Ord. 4035 § 1 (part); August 29, 1979: Ord. 4321 § 1; April 13, 1982: Ord. 5752 § 5; January 9, 2001: Ord. 5928 § 1; June 22, 2004: Ord. 6215 § 1 (part); June 14, 2011.)