1. The number of false alarms allowed at an alarm site is enforced by the Ankeny Police Department.
2. The alarm administrator will issue annual alarm permits for a service fee.
3. An additional fee shall be assessed for an alarm system programmed with a duress, one-plus duress, or holdup alarm.
4. Alarm users who fail to register within thirty days of an alarm installation will be charged a late registration penalty.
5. Alarm permits must be renewed in the month of expiration and will require a renewal fee.
6. Renewals made more than thirty days after alarm permit expiration will be considered a violation of this chapter and an alarm user will be subject to a late penalty.
7. The alarm user shall be subject to service fees, warnings, and suspension or revocation of registration depending on the number of false alarms emitted from an alarm system within a twelve-month period from the permit date or its renewal based upon the following:
A. Any alarm user who receives one to three false alarms on a single alarm permit will receive a written notice from the alarm administrator.
B. Any alarm user who receives in excess of three false alarms on a single alarm permit will receive a written notice and an administrative service fee as prescribed below.
C. There will be a service fee for the fourth false alarm within a consecutive 365-day period. The alarm administrator shall waive the fee upon successful completion of a false alarm education program sanctioned by the Police Department.
D. There will be a service fee and suspension of the alarm permit for the fifth false alarm within a consecutive 365-day period.
E. There will be a service fee for the sixth and subsequent false alarms that occur within a consecutive 365-day period.
The alarm user will receive a written warning from the alarm administrator for each infraction listed above.
8. Alarm businesses shall be assessed a fee if the officer responding to the false alarm determines that an on-site employee of the alarm business directly caused the false alarm. In this situation, the false alarm will not be counted against the alarm user.
9. The alarm business shall be charged a fee if the alarm administrator determines that an alarm business employee knowingly made a false statement concerning the inspection of an alarm site or the performance of an alarm system.
10. The alarm business which monitors the alarm system shall be charged a fee for each failure to verify alarm system signals before contacting the law enforcement agency as specified in this chapter.
11. The alarm permit will be revoked if there has been a previous suspension and two additional false alarm responses within the same permit year.
12. An alarm permit that is revoked by the alarm administrator shall not be renewed or reinstated unless the alarm administrator is satisfied and has receipt of acceptable evidence that the cause has been addressed and appropriate corrective action has been taken as outlined in this chapter.
13. While the permit is revoked, the police shall only provide secondary response to that alarm site.
14. Anyone operating a non-permitted alarm system (i.e., revoked, suspended or never acquired) will be subject to a police citation and assessment for each false alarm dispatch; in addition, the user must apply for a permit within ten days. The alarm administrator may waive this additional assessment for a non-permitted system if the alarm user, after such violation, applies for a permit and registers to participate in a false alarm education program.
15. Each alarm user and/or alarm owner shall pay a fee to attend the false alarm education program.
16. An alarm user who operates an alarm system during the period in which said user’s alarm permit is suspended or revoked can be given a police citation for the offense.
17. If the alarm administrator assesses a fee or denies the issuance, renewal or reinstatement of an alarm permit, the alarm administrator shall send written notice of the action and a statement of the right to an appeal to either the affected applicant, or alarm user, and alarm business and/or alarm monitoring business.
18. The alarm user may request to appeal any false alarm and service fee by sending a written explanation for the appeal and an appeal fee.
19. A person commits an offense if said person violates by commission or omission any provision of this chapter that imposes upon such person a duty or responsibility and is subject to a fine.
20. The amount of all fees, assessments, penalties, and fines established by this chapter shall be set by resolution of the Council, after recommendation by the alarm administrator.