729.07 FALSE ALARMS.

   (a)   False alarms charges may be made as follows, unless waived, in writing, for good cause by the Safety Director or the Chief of Police acting on his or her behalf.  “Annually” means per calendar year.

   Business users.  A charge of twenty-five dollars ($25.00) shall be made for the first three false alarms annually and a charge of fifty dollars ($50.00) shall be made for each false alarm thereafter annually.

   (b)    Business false alarm charges shall apply only when there is a response by the Police Department or the Fire Department and where such response could have been avoided by the use of ordinary business practices by the customer and by the installation and maintenance of proper alarm equipment and back-up power supplies.  Alarms designated by the Police Department as “Unknown Cause” shall be deemed to be false alarms.  Alarms caused by extreme weather conditions only, will not be considered false alarms for billing purposes by the Police Department.  Any charge for a false alarm remaining unpaid thirty days after the date of the mailing of the invoice shall be cause for cancellation of the alarm and the permit therefor by the Safety Director.  Four or more false alarms annually shall also be grounds for cancellation of the permit by the Safety Director.

   (c)   If there is a response by the Police Department or the Fire Department to a false alarm resulting from improper equipment, installation and/or servicing by the alarm business and/or agent, the alarm business may be charged a civil penalty of one hundred dollars ($100.00) per false alarm by the Safety Director.

(Ord.  1999-143.  Passed 9-27-99.)