(A) False alarm fees.
(1) The owner or lessee of an alarm system shall pay to the village a false alarm fee to defray the cost of responding to false alarms for each occasion that the alarm system is activated and responded to by the Police Department and/or Fire Department under any of the following circumstances:
(a) No evidence of illegal entry or an attempt thereof;
(b) No evidence of fire;
(c) A malfunction in the system;
(d) Activation by mistake;
(e) Alarm activation by persons working on the alarm system, where the Police and/or Fire Department were not previously notified.
(2) In the event the Police Department is required to respond to a false alarm, a fee schedule as set by resolution of the Village Council will apply:
(3) In the event the Fire Department is required to respond to a false alarm, a fee schedule as set by resolution of the Village Council will apply.
(4) In cases where a false alarm is responded to by both Police and Fire Departments, the greater of the two applicable false alarm fees will apply.
(5) These false alarm fees are in addition to the fine to be assessed in § 91.99.
(O.C. § 9.184)
(B) Exceptions.
(1) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, no owner or lessee shall be required to pay a police false alarm fee set forth in division (A) of this section on the first four occasions of a police false alarm during any one calendar year, but shall be advised in writing after each such alarm as to how many “free” false alarms remain and of the provisions of this chapter. Relative to fire false alarms, no owner or lessee shall be required to pay a fire false alarm fee set forth in division (A) of this section on the first occasion of a fire false alarm during any one calendar year, but shall be advised in writing after such fire false alarm.
(2) A false alarm fee shall not be required in the case of any false alarm activated by severe weather or other violent conditions beyond the control of the owner or lessee of an alarm system.
(3) For the purpose of police false alarms only, a false alarm fee shall not be required in the case of the first five false alarms during the two-week period following installation of a new alarm or upgrade of an existing alarm and upon proper notice to the Police Department of installation or change. No such exception is available for fire false alarms.
(O.C. § 9.185) (Am. Ord. 183, passed 1-27-03; Am. Ord. 241, passed 12-29-16; Am. Ord. 243, passed 6-26-17; Am. Ord. 262, passed 4-26-21)