For the purpose of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
ALARM. Any system or signaling device designed to detect and signal, by the transmission of an electrical impulse or any signal of any kind to a bell, siren, horn or any audible annunciation on the premises or to a remote monitoring location, the occurrence of any emergency at a premises to which the Police or Fire Department are expected to respond, except alarm systems on motor vehicles. Such alarm systems include: burglary systems or such systems to protect a premises from unauthorized entry; holdup or panic alarms to allow notification to the Police Department; smoke or fire alarms to allow notification to the Fire Department regarding emanation of smoke or presence of fire.
ALARM BUSINESS. Any person engaged in the business of installing and monitoring alarms.
ALARM USER. Any person, including current lessee, on whose premises an alarm system is utilized within the city.
AUTOMATIC DIALING DEVICES. Any alarm system which automatically sends, over regular telephone lines or by radio waves, a signal or prerecorded voice message indicating the existence of an emergency situation such as a fire.
CHIEF. The Fire Chief or designee with respect to any alarm generated by an alarm system or portion thereof arranged to signal the occurrence of a fire or medical emergency, and the Chief of Police or designee with respect to all other alarms.
EMERGENCY CALL OUT LIST. A list supplied to the City Fire Department by the alarm user that contains current names, addresses and telephone numbers of a minimum of two persons who can respond to the premises when there is an alarm activation.
FALSE ALARM.
(1) An alarm system activated in the absence of an emergency whether willfully, by system design or by inadvertence, negligence or unintentional act, including any mechanical or electrical malfunction of the alarm system, to which the Department of Police is alerted for a response.
(2) FALSE ALARM shall not include an alarm activation:
(a) By testing or repairing of telephone or electrical lines or equipment outside the premises if prior notice of the testing or repair is given to the Department of Police;
(b) By unusually violent conditions of nature;
(c) By an illegal entry, theft or robbery, or an attempt thereof;
(d) By an observable act of vandalism, where evidence of such activity exists; or
(e) Canceled by an alarm monitoring service, as identified on the alarm application, prior to arrival of the police.
FALSE FIRE ALARM.
(1) The activation of an alarm system, by any cause, that alerts the City Fire Department that a fire is in progress in a protected premises, or alerts the Fire Department of an emergency situation, when, in fact, there is no evidence of any such fire detected by responding firefighters or no such emergency.
(2) FALSE FIRE ALARM shall not include alarms resulting from any of the following:
(a) Fire, causing structural damage to the protected premises, as verified by the Fire Department;
(b) Earthquake, causing structural damage to the protected premises;
(c) Tornado or hurricane winds, causing structural damage to the protected premises;
(d) Flooding of the protected premises due to overflow of natural drainage;
(e) Lightning, causing physical damage to the protected premises;
(f) Telephone line malfunction, verified to the Fire Department by an authorized telephone company supervisor within seven days of the occurrence;
(g) Electrical service interruption, verified to the Fire Department by the local power company manager within seven days of the occurrence; and
(h) Plumbing or electrical malfunctions, unrelated to the fire protection system.
LOCAL ALARM. Any electrically operated instrument composed of sensory apparatus and related hardware which automatically emits an alarm, such as a siren, bell, horn or tone, which is audible beyond the premises being protected, upon receipt of a stimulus from a sensor that has detected a physical force or condition characteristic of an unauthorized entry.
PERSON. Any person, firm, partnership, association, corporation, limited liability company or organization of any kind.
PREMISES. Any building, structure or facility where an alarm system is installed or area intended to be protected by an alarm system.
PRIMARY TRUNK LINE. A telephone line leading directly into the communication center of the Fire Department.
(Ord. 2017-005, passed 2-27-2017)