For the purpose of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
ALARM. Any electronic or mechanical device which emits any signal, whether electronic, audible, silent or recorded, and which is designed, used, or intended for the detection of an unauthorized intrusion or attempted intrusion into a building, structure or premises or to signal an actual or attempted robbery.
ALARM COMPANY. A business, individual, partnership, corporation or other entity that sells, leases, maintains, services, repairs, alters, replaces, moves, installs or monitors an alarm system in an alarm site. Alarm companies referenced in this chapter shall hold a current alarm systems business license issued by the North Carolina Alarm Systems Licensing Board.
ALARM DISPATCH REQUEST. A notification to a law enforcement agency that an alarm, either manual or automatic, has been activated at a particular alarm site.
ALARM SITE. A single fixed premises or location served by an alarm system or systems. Each tenancy, if served by a separate alarm system in a multi-tenant building or complex shall be considered a separate alarm site.
ALARM SYSTEM. Any assembly of equipment, mechanical or electrical, device or series of devices, including, but not limited to, systems interconnected with a radio frequency method such as cellular or private radio signals, which emit or transmit a remote or local audible, visual or electronic signal indicating an alarm condition and intended to discourage crime and summon law enforcement. ALARM SYSTEM does not include:
(1) An alarm installed on a vehicle or person unless the vehicle or personal alarm is permanently located at a site; and
(2) An alarm designed to alert only the inhabitants of a premises that does not have a sounding device which can be heard from the exterior of the alarm site.
ALARM USER. Any person, firm, association or corporation of any kind in control of any building, structure or facility wherein an alarm is installed, operated and maintained. In the case of a tenancy, the tenant shall be considered the sole alarm user at the alarm site.
CANCELLATION. The process by which an alarm user or an alarm company providing monitoring verifies with the alarm user or responsible party that a false dispatch has occurred and that there is not an existing situation at the alarm site requiring law enforcement.
CHIEF OF POLICE. The Boone Police Chief or his or her designee.
DURESS ALARM. An alarm system signal generated by the manual activation of a device intended to signal a life threatening situation or a crime in process requiring law enforcement response.
FALSE ALARM. An alarm signal or dispatch request to a law enforcement agency that elicits a police response when a situation requiring an immediate response does not in fact exist and the responding officer finds no evidence of a criminal offense or attempted criminal offense after having completed a timely investigation of the alarm site. An alarm will not be considered false if it is determined that the alarm was caused by:
(1) A natural or man-made catastrophe, or other “Act of God” such as a tornado, flood, earthquake, or other similarly violent conditions.
(2) Vandalism causing physical damage to the property.
(3) Attempted entry of a location causing visible, physical, or other evidence of damage to the location which has caused the alarm to sound.
(4) Failure of electrical power not caused by the alarm user.
HOLDUP ALARM. A silent alarm signal generated by the manual activation of a device intended to signal a robbery in progress.
KEY HOLDER. An alarm user representative with full access to an alarm site and the alarm system contained therein and who is available to respond to the alarm site.
MONITORING. The process by which an alarm company receives signals from an alarm system and relays an alarm dispatch request to the municipality for the purpose of summoning law enforcement response to the alarm site.
VERIFICATION. Communication, by the alarm company or its representative, with the alarm site and/or alarm user by telephonic or other means before requesting law enforcement dispatch, in an attempt to determine the validity of an alarm.
VERIFIED RESPONSE. A specific status in which an alarm system is categorized wherein an alarm company must verify the validity of an alarm through video, audio, or a person on site before the alarm company may contact law enforcement and/or law enforcement will respond.
(Ord. passed 4-16-2015)