(a) "False alarm" means:
(1) The activation of a private security alarm system through a mechanical failure, malfunction or improper installation; or the negligence of the user of a private security alarm system or his employees, agents or tenants; or
(2) Any signal or oral communication transmitted to the City Police Chief and/or Fire Chief requesting, or requiring, or resulting in a response on the part of the Police and/or Fire Department when, in fact there has been no emergency or adequate reason to summon the Police and/or Fire Departments. The determination of whether there has been adequate reason to summon the Police and/or Fire Department shall be made by the Police and/or Fire Chief. The determination shall be documented by the dispatcher on the log.
(3) False alarms shall not include activations of private security alarm systems caused by natural disasters, hurricanes, tornados, earthquakes and the like.
(b) After the Police and/or Fire Chief has recorded three separate false alarms within a calendar year from a private security alarm system, the Police and/or Fire Chief shall notify the user by certified mail, of such fact and shall order such user to submit, within fifteen days after receipt of such notice a report describing, in sufficient detail, efforts to discover and eliminate the cause or causes of the false alarms.
(c) No person shall fail to obey any order of the Police and/or Fire Chief to maintain and repair any private security alarm system.
(d) Upon the third and subsequent false alarm from any system, a civil penalty of one hundred dollars ($100.00) shall be assessed. This penalty may be waived by the Police or Fire Chief if the alarm was caused by circumstances beyond the control of the user and the user has made good faith efforts to prevent such false alarm.
(e) A person violating subsection (c) of this ordinance shall be guilty of a minor misdemeanor.
(Ord. 20-01. Passed 6-19-01.)