ALARM SYSTEM: An assembly of equipment and devices arranged to signal the presence of a hazard requiring urgent attention and to which police or fire department personnel are expected to respond. Alarm systems include those through which public safety personnel are notified directly of such signals through automatic recording devices or are notified indirectly by way of third persons who monitor the alarm systems and who report such signals to the police department. Alarm systems also include those designated to register a signal which is so audible, visible or in other ways perceptible outside a protected building, structure or facility as to notify persons in the neighborhood beyond the zoning lot where the signal is located who in turn may notify the appropriate emergency provider of the signal. Alarm systems do not include auxiliary devices installed by telephone companies to protect telephone equipment or systems which might be damaged or disrupted by the use of an alarm system. The term "alarm system" shall include the terms "automatic" or "manual hold up alarm systems", "burglar alarm systems", "security alarm systems", and "automatic" or "manual fire alarm systems". Fire alarm systems shall include alarms received from heat and smoke detectors, automatic extinguishing systems, manual pull stations, and related supervisory systems. An alarm system which has a security function and a fire and/or smoke function shall constitute two (2) separate alarms for purposes of subsection 3-22-2(A)1 of this chapter.
ALARM USER: Any person on whose premises an alarm system is maintained within the city and whose alarm is received by the public safety communications center of the city. Alarms in separate structures are to be counted as separate systems even though owned by the same person or entity.
AUDIBLE ALARM: A device designed for the detection of unauthorized entry on the premises which generates an audible sound on the premises when it is activated.
AUTOMATIC TELEPHONE DIALING DEVICE: A device which is interconnected to a telephone line and is programmed to select a predetermined seven (7) digit telephone number and transmit by voice message or code signal an emergency message indicating a need for emergency response.
CITY: The city of Canton, Fulton County, Illinois, a municipal corporation.
COMMUNICATION CENTER: The Canton police department dispatch center located at the public safety building, 2 North Main Street, Canton, Illinois, used for receipt and transmission of signals by radio or wire transmissions.
DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS: The person designated by the chief of police to supervise and direct the communication center.
FALSE ALARM: The activation of an alarm system through mechanical failure, malfunction, improper installation, or as a result of the negligence, misuse or misconduct of the owner or lessee of an alarm system or of his employees or agents. This does not include alarms caused by severe weather, natural or manmade disaster, power or telephone service outages, authorized alarm testing, for which prior notification of the communications center had been made or malicious acts of person or persons not under the direct control of the owner, lessee or his employees or agents.
LICENSE: An authorization issued by the city clerk of the city of Canton to allow a responsible party to install or maintain an alarm system within the city of Canton which is commercially monitored or which is electronically connected to the communications center and when activated would result in a police or fire department response.
PERSON: Any association, club, society, firm, partnership or corporation and any group acting as a unit as well as individuals.
PREMISES: Any private, public, residential, commercial or industrial land and/or buildings located within the city of Canton.
RESPONSIBLE PARTY: Any person, firm, partnership, company, association or corporation, or any owner or lessee of premises on which an alarm system is installed or maintained, or the agents or representatives of the aforementioned which or who utilize an alarm system on premises located within the city of Canton. A license obtained by an owner or lessee of premises shall be personal to the owner or licensee. Any new or subsequent owner or lessee shall be required to obtain a separate license.
SILENT ALARM: Inaudible alarm which summons police or fire through the communications center.
YEAR: A period beginning May 1 and continuing through April 30. (Ord. 2021, 12-7-2010; amd. Ord. 3003, 12-4-2012)