(A) For the purpose of this section, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
FALSE EMERGENCY ALARMS. Any signal actuated by an emergency alarm to which public safety personnel respond that is not the result of fire or other actual emergencies and/or not caused by a violent act of nature.
OWNER and/or OPERATOR. A person or persons who reside in or operates a business in the premises to which the emergency alarm is connected, including: owners; lessees; tenants; occupants; and persons having charge or control of any premises or any part of any premises, and employees and agents of all of the foregoing.
PUBLIC SAFETY PERSONNEL. The Town of Collierville (i) Police Department, (ii) Fire Department, (iii) emergency management services, or (iv) any other Town personnel who respond to calls for emergency assistance prompted by an alarm system.
(B) Reliability of an emergency alarm system is of prime importance. The provision of early warning of fire and of illegal activity accompanied by notification of appropriate authorities is a key element of an alarm protection system.
(C) Certain owners and/or operators shall be required to install and maintain alarm systems pursuant to the ordinances of the Town. Other owners and/or operators may elect to install and maintain alarm systems. All alarm systems, whether mandatory or not, must comply with the ordinances of the Town and this section applies to all of same.
(D) The occurrence of false emergency alarms transmitted to public safety personnel shall constitute a violation of this subchapter and shall result in the owner and/or operator being subject to a penalty in accordance with the following for false emergency alarms occurring during any consecutive 12-month period to be calculated from the date of the first false emergency alarm during such period:
(1) First false emergency alarm: Notification to the owner or operator;
(2) Second false emergency alarm: Warning letter to the owner or operator and a copy of the Town’s false alarm ordinance;
(3) Three or more false emergency alarms: A fine of $25 on the owner or operator for each such false emergency alarm.
(E) The party responsible for penalties which become due hereunder (a) in the case of commercial establishments, shall be the owner and/or operator, and (b) in the case of residences, shall be the record owner(s) unless the property is leased, in which event the lessee(s) shall be the responsible party. The Town shall send notice and a summons to the appropriate party by certified mail, return receipt requested. The owner or operator shall be required to pay any penalty within 30 days of service of the notice thereof or shall have the opportunity to appear in court. Failure to pay will be a violation of this subchapter and the Town may proceed to cite the offending party for such violations.
(`83 Code, § 7-211) (Ord. 2002-12, passed 8-12-02; Am. Ord. 2004-11, passed 7-12-04; Am. Ord. 2007- 13, passed 11-26-07; Am. Ord. 2012-01, passed 2-13-12)