(a) As used in this section, "false alarm" means an emergency alarm, activated by inadvertence, negligence or unintentional acts, including, but not limited to, the malfunction of the alarm system, to which the Village Police Department responds. The definition excludes false alarms caused by malfunctions of the indicator at the police station, the malfunction, testing or repairing of telephone equipment or lines, acts of God such as earthquake, flood, windstorm, thunder or lightning, an attempted illegal entry of which there is visible evidence or the user acting under a sincere belief that a need exists to call the Police Department. If a doubt exits as to the cause of a false alarm, the Chief of Police shall resolve it in favor of the alarm user. Multiple alarms received by the Bureau of Emergency Communications before the system can be deactivated within a reasonable period of time shall be considered a single alarm.
(b) A charge in accordance with the following schedule shall be imposed for false alarms received from any commercial or industrial business:
(1) First six false alarms in a twelve-month period - no charge.
(2) Seventh through ninth false alarms in a twelve-month period - $50.00.
(3) Tenth through twelfth false alarms in a twelve-month period - $100.00.
(4) More than twelve false alarms in a twelve-month period - $150.00.
(c) Notwithstanding the charges set forth in subsection (b) hereof, no charge shall be made for a false alarm to which there is no response by the Police Department or for a false alarm whose cause has been proven to be an act of God.
(d) A grace period of thirty days from the date of installation shall be granted. During this period, no false alarms shall be counted toward the six false alarms allowable before any charge is assessed.
(Ord. 1997-63. Passed 5-14-97.)