For the purposes of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
ALARM BUSINESS. A business by any individual, partnership, corporation, or other entity selling, leasing, maintaining, servicing, repairing, altering, replacing, moving, or installing any alarm system or causing to be sold, leased, maintained, serviced, repaired, altered, replaced, moved, or installed any alarm system in or on any building, structure, or facility.
ALARM SYSTEM. Any assembly of equipment, mechanical or electrical, arranged to signal the occurrence of an illegal entry or other activity or condition requiring urgent attention and to which the Police or Fire Department are expected to respond. This definition does not include fire detectors, audible alarms affixed to automobiles or other motor vehicles, or local alarms for home use and dwelling units.
ALARM USER. A person, firm, partnership, association, corporation, company, or other organization of any kind in control of any building, structure or facility where an alarm system is maintained or activated.
AUTOMATIC DIALING DEVICE. A device which is interconnected to a telephone line and is programmed to select a predetermined telephone number and transmit by a voice message or code signal an emergency message indicating the need for an emergency response.
EMERGENCY COMMUNICATION’S CENTER ADMINISTRATOR. An employee of the city whose responsibility is to coordinate the administration and documentation of alarm businesses and alarm systems as it relates to the effective enforcement of the provisions of this chapter.
FALSE ALARM. Any signal request or similar event, the purpose of which is to alert or summon the Police or Fire Department assistance, but which is not in response to actual or threatened emergency or criminal activity. FALSE ALARMS include any communication, either directly or indirectly, or signal device, which is in response to a signal or warning issued intentionally or accidentally; negligently or accidentally activated signals; signals which are the result of faulty, malfunctioning, or improperly installed or maintained equipment; and signals which are purposely, but improperly, activated to alert or summon the Police or Fire Department. FALSE ALARM shall not include signals activated by unusually severe weather conditions or other natural causes.
INTERCONNECT. To connect an alarm system, including an automatic dialing device, to a telephone line, either directly or through a mechanical device that utilizes the telephone, for the purpose of using the telephone line to transmit a message upon activation of the alarm system.
LICENSE DIVISION. The division of the City Controller’s office authorized to issue permits and licenses and collect the fees for the permits and licenses as provided in this chapter.
LOCAL ALARM. Those alarms which activate an audible signal within the proximity of a premises only.
PERMIT YEAR. A 12-month period, beginning June 1 and ending May 31 of each year.
PRIMARY TRUNK LINE. A telephone line leading directly into the emergency communication center for the purpose of handling emergency calls on a person-to-person basis, or which is identified by a specific number in the telephone directory.
(Prior Code, § 94.02) (Ord. 3483, passed - -1989)