(a) Purpose.
(1) False alarms, regardless of their cause, represent a significant public cost and endanger public safety by unnecessarily deploying fire, law enforcement, EMS or other emergency resources that would otherwise be available to respond to actual emergency situations. The purpose of this Section is to discourage the unnecessary deployment of such resources due to false alarms and to provide for reimbursement to the Village of Edgar and its emergency services providers for the costs thereof. This Section shall be liberally interpreted in the Village's favor to achieve these purposes.
(b) Scope. A false alarm occurs for purposes of this Section when any signal, alarm, telecommunication, or telephone call generating an alert is falsely or improperly sent to an emergency services provider alleging an emergency, but no such event has occurred and no emergency situation exists. In addition, the definition in Section 5-4-3(j) shall also apply. This Section is intended to impose strict liability on the person, business, corporation or other entity who owns or occupies the property which is served by the alarm system and shall be applied regardless of the cause of the false alarm unless a specific exemption applies. When any premises located in the Village is owned, leased or occupied by two (2) or more persons as joint tenants, tenants in common, joint lessees, or in any other manner, each person shall see that the provisions of this Chapter are complied with, and each person may be subjected to a penalty on violation of this Section.
(c) Exemptions. This Section shall not apply:
(1) To false alarms resulting from personal medical alert signals by personal devices carried by individuals with heightened medical factors to summon assistance in case of a medical emergency.
(2) Where a test of the alarm system is being conducted upon notice to fire, law enforcement, EMS and other agencies that might reasonably be expected to respond to such alarm.
(3) Where an alarm is activated by weather and such activation could not have reasonably been prevented.
(4) To alarms related to activities referenced in Sec. 66.0627(7), Wis. Stats.
(d) Intentional False Alarm or Bomb Threats. No person shall intentionally make a false alarm or cause the activation of a burglar/fire alarm device knowing that no criminal activity, fire or other emergency exists, or in any other manner make or convey a false alarm or bomb threat.
(e) False Alarm Charges. The owner or occupant of any premises in the Village of Edgar shall pay a special false alarm response charge per Sections 1-3-1 for false alarms involving such premises occurring within the same calendar year.
(f) Collection. The Village Administrator shall provide written notice by regular mail of all charges due under this Section to the owner and, if applicable, the occupant of the premises where the false alarm occurred. Such notice shall inform the owner and occupant of the right to appeal the charges being imposed under this Section. Except as provided in Subsection (g) below, those charges shall be paid by the owner or occupant within thirty (30) days, they shall be considered a delinquent special charge and included in the current or next tax roll pursuant to Sec. 66.0627, Wis. Stats.
(g) Appeals. Any property owner or occupant who receives a notice that false alarm charges are being imposed against him/her under this Section may appeal the imposition of said charges by filing a written appeal upon the Village Administrator within fifteen (15) days after the date that the notice of such false alarm is mailed to him/her. Such appeal shall include a statement of grounds for appeal. The Village Administrator may prescribe a form to be used for appeals. If an appeal is filed, the time for payment under Subsection (f) shall be suspended until the appeal is decided by the Village Board. The charge will be reimposed if the appeal is denied.
Cross-Reference: Title 5, Chapter 4