CHAPTER 945
Alarm Systems
945.01   Definitions.
945.02   Purpose and scope.
945.03   User instructions.
945.04   Alarm types. (Repealed)
945.05   False alarms.
945.06   Emergency response telephone numbers.
945.07   Equipment regulations.
945.08   Permit fees; installation fees; alarm monitoring fees. (Repealed)
945.09   Revocation of permit; right of appeal. (Repealed)
945.10   Liability of City. (Repealed)
945.11   Rules and regulations. (Repealed)
945.12   Required alarms.
945.99   Penalty.
   CROSS REFERENCES
   Theft alarms - see TRAF. 337.20
   False alarms - see GEN. OFF. 545.07, 545.08
   Unfriendly fires in buildings - see F.P. 1590.03
945.01 DEFINITIONS.
   As used in this chapter:
   (a)   “Alarm business” means the business by any individual, partnership, corporation or other entity of selling, leasing, maintaining, servicing, repairing, altering, replacing, moving or installing, 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.
   (b)   “Alarm system” means any assembly of equipment, mechanical or electrical, arranged to signal the occurrence of an illegal entry or other activity requiring urgent attention and to which the safety forces are expected to respond.
   (c)   “Alarm user” means the person, firm, partnership, association, corporation, company organization of any kind in control of premises wherein an alarm system is maintained.
   (d)   “Automatic dialing device” means a device that is interconnected to a telephone line and is programmed to transmit by voice message or code signal to a designated trunk line and is programmed to transmit by voice message or code signal to a designated trunk line (a selected telephone number other than a primary trunk line) indicating a need for emergency response.
   (e)   “Designated trunk line” means a telephone line serving the safety forces dispatch center that is designated to receive calls from automatic dialing devices.
   (f)   “False alarm” means an emergency alarm activated by inadvertence, negligence or unintentional acts to which the safety forces respond, including a malfunction of the alarm system. “False alarm” does not include alarms caused by:
      (1)   A call from a user acting under a sincere belief that a need exists to call the safety forces; or
      (2)   A call to the safety forces cancelling the alarm by giving a proper identification number prior to the arrival of the safety forces.
      (3)   Multiple alarms received by the safety forces dispatch center before the system can be deactivated within a reasonable period of time shall be considered a single alarm.
   (g)   “Interconnect” means to connect an alarm system, including an automatic dialing device, to a telephone line, either directly or through a mechanical device that utilizes a telephone, for the purpose of using the telephone line to transmit a message upon the activation of the alarm system.
   (h)   “Primary trunk line” means a telephone line serving the safety forces dispatch center that is designated to receive emergency calls.
   (i)   “Reasonable time” means one-half hour from the time of being notified.
   (j)   “Safety forces dispatch center” means the facility used to receive emergency information from the public to be dispatched to the safety forces.
(Ord. 33-2003. Passed 2-18-03.)
945.02 PURPOSE AND SCOPE.
   (a)   The purpose of this chapter is to protect the emergency services of the community from misuse.
   (b)   This chapter governs all alarm systems, provides for punishment of violations and establishes a system of administration.
(Ord. 134-1990. Passed 5-7-90; Ord. 33-2003. Passed 2-18-03.)
945.03 USER INSTRUCTIONS.
   (a)   Every alarm business selling, leasing or furnishing to any user an alarm system which is installed on premises located in the City shall furnish that user with instructions that provide information to enable the user to operate the alarm system properly and to locate and obtain service for the alarm system at any time.
   (b)   Every alarm business selling, leasing or furnishing to any user an alarm system which is installed on premises located in the City shall:
      (1)   Require that each alarm system installed be provided with standby battery power which shall automatically and immediately take over in the event of a power failure;
      (2)   Provide an automatic audible alarm-cut-off within fifteen minutes of the initial activation of any audible alarm installed to all burglar alarm systems. On existing systems, a grace period will be granted to allow installation.
      (3)   Notify the safety forces dispatch center prior to conducting any tests upon any alarm system, whereupon such test would cause emergency information to be received by the safety forces dispatch center.
(Ord. 134-1990. Passed 5-7-90; Ord. 33-2003. Passed 2-18-03.)
945.04 ALARM TYPES. (REPEALED)
(EDITOR’S NOTE: Section 945.04 was repealed by Ordinance 33-2003, passed February 18, 2003.)
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