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It shall be unlawful for any person to sell, install or operate any alarm system for use within the city that does not meet the minimum standards as prescribed as follows:
(A) Audible alarms.
(1) All audible alarm systems shall have a sign or notice posted on or near the system, (visible from the exterior), with the name and telephone number of the person responsible for the service and maintenance of the system. The notice shall be conspicuously posted and readable from ground level.
(2) All audible alarms, including vehicle alarms, shall be equipped with a device that will deactivate the alarm system not more than ten minutes after activation. In addition, should an alarm fail to be silenced within the time limits prescribed in this chapter, the Alarm Administrator shall have the authority to hire an alarm agent to silence the alarm. All costs and expenses incurred by the city in hiring an alarm agent to silence the alarm, costs incurred from damage to the alarm site or vehicle as a result of silencing the alarm, and costs incurred to obtain materials and security personnel to re-secure the alarm site, shall be borne by the permittee or owner.
(3) Any alarm system that has an automatic shut-off with a re-arming phase must be able to distinguish between an open and closed circuit; and, if the circuit is open, will not rearm.
(4) No audible alarm shall be installed, maintained or activated which emits the sound of a siren similar to those utilized on emergency vehicles or for civil defense disaster warnings.
(B) Alarms.
(1) No alarms shall have an automatic dialing system as defined in this chapter. This chapter does not apply to alarm devices that relay a digital coded signal to the alarm company.
(2) All alarm systems shall have a standby back-up power supply which will automatically assume operation of the alarm system should any interruption occur in the power to the system. The transfer of power from the primary source to the back-up source must occur in a manner that does not activate the alarm. Back-up power supply must be capable of at least 12 hours of operation.
(3) All silent burglar alarm systems installed after the effective date of this chapter shall have a pre-alert or pre-alarm unit allowing the user to reset the system if activated in error, before the system goes into full alarm activation. This section does not apply to banks, savings and loans and other high-risk businesses as determined by the Alarm Administrator.
(4) An alarm user shall maintain at each alarm site a set of written operating instructions for each alarm system.
(5) Homeowners shall test systems in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions and shall have every household fire alarm system having a control panel tested by a qualified service technician every three years.
(C) The Alarm Administrator reserves the right to inspect all alarm systems after giving 48 hours advance warning to the permittee to ensure that the alarm standards have been met.
(Ord. 921-C.S., passed 9-7-21)
(A) An alarm company responsible for monitoring services shall make two attempts to contact user or users of alarm system prior to requesting law enforcement response.
(1) Communicate any available information regarding specifics of the alarm event.
(2) Communicate a cancellation to the law enforcement communications center as soon as possible following a determination that response is unnecessary.
(B) It shall be unlawful for any person to engage in, conduct, or carry on any alarm/monitoring business within the city unless said person has first registered the intention to engage in such alarm business with the city, giving the city such information as it may require; and has displayed to the city a current valid city business license and a permit issued by the State of California, where state law requires such a permit or license.
(C) Any person engaging in, conducting, or carrying on any alarm/monitoring business within the city shall notify each alarm owner of the permit and false alarm process upon the request of installation of an alarm system and verify said notification in writing has been signed by the alarm user. Violation of said requirement shall be considered a violation of this chapter and subject to a fine for each occurrence. (See the City of Eureka Schedule of Fees and Service Charges.)
(Ord. 921-C.S., passed 9-7-21)
Any violation of the provisions of this chapter may be prosecuted under the provisions of § 10.99 and is subject to a fee as prescribed in the City of Eureka Schedule of Fees and Service Charges.
(Ord. 921-C.S., passed 9-7-21)
(A) The City Council may, from time to time, by resolution, adopt such fees and service charges for the following items, as it deems appropriate:
(1) Alarm permit.
(2) Reinstatement fee.
(3) False alarm fee.
(4) Late application fee.
(5) Renewal fee.
(B) Any failure to pay, within 30 days of billing, any fees authorized by this chapter shall result in a penalty assessment being added.
(Ord. 921-C.S., passed 9-7-21)
The city shall enforce this chapter. Each violation shall constitute a separate offense. A violation of any section in this chapter is punishable as a misdemeanor or infraction, chargeable at the City Attorney's discretion pursuant to § 10.99.
(Ord. 921-C.S., passed 9-7-21)
Information furnished and secured pursuant to this chapter shall be confidential in character and shall not be subject to public inspection and shall be kept so that the contents thereof shall not be known except to persons charged with the administration of this subchapter or for legitimate law enforcement needs.
(Ord. 921-C.S., passed 9-7-21)
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