For purposes of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
AGENT. A natural person, who is designated by the principal to be responsible for the premises protected by an alarm system during the principal’s absence or unavailability.
ALARM SYSTEM. A device or system of interconnected devices, including hardware and related appurtenances, designed to give warning of activities indicative of felony or criminal conduct.
ANNUCIATOR. The part of an alarm system, other than an automatic dialer, which communicates the fact that the system has been triggered.
AUDIBLE ANNUCIATOR. An annuciator which gives alarm by means of a bell, siren, bussing, or similar sound producing device mounted at some location other than wholly within a building; or which, when activated, is clearly audible at a distance of 50 feet or more outside of any building in which it is mounted.
AUTOMATIC DIALER. A device which is programmed to select a telephone number and deliver a warning message or signal over standard telephone lines using telephone voice communication equipment.
CHIEF. The Chief of Police of the city or any member under his or her jurisdiction designated by him or her to exercise any power or duty conferred under this chapter.
CITY TELEPHONE LINES. A telephone line which rings or terminates on a municipal premises of the city.
CONSOLIDATED COMMUNICATION CENTER. The department of the county established by an interlocal cooperation agreement between the City of Scottsbluff, the City of Gering, and the County of Scotts Bluff dated October 1, 1990, and any subsequent amendments thereto.
DIRECTOR. The Director of the Consolidated Communications Center.
FALSE ALARM.
(1) An activation of an alarm system upon or following which communication is made to the city’s Police Department, that an alarm has been triggered, except alarms, resulting from one of the following causes:
(a) Criminal activity or unauthorized entry;
(b) Earthquake causing structural damage to the protected premises;
(c) Tornado winds causing structural damage to the protected premises;
(d) Flooding of the premises due to an overflow of natural drainage;
(e) A lightning bolt causing physical damage to the protected premises;
(f) Fire causing structural damage to the protected premises verified by the Fire Department; and/or
(g) Telephone line malfunction verified in writing to the Chief by at least a first line telephone company supervisor within seven days of the occurrence.
(2) If an alarm, when communicated to the city’s Police Department before an officer is dispatched to investigate, is clearly identified as resulting from authorized entry, authorized system test, or other noncriminal cause, it shall not be considered as a FALSE ALARM. If police units, responding to an alarm and checking the protected premises according to standard Department operating procedure, do not discover any evidence of unauthorized entry or criminal activity, there shall be a rebuttable presumption that the alarm is FALSE. Entries on the city’s Police Department dispatcher’s record shall be prima facie evidence of the facts stated therein with regard to alarms and responses.
ON-PREMISES ANNUCIATOR. An annuciator which is designed to give warning only to a person or persons on the protected premises, and which is neither an audible or remote annuciator as those terms are defined in this section.
OWNER/LESSEE. Any person, firm, corporation, partnership, or entity who or which purchases, leases, contracts, for or obtains an alarm system.
PRINCIPAL. The person, firm, or corporation whose premises are protected by an alarm system. In the event that a building having more than one tenant is protected by a single alarm system, the PRINCIPAL means the building owner.
PROTECTED PREMISES. All of that contiguous area, including building, protected by a single alarm system and under common ownership and use.
PUBLIC SAFETY PERSONNEL. Officers and other members of law enforcement.
REMOTE ANNUCIATOR. An annuciator located at a terminal on the premises of a burglar alarm company, or other location not a part of the protected premises.
SENSOR. The part of an alarm system which is designated to detect the happenings of some event or existence of some condition indicative of criminal activity or unauthorized entry.
VENDOR. Any person, firm, corporation, partnership, or entity associated with an alarm business or company, either indirectly or directly, whose duties include but are not limited to, any of the following: selling, replacing, moving, repairing, maintaining, and/or installing an alarm system on or in any structure, building, or facility.
(Prior Code, § 98.01) (Ord. 1853, passed 7-9-2007)