For the purposes of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
ALARM NOTIFICATION. An alarm notification, whether transmitted by a human or automated system, to the Police Department, Fire Department or Emergency Services, alerting the responding respective authority of evidence of an unauthorized intrusion, attempted unauthorized intrusion, robbery, attempted robbery, burglary, attempted burglary, attempt to take a person hostage, fire or medical emergency.
ALARM SIGNAL. An audible or visual signal, or both, indicating the existence of an emergency fire, police or medical condition. Audible devices may be bells, horns, chimes, speakers or similar devices.
ALARM SITE. A premises or location served by a security and/or fire alarm system.
ALARM SYSTEMS COMPANY. A person acts as a security and/or fire alarm systems company, for the purposes of this chapter, if the person is licensed under the Texas Department of Public Safety Private Security Board or the Texas Fire Marshal’s Office, whichever is applicable, and sells, installs, services, monitors, or responds to an alarm system or detection device.
ALARM SYSTEMS INSTALLER.
(1) An individual acting as a security and/or fire alarm systems installer shall hold a certification issued by the Texas Department of Public Safety Private Security Board if the individual installs, maintains, or repairs an alarm system; or
(2) An individual acting as a fire or medical alarm systems installer shall hold a license and be certified by the State Fire Marshal’s Office.
AUTOMATIC ALARM NOTIFICATION. An alarm notification, transmitted by an automated system, to the Police Department, Fire Department or Emergency Services, alerting the responding respective authority of evidence of an unauthorized intrusion, attempted unauthorized intrusion, robbery, attempted robbery, burglary, attempted burglary, attempt to take a person hostage, fire or medical emergency.
BROADCAST ALARM. An alarm system that emits a signal at the alarm site that is audible and/or visible from the exterior of a structure.
BURGLAR ALARM NOTIFICATION. A notification intended to summon the Police Department, which is initiated or triggered manually or by a security and/or fire alarm system designed to respond to a stimulus characteristic of unauthorized intrusion.
COMMERCIAL ALARM. An alarm system located and installed in a commercial, business or any other non-residential structure or unit and capable of emitting an alarm notification.
COMMERCIAL HOLD-UP ALARM. An alarm system located and installed in commercial premises, which is not triggered automatically, but requires manual activation by an employee, officer or agent of the business or commercial enterprise located on the premises. It is designated and intended to indicate to law enforcement personnel that a robbery or holdup is in progress on the premises, and thus is intended to generate a different response from law enforcement authorities than a burglar alarm.
EMERGENCY RESPONSE AREA. Any area that the Gun Barrel City, Texas Police Department, Fire Department and/or Emergency Services is responsible, whether by city Charter, interlocal agreement or customary practices, to serve and protect.
EMERGENCY SERVICES. A department under the authority of Gun Barrel City, Texas and under the management of the City Manager staffed and equipped for response to medical emergencies. Staffing may include emergency care attendants, first responders, emergency medical technicians and paramedics. This service may or not be included with the Gun Barrel City Fire Department.
FALSE ALARM NOTIFICATION. An alarm notification to the Police Department, Fire Department or Emergency Services, when the responding respective authority finds no evidence of unauthorized intrusion, attempted unauthorized intrusion, robbery, attempted robbery, burglary, attempted burglary, attempt to take a person hostage, fire or medical emergency.
FIRE ALARM SYSTEM. A notification to the Fire Department intended to summon firefighting forces by an alarm system designed to react to any of the visual or physical characteristics of fire. A fire alarm system shall meet the requirements of the adopted Uniform Fire Code, Article 5.43-2 of the Insurance Code and Fire Alarm Rules of the State of Texas and other nationally recognized standards.
FIRE CHIEF. The Chief of the Gun Barrel City, Texas Fire Department or his or her designee.
FIRE DEPARTMENT. The department under the authority of Gun Barrel City, Texas and under the management of the City Manager staffed and equipped for fire protection.
FIRE LOCAL ALARM. An alarm system that emits an automatic or manually caused signal at an alarm site and has as its purpose the summoning of aid from the Fire Department.
GUN BARREL CITY, TEXAS (“CITY”). A municipality legally incorporated and doing business under the laws of the State of Texas and authorized to provide police, fire and emergency services within the city limits and other areas as may be agreed upon with other authorized governmental agencies.
MANUAL RESET. A person shall be designated in the application for a security and/or fire alarm system to be dispatched to the alarm site upon its activation and subsequent response by emergency personnel, as identified in this chapter, to manually reset the security and/or fire alarm system for future necessary activation.
PERMIT HOLDER. A natural person designated in the application for a security and/or fire alarm system, broadcast alarm or a hold-up alarm who is responsible for proper maintenance and operation of the alarm system and payment of fees. The PERMIT HOLDER or an authorized representative may be named on the application to be responsible for responding to alarms and giving access to the site.
POLICE CHIEF. The Chief of Police of the Gun Barrel City, Texas or his or her designated representative.
POLICE DEPARTMENT. The department under the authority of Gun Barrel City, Texas and under the management of the City Manager staffed and equipped for law enforcement protection.
RESIDENTIAL ALARM. An alarm system located and installed in a private residence, apartment, duplex, townhome or any other residential dwelling unit, which is capable of emitting an alarm notification.
SECURITY ALARM SYSTEM. Any mechanical or electrical device, which is used to protect people, buildings or premises from criminal acts, unauthorized entries by warning persons of a crime,
or unauthorized entry through the emission of a sound or the transmission of a signal or message. This system may also transmit a signal for the any of the visual or physical characteristics of fire, and/or medical emergencies.
SECURITY LOCAL ALARM. An alarm system that emits a signal at an alarm site that is audible or visible from the exterior of a structure and has as its purpose the summoning of aid from the Police Department.
(Ord. O-2009-019, passed 7-28-09)