For the purpose of this chapter, the following terms are defined as follows:
ALARM AGENT: Any person who is employed by an alarm business, either directly or indirectly, whose duties include any of the following: selling, maintaining, leasing, servicing, monitoring, repairing, altering, replacing, moving or installing any alarm system over, under or in any building or structure or facility.
ALARM BUSINESS: The business of any person of leasing, maintaining, servicing, monitoring, repairing, altering, replacing, moving or installing any alarm system or causing it to be leased, maintained, serviced, monitored, repaired, altered, replaced, moved or installed in, over, under or on any building, structure or facility. Alarm business does not include a business which engages in the manufacture or sale of an alarm system unless such business services, installs, monitors, or responds to alarm systems at the protected premises.
ALARM SYSTEM: Any mechanical or electrical device which is designed or used for the detection of criminal activity, fire, or related conditions potentially hazardous to the public safety and welfare which is located in the city of Helena or which terminates in the center or in a private alarm monitoring agency. However, nothing in this definition or in this chapter shall be deemed to include within the coverage of this chapter any alarm or alarm system, located inside a building or structure, which is exclusively designed for the purpose of notifying occupants or residents of said structure of any possible criminal activity, fire or related conditions.
ALARM USER: Any person, firm, partnership, association or corporation in control of any building, structure or facility, or portion thereof, wherein an alarm system is operated and maintained.
APPLICANT: Any person, persons, or corporate entity who owns, leases or otherwise obtains, or uses an alarm system and who files an application for a new or renewal permit for alarm monitoring services by the center or by a private alarm monitoring agency as set forth in this chapter.
CENTER: The Lewis and Clark County - city of Helena joint communication center located in the law enforcement center located in the city of Helena, Montana.
FALSE ALARM: The activation of an alarm system through mechanical failure, malfunction, improper installation, or through negligence of the user, owner or lessee of an alarm system, or his or her employees or agents. Such terminology does not include alarms caused by acts of God, flooding or other violent natural conditions.
FAULTY SYSTEM: An alarm system which results in false alarms as the result of mechanical failure, malfunctioning equipment or improper installation.
FINANCE DIRECTOR: The finance director of the city of Helena or his or her authorized representative.
FIRE CHIEF: The fire chief of the city of Helena or his or her authorized representative.
MANAGING AUTHORITY: Refers to that individual, group, agency, board or committee that is given authority by the city of Helena and Lewis and Clark County to oversee the operation of the law enforcement center located in the city of Helena. In addition, this term refers to the authorized agents of said managing authority.
NOTICE: Written notice, given by personal service upon the addressee, or deposited with the United States postal service, first class postage prepaid, addressed to the person to be notified at his last known address. Service of such notice shall be effective upon the completion of personal service or upon the placing of the same in the custody of the United States postal service.
PERMITTEE: Any person granted a permit as provided in this chapter and his or her agents and representatives.
PERSON: Natural person, firm, partnership, association or corporation, company, or other entity.
POLICE CHIEF: The police chief of the city of Helena or his or her authorized representative.
PRIVATE ALARM MONITORING AGENCY: Any person, firm, business or corporation which monitors any alarm system.
RURAL FIRE DEPARTMENT: Any fire department located in Lewis and Clark County, Montana, organized under the laws of the state of Montana, and operating under the authority of the Lewis and Clark County fire warden.
SHERIFF: The sheriff of Lewis and Clark County, Montana, or his or her authorized representative. (Ord. 2371, 7-29-1985; amd. Ord. 2406, 7-14-1986; Ord. 2461, 2-22-1988)