As used herein, unless otherwise indicated, the following terms are defined and have the meanings as follows:
ALARM SIGNAL: An audible or visual signal, or both, indicating the existence of an emergency condition. Audible devices may be bells, horns, chimes, speakers or similar devices. For the purpose of this chapter, the "alarm signal" may be a local alarm or an alarm transmitted to a monitoring agency which then notifies the police and/or fire department.
ALARM SYSTEM: A single device or a combination of approved compatible devices with the necessary electrical interconnection and energy to produce an alarm signal in the event of an emergency. The alarm signal, when initiated, must be connected to a monitoring agency which notifies the police and/or fire department of an emergency to which public safety personnel initiate a response, or emits an audible local signal which is reported to the police and/or fire department to which public safety personnel initiate a response.
ALARM USER: The person, firm, partnership, association, corporation, company, or organization of any kind on whose premises an alarm system is located. "Alarm user" includes persons occupying dwelling units for residential purposes.
CALENDAR YEAR: The period from January 1 through December 31 of each year.
FALSE ALARM: A. Any deliberate or accidental activation of an alarm system that initiates a response by the police and/or fire department where an emergency situation does not exist. "False alarm" includes, but is not limited to:
1. The deliberate activation of an alarm system when no such emergency actually exists; or
2. The activation of an alarm system through mechanical failure, malfunction, or improper installation; or
3. The negligent use or maintenance of the alarm system by its owner or lessee or by the owner's or lessee's employees or agents.
B. "False alarm" does not include activation of the alarm system by a utility company or by power outages or by climatic conditions such as tornadoes, lightning, earthquakes, other violent conditions of nature, or any other conditions which are clearly beyond the control of the alarm manufacturer, installer or owner.
C. "False alarm" does not include activation of an alarm system as the result of an effort or order to upgrade, install, test or maintain the system, if the police chief and, where applicable, the central monitoring agency for the alarm system are each notified in advance of said upgrade, installation, test or maintenance.
D. "False alarm" does not include alarms within the first thirty (30) days of installation.
FIRE ALARM SYSTEM: An alarm system designed, installed, or operated to prompt a response by the city fire department.
PERSON: Any individual, partnership, corporation, association, cooperative or other entity.
POLICE ALARM SYSTEM: An alarm system designed, installed, or operated to prompt a response by the city police department.
POLICE CHIEF: The police chief of the city, or his designee. (1974 Code § 907.05)