(a) As used in this section, "false alarm" means an emergency alarm activated by inadvertence, negligence or unintentional acts to which the Police or Fire Division responds, including malfunction of the alarm system. The definition excludes alarms caused by malfunctions of the indicator at the Police or Fire Station; malfunction, testing or repairing of telephone equipment or lines; an attempted illegal entry of which there is visible evidence; the user acting under a sincere belief that a need exists to call the Police or Fire Division; and a call to the Police or Fire Division cancelling the alarm prior to the arrival of the Police or Fire Division. If a doubt exists as to the cause of a false alarm, the Chief of Police or the Fire Chief shall resolve it in favor of the alarm user. Multiple alarms received before the system can be deactivated within a reasonable period of time shall be considered a single alarm.
(b) False alarm charges shall be assessed as follows. No charge shall be made for the first and second false alarms annually or for a false alarm to which there is no response by the Police or Fire Division. A charge as stated in the Fee Schedule in § 236.07 of the City of Kirtland Codified Ordinances shall be made for the third false alarm annually, and a charge as stated in the Fee Schedule in § 236.07 of the City of Kirtland Codified Ordinances shall be made for each additional false alarm.
(c) False alarm charges shall apply whether the alarm is received from an automatic dialing device, one connected directly to the Police or Fire Station or any other alarm service that is utilized within the city.
(d) Any charge for a false alarm remaining unpaid for 30 days after the date of the mailing of the invoice shall be turned over to the Law Director for collection.
(Ord. 90-O-60, passed 9-4-1990; Am. Ord. 17-O-20, passed 7-3-2017)