(A) Each time the Washington County Sheriff's Office and/or the Lower St. Croix Valley Fire Protection District responds to a false alarm due to system malfunction, or when no reason can be determined for the false alarm, the Washington County Sheriff's Office or the Lower St. Croix Valley Fire Protection District shall issue a warning notice.
(B) A service fee for excessive false alarms shall be charged as follows:
(1) No service fee shall be charged for the first 3 false alarms occurring within a 12-month period, calculated from the date of the first such alarm.
(2) Each false alarm in excess of 3 and up to and including 6 within a 12-month period shall result in a service fee per false alarm as set forth in § 33.01.
(3) Each false alarm in excess of 6 within a 12-month period shall result in a service fee per false alarm as set forth in § 33.01.
(C) No service fee shall be assessed if the false alarm is:
(1) Caused by an electrical storm, tornado, or other act of God where there is clear evidence of damage to the alarm system;
(2) Caused by the intermittent disruption of telephone circuits beyond the control of the alarm site owner; or
(3) Caused by electrical power disruption or failure in excess of 2 hours beyond the control of the alarm site owner.
(D) All false alarm service fees are due and payable within 30 days from date of invoice. In the event that false alarm service fees are not paid as required by this chapter, the Washington County Sheriff or the Lower St. Croix Valley Fire Protection District may refer to the matter to the City Attorney for appropriate legal action, including but not limited to certifying same for collection against real property taxes as with other unpaid municipal services.
(E) A person commits an offense in violation of this chapter if the person suffers or permits false alarms in excess of 3 within a 12-month period, each false alarm constituting a separate violation.
(Prior Code, § 1505.040) (Ord. 98-7481, passed 7-21-1998) Penalty, see § 10.99