(1) General duties. Every alarm company shall comply with the following duties:
(a) Upon request, provide the alarm administrator with documentation evidencing compliance with the provisions of this article;
(b) After installation of a new alarm system or conversion, takeover or transfer of an existing alarm system, provide written and oral instructions to each of its alarm users in the proper use and operation of their alarm system, including but not limited to all instructions necessary to turn the alarm system on and off and to avoid false alarms;
(c) After completion of the installation of an alarm system or conversion, takeover or transfer of an existing alarm system, review with the alarm user a false alarm prevention checklist provided or approved by the alarm administrator;
(d) When a transfer, takeover or conversion of an alarm system occurs or upon request of an alarm system user for inspection or modification of an alarm system, remove the one plus duress alarm capability from the alarm system;
(e) If available and required by the alarm administrator, use only alarm control equipment which meets or exceeds the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) approved Security Industry Association (SIA) SIA CP-01 Control Panel Standard, as amended, and is appropriately labeled as meeting such standard by an independent third party testing organization;
(f) Require all alarm system users to go through a seven-day acclimation period following installation of an alarm system or conversion, takeover or transfer of an existing alarm system during which period the alarm company will not make dispatch requests to the division of police, unless circumstances necessitate immediate requests for response pursuant to regulations adopted by the alarm administrator;
(g) Within thirty (30) days of assuming responsibility for another alarm company's monitored alarm user, notify the alarm administrator of the transfer of responsibility;
(h) Collect from each of its alarm users the initial and renewal nonrefundable fifteen dollar ($15.00) administrative fees and remit the fees to the alarm administrator with the completed alarm user permit application and renewal applications, as appropriate, at least fourteen (14) calendar days prior to initial activation of a new system or expiration of the permit for an existing system; and
(i) At least fourteen (14) calendar days prior to a conversion, verify that the contents of the last alarm system user permit application is accurate and, if not, submit a new application, which shall not require payment of a new application fee or alter the permit period.
(2) Prohibited system functions. No alarm company shall:
(a) Program an alarm system so that it is capable of sending one plus duress alarms;
(b) Install a device to activate a holdup alarm which is a single action, non-recessed button; or
(c) Use automatic voice dialers.
(3) Monitoring service providers. Every alarm company that provides monitoring services shall:
(a) Report alarm signals by use of a telephone number or numbers provided by the alarm administrator;
(b) Communicate an alarm dispatch cancellation to the division of police immediately upon determining that a false alarm or a false dispatch has occurred;
(c) Except for duress, holdup or panic alarm signals, attempt to verify every alarm signal before making an alarm dispatch request;
(d) Communicate all alarm dispatch requests to the division of police in the manner directed by the alarm administrator;
(e) Ensure that all alarm system users of alarm systems equipped with duress, holdup or panic alarms are given adequate training as to the proper use of the duress, holdup or panic alarm;
(f) Include all available information about the alarm in the alarm dispatch request, which shall include but not be limited to:
1. The location of the activated alarm, including the complete business or residential address, homeowner's name and telephone number;
2. The alarm user permit or registration number;
3. If the alarm system is zoned, the specific location of the alarm activation such as interior, perimeter, vault, motion detection, north, south, front back, first floor, second floor;
4. The results of the verification procedure;
5. For alarms at nonresidential premises, any available information regarding whether the business is open or closed, if guards or guard dogs are on site, and if dangerous or special conditions exist within the location; and
6. For alarms at residential premises, any available information regarding the presence of pets, handicapped or disabled individuals, or unusual or special conditions.
(g) For a period of one (1) year maintain records relating to alarm dispatch requests, including the alarm user's name, address and telephone number; the alarm system zone activated; the time of the alarm dispatch request; and, a detailed description of all attempts made to verify the alarm;
(h) Within three (3) business days of receiving of a request from the alarm administrator, furnish the alarm administrator with all records for a specific alarm dispatch request made within the past year;
(i) Within twenty (20) calendar days of receiving a request from the alarm administrator, furnish the alarm administrator with all records for a specific alarm user for the prior year;
(j) Arrange for either the alarm user or other responsible party to go to the premises of an activated alarm within thirty (30) minutes of activation of the alarm in order to be available to assist law enforcement personnel in determining the reason for activation and to secure the premises.
(Ord. No. 56-2005, § 5, 3-10-05)