For purposes of this chapter the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
ALARM SIGNAL. A detectable signal, either audible or visual, generated by an alarm system, to which the Sheriff's Office may respond.
ALARM SYSTEM.
(1) Any single device or assembly of equipment designed to signal the occurrence of an illegal entry or other activity requiring immediate attention and to which the Sheriff's Office responds, but does not include alarms installed in motor vehicles or fire box alarms accessible to or able to be activated by the general public.
(2) Further, alarm systems that are operated by the county, state or federal government and installed on premises occupied or used by such entities for governmental purposes (including schools) shall not be subject to this chapter. The categories of alarms for which a Sheriff's Office response may be requested for purposes of this chapter may include, but not necessarily be limited to, burglary, holdup, robbery, duress, panic, fire or smoke.
ALARM SYSTEMS COORDINATOR. The County Manager of Lincoln County or designee.
ALARM USER. Any person, corporation, partnership, proprietorship, or any other entity owning or leasing an alarm system, or on whose premises an alarm system is maintained for the protection of such premises.
AUTOMATIC DIAL PROTECTION. An automatic dialing device or an automatic telephone dialing alarm system and shall include any system, which, upon being activated, automatically initiates to the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office or to the designated communications center a recorded message or code signal indicating a need for Sheriff's Office response. This does not apply to a life safety alert system utilizing residential transmitting equipment designated for direct or indirect telephone access to dedicated control receiving equipment.
DEFENSES TO FALSE ALARMS. An alarm user may raise, as an affirmative defense to a false alarm service fee assessment, that a false alarm was caused by action of the telephone company, telephone line outage, power outage lasting longer than the life of a fully charged battery, or other extraordinary circumstances not reasonably subject to control by the alarm user, subscriber or proprietor alarm owner.
FALSE ALARM.
(1) The activation of an alarm system through mechanical or electronic failure, malfunction, improper installation, or the negligence of the alarm user, his employees or agents, and signals activated to summon Sheriff's Office personnel, which revealed upon inspection by the responding officer no evidence indicating an entry without authorization, robbery, or that such other crime was attempted in or on or against the premises, nor any evidence of fire or smoke which would have activated a properly functioning alarm system.
(2) A false alarm shall not include an alarm which can reasonably be determined to have been caused or activated by unusually violent conditions of nature nor does it include other extraordinary circumstances not reasonably subject to control by the alarm user. In addition, an alarm activated during an alarm system testing procedure shall not be considered a false alarm if the alarm user first notifies and receives permission from the user's alarm company and/or the Communications Center. An alarm is not considered false as it relates to this section, when said alarm is activated within five days of initially becoming operable.
SHERIFF. The Sheriff of Lincoln County or designee.
(Ord. passed 11-5-2012)