For the purpose of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
ALARM PERMIT. A permit issued by the city allowing the operation of an alarm system within the city.
ALARM SIGNAL. A detectable signal, either audible or visual, generated by an alarm system, to which the Police or Fire Department 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 Police and/or Fire Department responds, but does not include alarms installed in motor vehicles or fire box alarms accessible to/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 the premises which the entity occupies or uses for governmental purposes shall not be subject to this chapter. However, each entity shall apply for and obtain a permit for each alarm system it operates.
(3) Alarms requesting a Police and or Fire Department response for purposes of this chapter may include burglary, holdup, robbery, duress, panic, fire or smoke and others.
ALARM SYSTEMS COORDINATOR. An employee of the city designated by the Chief of Police to administer this chapter.
ALARM USER. Any person, corporation, partnership, proprietorship, governmental or educational entity or any other entity owning or leasing an alarm system, or on whose premises an alarm system is maintained for the protection of the premises.
ALARM USER AWARENESS CLASS. A class conducted for the purpose of educating alarm users about the responsible use, operation and maintenance of alarm systems and the problems created by false alarms.
AUTOMATIC DIAL PROTECTION DEVICE. An automatic dialing device or an automatic telephone dialing alarm system and shall include any system, which, upon being activated, automatically initiates to the City Police Department and/or the Fire Department or to the Police Department’s and/or Fire Department’s designated communications center, a recorded message or code signal indicating a need for Police and/or Fire Department 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.
CHIEF OF POLICE. The Chief of Police of the City Police Department or his or her designee.
DEFENSES TO FALSE ALARMS. Affirmative defense to a false alarm service fee assessment may include evidence 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 and other extraordinary circumstances not reasonably subject to control by the alarm user, subscriber or proprietor alarm owner.
FALSE ALARM. The activation of an alarm system through mechanical or electronic failure, malfunction, improper installation or the negligence of the alarm user, his or her employees or agents and signals activated to summon police and/or fire personnel unless police and/or fire personnel response was cancelled by the alarm user or his or her agent before Police and/or Fire Department personnel arrive at the alarm location. 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 Police and/or Fire Department’s designated communications center. An alarm is not considered false as it relates to this section, when the alarm is activated within five days of initially becoming operable. An alarm is false within the meaning of this chapter when, upon inspection by the Chief of Police or his or her designee and/or Fire Chief or his or her designee, evidence indicates that no entry, without authorization, robbery or other crime was committed or attempted in or on or against the premises, no fire or smoke signs which would have activated a properly functioning alarm system.
(Prior Code, § 10-38) (Ord. O-11-02, passed 1-9-2003)