(a) Prior to alarm system activation, every alarm company selling, leasing or furnishing to any user an alarm system that is subject to this article shall:
(1) furnish the user with a copy of this article;
(2) furnish the user with an application for an alarm user's permit;
(3) provide written instructions explaining how to operate the alarm system properly;
(4) provide written information on how to obtain service for the alarm system at any time; and
(5) provide training regarding the proper operation of the alarm system to the alarm user and to the alarm user's employees or other persons designated by the alarm user as authorized to operate the alarm system.
(b) Upon enactment of this ordinance, alarm companies shall not install a device activating a robbery alarm system that is a single action non-recessed button. An alarm company must remove all single action non-recessed buttons when a takeover or conversion occurs.
(c) Each alarm company shall provide to the alarm coordinator a copy of its state license and the name, address and phone number of a contact person. If the alarm company has a local contact person, then the name, address and phone number shall be provided to the alarm coordinator.
(d) An alarm company which begins monitoring a previously unmonitored alarm system or an alarm system previously monitored by another alarm company must notify the alarm coordinator of the conversion at least three days prior to the date of the conversion.
(e) An alarm company or any person performing monitoring shall:
(1) attempt to verify an alarm signal from a burglary alarm system before requesting a police response;
(2) communicate cancellations to the police department as soon as possible following the determination that a police response is unnecessary;
(3) communicate the type of alarm activation (silent or audible; robbery, burglary or duress; exterior or interior motion, etc.);
(4) communicate any available information about the specific location of the alarm at the alarm site;
(5) endeavor to contact the alarm user or a representative when an alarm notification is made and notify the police department of the time contact was made or the lack thereof, and the intent of the alarm user or representative to respond or to not respond to the alarm site. The alarm company shall also furnish the police department with the name of the person contacted, the name of the person responding, the estimated time of arrival and a description of the vehicle driven by the responding person, if applicable.
(6) provide the police department with any other information about the alarm and alarm site that may be deemed necessary for the safety of responding officer(s) and administering this article.
(f) The alarm coordinator may appeal to the Texas Department of Public Safety Private Security Bureau to suspend or revoke an alarm company's license for failure to comply with the duties listed in this section.
(Ord. No. 3075, § 2, 10-25-01; Ord. No. 3907, § 2, 12-12-13)