(a) All alarm notifications requiring a police response are characterized as being either a legitimate alarm or a false alarm after inspection of the alarm site by the responding officer(s).
(1) The following situations are considered to be legitimate alarms and are not chargeable to the alarm user:
a. alarms activated due to criminal activity or attempted criminal activity.
b. alarms activated as a result of weather (lightning, high winds, etc.)
c. alarms activated due to a power outage or surge or damage to phone lines.
d. alarms properly cancelled prior to the officer's arrival.
e. alarms activated as a result of police radio interference.
f. other situations where it is determined by the alarm coordinator that the alarm user could not have reasonably prevented the alarm activation.
(2) The following situations are considered to be false alarms and are chargeable to the alarm user if the police department responds to the alarm site within 30 minutes of the alarm notification:
a. business alarms that are accidentally activated by an employee, owner, cleaning crew or other persons legally at the alarm site; and residential alarms that are accidentally activated by the homeowner, occupant, or person who is legally at the residence.
b. alarms activated as a result of a domestic animal.
c. alarms activated due to heating or air conditioning blowers turning on or due to the operation of other mechanical or electrical devices left operating.
d. alarms activated due to falling stock or movement of hanging signs or other objects.
e. alarms activated as a result of a malfunction in the alarm system.
f. alarms caused by any other condition that could have been reasonably prevented by the alarm user.
(b) An alarm user shall be subject to service fees and possible permit suspension for an excessive number of false alarms at their alarm site.
(1) No service fee will be charged for the first three false alarms occurring in a calendar year at an alarm site.
(2) Except as provided in Section 70-58 of this article, after the first three alarms at an alarm site in a calendar year, an alarm user shall pay a service fee for each false alarm occurring at their alarm site during the remainder of the twelve-month period.
(c) A service fee for false alarms may be imposed if a least three false alarms have occurred in the preceding 12-month period. The amount of the service fee for a false alarm will be established as follows:
(1) $50, if the location has had more than three, but fewer than six other false alarms in the preceding 12-month period; or
(2) $75, if the location has had more than five, but fewer than eight other false alarms in the preceding 12-month period; or
(3) $100, if the location has had eight or more other false alarms in the preceding 12-month period.
(d) Upon the determination that six or more false alarms have occurred at an alarm site in a calendar year, the alarm coordinator shall make written notice to the alarm user and the alarm company providing service of such fact and the service fee(s) assessed. The notice shall also state that the user must either appeal, as provided in Section 70-58 of this article, or pay the assessed service fee(s) within 30 days of receipt of the notice. Failure to make timely payment of fees shall result in the alarm permit being revoked.
(Ord. No. 3075, § 2, 10-25-01; Ord. No. 3907, § 2, 12-12-13)