(A) Definitions:
AUTOMATIC DIALER ALARM: Any device attached to a telephone line that automatically dials a preprogrammed telephone number and electronically transmits a prerecorded message to report criminal activity or other emergency. Automatic dialer alarms are prohibited.
CENTRAL STATION ALARM: Alarms which cause a signal to be sent to a private central location resulting in an operator telephoning the sheriff's department communications center advising of the activation.
DIRECT STATION ALARM: Alarms which run directly from a specific location to the sheriff's department communications center and are connected by leased telephone lines.
EXCESSIVE FALSE ALARMS: A fourth false alarm (see definition of False Alarm) in any calendar month or a sixteenth alarm in any calendar year shall be an excessive number of false alarms.
FALSE ALARM:
1. The accidental or unintentional activation of an alarm system by faulty alarm equipment or human error of a person authorized to maintain such system. An alarm activated by power failure or weather condition shall not be classified as a false alarm.
2. The intentional act to make, turn in or give any false alarm of fire or of need of police or ambulance assistance, or to aid or abet in the commission of such act.
LOCAL ALARMS: Alarms which sound audibly on the premises of the subscriber and are not connected to any central station. All owners of local alarms shall be responsible for arrangements, when they are not available, to maintain and turn the system off in case of malfunction.
(B) False Alarm Fees: The user of an alarm device shall be assessed a fee for each "false alarm", as defined in subsection (A) of this section, in excess of five (5) false alarms per calendar year as follows:
6th–8th false alarm within a calendar year: $25.00 per false alarm.
9th–12th false alarm within a calendar year: $50.00 per false alarm.
For each false alarm in excess of 12 within a calendar year: $75.00 per false alarm.
(C) Warnings: After the fourth "false alarm", as defined in subsection (A) of this section, in a calendar year is answered for the same user, the police department shall send the user a warning letter containing the list of fees for false alarms. However, the failure of the department to send such a warning letter shall not invalidate the imposition of any fee for answering a false alarm assessed in accordance with the schedule set forth in subsection (B) of this section.
(D) Penalty: Any one of the following shall constitute a separate offense and any person, firm or corporation found guilty of violating any provision thereof shall be punished by a fine not less than one hundred dollars ($100.00) nor more than five hundred dollars ($500.00) for each such separate offense:
1. The failure of the alarm user to properly maintain his/her alarm system or cause it to be properly maintained according to recognized minimum standards of the alarm industry.
2. The failure of the alarm user to pay the false alarm fees required by this section.
3. An excessive number of false alarms.
4. Failure of an alarm user to comply with direction to cease using malfunctioning alarm equipment that produces excessive false alarms.
5. The intentional act to make, turn in or give any false alarm, or the aiding or abetting in the commission of same. (Ord. 98-26, 4-19-1999)