The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this chapter, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning.
ALARM ADMINISTRATORS.
(1) SECURITY ALARM ADMINISTRATOR. Chief of Police or his or her designee.
(2) FIRE ALARM ADMINISTRATOR. Fire Chief or his or her designee.
ALARM BUSINESS.
(1) The business, by an individual, partnership, corporation or other entity of selling, leasing, maintaining, servicing, repairing, altering, replacing, moving, installing or monitoring an alarm system in an alarm site.
(2) A person or organization that sells alarm devices exclusively over-the-counter or by mail order and the person or organization does not plan, certify, install, service, or maintain this equipment are exempted.
ALARM SITE. A single premise or location (one street address) served by an alarm system or systems that are under the control of one person.
ALARM SYSTEM. Any assembly of mechanisms, equipment, device or devices, arranged or designated to detect the presence of a fire, an unauthorized entry or activity in any building or any property, or to direct attention to a fire, robbery, burglary, or any other emergency in progress, and to signal the above occurrences either by a local or monitored alarm, directly or indirectly to the Police Department Communications Center. The following devices shall not constitute an ALARM SYSTEM within the meaning of this subsection:
(1) Devices which do not activate alarms that are audible, visible, or perceptible outside the protected premises;
(2) Devices which are not installed, operated or used for the purpose of reporting an emergency either directly or by a third party to the Police or Fire Department;
(3) Alarm devices installed in motor vehicles;
(4) Alarm devices installed on a temporary basis by the Police or Fire Department.
ALARM SYSTEM PERMIT.
(1) FIRE ALARM SYSTEM PERMIT. A certificate of authorization issued by the fire alarm administrator to the owner, agent or person in control of the property, which authorizes the operation of a fire alarm system at an alarm site.
(2) SECURITY ALARM SYSTEM PERMIT. A certificate of authorization issued by the security alarm administrator to the owner, agent or person in control of the property, which authorizes the operation of a security alarm system at an alarm site.
ALARM USER. The owner, occupant, agent or person in control of the property on which the alarm system is maintained within the city and who is responsible for proper maintenance and operation of the alarm system.
APPLICANT. Any person who has requested or is requesting an alarm system permit to install, operate, or maintain an alarm system at a particular location.
AUTOMATIC DIALING DEVICE. An alarm system which automatically sends over regular telephone lines, by direct connection or coded signal indicating the existence of an emergency situation that the alarm system is designed to detect.
BURGLAR. An alarm that is designed to detect unauthorized entry into or upon the property of a closed business or residence.
DIRECTOR. The City Manager.
DURESS and EMS ALARMS. An alarm activated by switch or button to signify a medical problem.
FALSE ALARM. Any activation of an alarm system through mechanical or electronic failure, malfunction, improper installation, negligence of the owner, agent or person in charge of the property, or negligence of the alarm business operator or its employees or agents, or any other activation to which a police or firefighter responds and no emergency exists for which the alarm system was designed to give notice. However, for the purpose of this chapter FALSE ALARMS shall not include alarm system activation caused by utility line mishaps, tornadoes, earthquakes, or similar acts of nature.
HOLDUP (ROBBERY) ALARM. A manually activated alarm designed to alert law enforcement officials or others of a robbery in progress.
LOCAL ALARM. An alarm system that emits a signal at an alarm site that is audible from the interior and/or exterior at the alarm site only.
MONITORING. The process by which an alarm business receives signals from an alarm system and contacts the Police Department Communications Center for city personnel response.
MONITORED ALARM. An alarm system that sends a signal indicating a need for response to an alarm business which operates with trained personnel on duty at all times who will relay the need for response by city personnel to the Police Department Communications Center on a person-to-person basis.
PERMITTEE. Any person, corporation, partnership or other legal entity, to whom an alarm system permit is issued.
POLICE DEPARTMENT COMMUNICATIONS CENTER. The office within the Mount Pleasant Police Department responsible for receiving requests for emergency services and for dispatching appropriate city personnel.
RESPONSE.
(1) A
RESPONSE by the Fire Department shall be deemed to have occurred upon the need to respond being relayed to the Fire Department via the radio or telephone from the Police Department Communications Center.
(2) A
RESPONSE by the Police Department shall be deemed to have occurred upon the need to respond being relayed to police department personnel via the radio or telephone from the Police Department Communications Center or the discovery of an activated alarm by police while on routine patrol.
(Ord. 2001-9, passed 6-5-01)