For the purpose of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
ALARM BUSINESS. The business of any individual, partnership, corporation or other entity selling, leasing, monitoring, maintaining, servicing, repairing, altering, replacing, moving or installing any alarm system or causing to be sold, leased, monitored, maintained, serviced, repaired, altered, replaced, moved or installed any alarm system in or on any building, structure or facility.
ALARM RECEIVING EQUIPMENT. Any equipment, by design, that receives a signal from an alarm system reporting alarm activation.
ALARM SYSTEM. All types of assembly or equipment, mechanical or electrical, arranged to signal the occurrence of an actual or attempted burglary, an actual or attempted robbery, a medical emergency, a fire or any other activity requiring urgent attention and to which the Police Department and/or Fire Department are expected to respond. ALARM SYSTEM shall include any system monitored by a central alarm monitoring station that reports alarm activation to the Police Department and to which the Police Department and/or Fire Department are expected to respond.
ALARM USER. A person, firm, partnership, association, corporation, company or organization of any kind in control of any building, structure or facility where an alarm system is maintained.
APPLICANT. Any person, partnership, corporation or other entity that files an application for a new or renewal license or permit as provided in this chapter.
AUTOMATIC DIALING DEVICE. A device, which is interconnected to a telephone line and is programmed to select a predetermined telephone number and transmit by voice message an emergency message indicating the need for an emergency response.
CALENDAR YEAR. A 12-month period beginning with the first day of January and ending with the last day of December.
DIGITAL COMMUNICATOR. A device, which is interconnected to a telephone line and is programmed to select a predetermined telephone number that connects the device with the alarm receiving equipment located at the Police Department, transmits by a coded electronic signal an alarm number and indicates the type of emergency response needed.
FALSE ALARM. Any alarm condition which is registered at the Police Department or Fire Department or elsewhere, which is not the result of an actual or attempted criminal activity or problem otherwise requiring the legitimate response of Police Department or Fire Department personnel of the city.
(1) FALSE ALARMS include:
(a) Negligently or accidentally activated signals;
(b) Signals, which are the result of faulty, malfunctioning or improperly installed, secured or maintained equipment;
(c) Signals which are the result of improperly installed, secured or maintained windows or doors or similar general areas of the building; and
(d) Signals which are purposely activated to summon the Police Department or Fire Department in non-emergency situations.
(2) Alarm conditions caused by the following extenuating circumstances shall not constitute a false alarm:
(a) Signals, which result from storm conditions or other acts of God;
(b) Signals being activated by persons working on the alarm system with prior notice to the Police Department and/or Fire Department;
(c) Signals activated by disruption or disturbance of the telephone or other communication services; and
(d) Signals activated willfully by alarm users upon good faith belief, as determined by the city, that an actual or attempted crime or other emergency has or is about to occur.
LOCAL ALARMS. Those alarms which activate an audible signal within the proximity of the premises only.
PANIC ALARM BUTTON. A manually activated alarm system signaling an actual or attempted burglary, an actual or attempted robbery, a medical emergency or a fire.
POLICE ALARM ADMINISTRATOR. The employee of the Police Department whose responsibility is to coordinate the administration and documentation of alarm businesses, alarm users and alarm system performance as it relates to the effective enforcement of the provisions of this chapter.
(Prior Code, § 11.06.02)