(a) As used in this section, "false alarm" means and includes any alarm received by the Police Department or Fire Department that has resulted from either the mechanical malfunction of an alarm system located within the City or the negligence of the owner of property within the City, or his or her agent or employee, in setting the alarm system, which negligence proximately causes the alarm to register and be received by the Department. Whether or not an alarm received by the Department qualifies as a false alarm is a decision to be made by the Chief of Police or the Fire Chief after a proper investigation of the circumstances surrounding the alarm receipt has been completed by the Chief.
(Ord. 1986-74. Passed 7-2-86.)
(b) If the Police Department or Fire Department have received more than one false alarm within any thirty-day period, or more than three false alarms within any twelve month period from and after the effective date of this section, the owner of the property upon which the alarm system is located may be charged an amount as set forth in Chapter 214 of the Administration Code per false alarm for each and every false alarm in excess of one for the thirty-day period or in excess of three for the twelve month period.
(Ord. 99-5. Passed 1-19-99.)
(c) The Finance Director shall, upon notification of the Police Chief or Fire Chief, give five days notice by regular mail to the owner of such property, at his or her last known address, to pay the charge authorized by subsection (b) hereof. If the same is not paid within thirty days after the mailing of the notice, then such amount shall be determined to be delinquent and shall be collected in a manner authorized by law.
(Ord. 1986-74. Passed 7-2-86.)