The following words and phrases, when used in this chapter, shall have the following meanings respectively ascribed to them in this section:
(a) “Alarm user permit” means a permit issued by the City for alarm systems operating within the City.
(b) “Alarm system” means any assembly of equipment, mechanical or electrical, automatically arranged to signal audibly, visibly or electronically to a location outside the structures protected by the system or to a monitoring station which in turn notifies the appropriate agency, the occurrence of an illegal entry or other activity requiring urgent attention to which the Police Department or the Fire Department is expected to respond, but shall not include telephones or alarms installed in motor vehicles.
(c) “Alarm user” means the person or entity of any kind who or which is:
(1) An owner (or lessee) and also the user of an alarm system as the occupant of the premises where the system is installed (the “premises”);
(2) The owner (or lessee) of such a premises which is occupied by another person or entity, if there is no written contract stating that the occupant (rather than the owner or lessee of the premises) is to be responsible for the alarm system;
(3) The occupant of such a premises, if there is a written agreement stating that the occupant is responsible for the alarm system.
(d) “Audible alarm” means any alarm system which is designed to emit its signal by bell, whistle, siren or other device to the immediate area near the structure which it protects. An audible alarm shall be considered as such whether or not it transmits a signal to an additional location.
(e) “Automatic dialer” means a device which is interconnected to a telephone line and is programmed to select a predetermined telephone number and transmit by a voice message or code signal an emergency message indicating the need for an emergency response.
(f) “False alarm” means a signal or message automatically initiated by an alarm system that is intended to demand the immediate services of emergency personnel, when the factual circumstances that caused the initiation of such signal do not warrant the immediate services of emergency personnel. Such activation could occur as the result of mechanical failure, malfunction, improper installation or the negligence of the owner or lessee of an alarm system, or of his employees or agent, excepting:
(1) An alarm which has been activated as a result of testing or repair shall not be considered a false alarm if prior notification has been given as to the time and day of such repairs or test to the agency which the alarm would signal.
(2) An alarm which has been activated shall not be considered as a false alarm if the responding Department promptly receives a request to cancel prior to the arrival of the first responding police unit or prior to the dispatch of a fire unit, and such requests to cancel shall be made in reference to the same location as the request for service.
(g) “Emergency personnel” means members of the Oxford Fire or Police Department or other State and Local First Responders.
(Ord. 2952. Passed 4-17-07.)