5-10-12: FINES:
A fine payable to the city shall be assessed to a subscriber whose alarm system generates a false alarm. The fine shall be in accordance with the following schedule:
   A.   For the first, second or third false alarm during any period of twelve (12) consecutive months between January 1 to December 31, no fine. The police department shall send a warning letter to the alarm user upon the occurrence of each such false alarm.
   B.   For the fourth or fifth false alarm during any period of twelve (12) consecutive months between January 1 to December 31, a fine of one hundred dollars ($100.00) for each such false alarm. The police department shall, in connection with imposing and demanding payment of the fine, send a warning letter to the alarm user upon the occurrence of each such false alarm.
   C.   For the sixth and each subsequent false alarm during any period of twelve (12) consecutive months between January 1 to December 31, a fine of two hundred fifty dollars ($250.00) for each such false alarm, except where the police chief determines upon good cause shown that there are mitigating circumstances surrounding the false alarm, in which event the chief may reduce the fine to less than one hundred dollars ($100.00) for each such false alarm. The police department shall, in connection with imposing and demanding payment of any such fine or reduced fine, send an appropriate warning letter to the alarm user upon the occurrence of each such false alarm.
   D.   All fines imposed by this section shall be collected in accordance with the following regulations:
      1.   The warning letters required by subsection A of this section shall state that upon the occurrence of a fourth and fifth false alarm during the twelve (12) month period following the first false alarm, a civil fine of one hundred dollars ($100.00) shall be imposed for each such false alarm, and that the city is authorized to recover the penalty without an administrative hearing or through a civil lawsuit, and that the subscriber whose alarm system generated such false alarms shall have the right to request an administrative hearing to determine whether such fine shall be paid in full, or for good cause shown paid in a reduced amount, or whether the fine shall be suspended.
      2.   The warning letters required by subsections B and C of this section shall state that upon the occurrence of a fifth false alarm during the twelve (12) month period following the first false alarm, a civil fine of one hundred dollars ($100.00) shall be imposed for each such false alarm; that upon the occurrence of a sixth and subsequent false alarms during the twelve (12) month period following the first false alarm, a civil fine of two hundred fifty dollars ($250.00) shall be imposed for each such false alarm; and that the city is authorized to recover the penalty without an administrative hearing or through a civil lawsuit, and the subscriber whose alarm system generated such false alarms shall have the right to request an administrative hearing to determine whether such fine shall be paid in full, or for good cause shown paid in a reduced amount, or whether the fine shall be suspended. (Ord. 98-07, 4-28-1998)