(A) Police alarms.
(1) If the communications center receives in excess of one false police alarm in any calendar month from any single alarm system, the alarm system user owning or leasing the alarm system shall be assessed a civil penalty of $48 for each said false alarm. Where an alarm system or systems protects a single business with more than 8,000 square feet of alarm exposure, three false alarms in any calendar month shall be allowed before a civil penalty shall be assessed. Failure to pay this penalty within 30 from the date the notice of the violation is issued may result in the revocation of the permit, and the Police Department may cease responding to said alarms.
(2) If the communications center receives in excess of four false police alarms in any calendar month from any single alarm system, and if the Police Chief has reason to believe that such false alarms are the result of a defective alarm system, the Police Chief may require the alarm system user to cause the alarm system to be inspected by an individual or company licensed by the state to install and inspect alarm systems. The alarm system user shall select an individual or company to perform the inspection. If the alarm system user fails to have such an inspection performed, or if the alarm system is not repaired, altered, replaced, or other corrective action taken, the Police Chief may cause the alarm system to be disconnected and/or may revoke the alarm system to be disconnected and/or may revoke the permit, as the case may be. Further, if the alarm system transmits an electronic alarm signal or recorded message to a receiving station other than the communications center, or is a local audible alarm, the Police Department, upon notice in writing to the alarm system user, may cease responding to said alarms until the alarm system is repaired and inspected under the guidelines stated in this section.
(3) Signals or messages transmitted by the alarm system during alarm system testing procedures shall not be considered false alarms if the alarm system user first notifies and receives permission from the communications center before testing the alarm system.
(B) Fire alarms.
(1) If the communication center receive in excess of one false fire alarm in any calendar month from any single alarm system, the alarm system user owning or leasing the alarm system shall be assessed a civil penalty of $100 for each said false alarm. Failure to pay this penalty within 30 days from the date the notice of the violation is issued may result in the revocation of the permit.
(2) If the communications center receives in excess of four false fire alarms in any calendar month, the Fire Chief shall, except in the case of educational and healthcare institution, have the authority to disconnect any such alarm system and/or may revoke the permit, provided however, when the Fire Chief has reason to believe that such false alarms are the result of a defective alarm system, in lieu of such disconnection or permit revocation, the Fire Chief may require the alarm system user to cause the alarm system to be inspected by an individual or company licensed by the state to install and inspect alarm systems. The alarm system user shall select an individual or company to perform the inspection. If the alarm system user fails to have such an inspection performed, or if the alarm system is not repaired, altered, replaced, or other corrective action taken, the Fire Chief may recommend to the Police Chief and the Police Chief may cause the alarm system to be disconnected and/or may revoke the permit, as the case may be.
(3) Signals or messages transmitted by the alarm system during alarm system testing procedures shall not be considered false alarms if the alarm system user first notifies and receives permission from the communications center before testing the alarm system.
(Ord. passed 11-13-01)