The following words and phrases, when used in this chapter, shall have the following meanings respectively ascribed to them in this section:
“Alarm system” means any assembly of equipment, mechanical or electrical, 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 Fire Department is expected to respond, but shall not include alarms installed in motor vehicles.
“Alarm user” means the person, partnership, corporation or any other entity in control of any building, structure or facility, or any portion thereof, which is intended to be protected by an alarm system.
“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.
“False alarm” means an alarm system, a signal or message eliciting an urgent response by the Fire Department or Police Department when a situation requiring such response by the Police or Fire Department does not in fact exist; but does not include extraordinary circumstances not reasonably subject to control by the alarm user. An alarm which has been activated as a result of testing or repair shall not be considered as 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. An alarm which has been activated shall not be considered as a false alarm if the responding department receives a request to cancel. Such request shall be made to the same location as the request for service and shall be received prior to the dispatch of the responding Police or Fire unit.
(Ord. 04-203. Passed 12-13-04.)