(A) Definitions. For the purpose of this section, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
ALARM SITE. Area controlled by a single alarm system, including those alarms which are designed to elicit a response from the city’s Police Department and/or the city’s Fire Department.
ALARM SYSTEM. Any alarm device which automatically causes a contact with the city’s Police Department for the purpose of reporting an active alarm.
(B) Alarm registration.
(1) No person shall install an alarm system or use or possess an operative alarm system without first notifying the city Police Department. The Department shall require detailed information regarding the alarm system.
(2) Any alarm company servicing equipment in the city limits shall:
(a) Obtain a business license at the office of the City Clerk;
(b) Submit a list of alarm customers within the city limits to the city Police Department;
(c) Keep a log of requests for service for each alarm system. These logs shall be available for review by the city Police Department and/or the city Fire Department and shall be kept for a period no less than 120 days from the date that service was requested by the alarm user.
(C) False alarms permitted; fees charged.
(1) Each alarm user shall be permitted two false alarms per alarm site per calendar year per department (i.e., two false fire alarms and two false police-response (i.e. burglary) alarms each year). After the second false alarm, the city Police Department will notify the alarm user that further alarms will be billed a per run fee to defray the cost of the excessive number of runs/responses to the city. The alarm user shall inform the city Police Department of action taken to prevent further false alarms. For each additional false alarm responded to by the city Police and/or city Fire Department during the year, the alarm user shall be billed a response run fee according to the following schedule, to-wit:
(a) Police Department false alarm responses per calendar year:
1. 0-2 false alarms $0
2. 2-12 false alarms $250 each response run
3. 13 or more false alarms $300.00 each response run
(b) Fire Department false alarm responses per calendar year:
1. 0-2 false alarms $0
2. 2-12 false alarms $450 each response run
3. 13 or more false alarms $500 each response run
If fees could be assessed by both the Police Department and the Fire Department responding simultaneously to an excessive false alarm, the alarm user will only be billed for one response run, whichever of the two is greatest in expense to the city.
(2) Service call, penalty. After an alarm user experiences two false alarms per alarm site per calendar year, the alarm user shall notify his/her/its alarm service provider of the recurring malfunction and shall produce proof to the city Police Department of the service call conducted by the alarm service provider within ten days of the false alarm. Any alarm user who violates this section by failing to present such proof within the stated time period shall be penalized by acceleration of the fee schedule set forth above such that every false alarm following the second false alarm shall result in a response run fee of $250 per city Police Department response run and $450 per city Fire Department response run until the seventh false alarm response run at which time the fee schedule above shall apply.
(3) Exceptions. No alarm user shall be subject to a per run fee for false alarms that result from acts of God, civil disturbance or abnormal weather conditions. Nor shall a fee be charged if the activation was a result of an alarm company's failure to provide service within 24 hours of reporting a malfunction and requesting service. It shall, however, be the burden of the alarm user to provide reasonable proof that service was requested.
(D) Registration of alarm protective service personnel. Any and all persons who own, have or acquire an interest in any business entity which provides alarm protective services or who are employed by such business entity shall, prior to acquiring said interest or commencing business or such employment, register with the city, obtaining a business license authorizing the conduct of business within the city limits.
(Ord. 019-288, passed 5-21-2019) Penalty, see § 130.99