For the purpose of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
ALARM SYSTEM. An assembly of equipment and devices (or a single device such as a solid state unit) arranged to signal the presence of a hazard. For the purposes of this chapter, the alarm, when triggered, must be directly connected to a central monitoring agency which then notifies the Police and/or Fire Departments of an emergency to which public safety personnel must respond or may emit an audible signal which will require urgent attention and to which public safety personnel are expected to respond.
ALARM USER. The person, firm, partnership, association, corporation, company or organization of any kind on whose premises an alarm system is maintained. ALARM USER shall include persons occupying dwelling units for residential purposes, but shall not include persons maintaining alarm systems in automobiles.
CHIEF. The head of the appropriate Public Safety Department.
FALSE ALARMS. The activation of an alarm system through mechanical failure, malfunction, improper installation or the negligence of the owner or lessee of an alarm system or of his or her employees or agents. It does not include activation of the alarm by utility company power outages (except as set forth below) or by climatic conditions such as tornadoes, lightning, earthquakes, other violent conditions of nature or any other conditions which are clearly beyond the control of the alarm manufacturer, installer or owner. Effective August 1, 1987, false alarms resulting from power outages shall be treated as other false alarms and counted as false alarms for permit purposes.
PERSON. Any individual, partnership, corporation, association, cooperative or other entity.
(1987 Code, § 601.02) (Ord. 353, passed 6-14-1999)