A. Definition: A "false fire alarm" is defined as follows: The activation of an alarm system through mechanical failure, malfunction, improper installation or through the negligence of the owner, or lessee of an alarm system or of his employees or agents or other cause. In addition, a "false fire alarm" is an alarm system signal eliciting a response by the fire department or designated agency when a situation requiring a response by the fire department does not, in fact, exist. "False fire alarm" does not include an alarm signal caused by violent conditions of nature or other extraordinary circumstances not reasonably subject to control by the alarm business operator or alarm user. (Ord. 3386, 6-2-2008)
B. Fees:
1. Commercial/business alarms and residential alarms shall both be allowed two (2) false fire alarms in a consecutive ninety (90) calendar day period at no charge. Commercial/business alarms and residential alarms shall be charged a fee of fifty dollars ($50.00) for a third and fourth false fire alarm in a consecutive ninety (90) calendar day period notwithstanding the fees imposed in subsection B2 of this section. For the purposes hereof, a "consecutive ninety (90) calendar day period" shall commence to run from the date of the first false fire alarm offense.
2. Notwithstanding the fees charged for false fire alarms of commercial/business alarms and residential alarms set forth in subsection B1 of this section, fees shall also be imposed for false fire alarms of commercial/business alarms and residential alarms based on the number of false fire alarms in a year in the amounts as set forth as follows:
Number Of False Fire Alarms In A Year | Fee Imposed (For Each False Fire Alarm) | |
First 4 | No fee (with the exception that the fees imposed on said 90 calendar day period basis as set forth in subsection B1 of this section shall still apply) | |
5th through 10th | $ 50.00 | |
11th through 15th | 100.00 | |
16th and over | 175.00 | |
(Ord. 3630, 8-5-2013)
C. Testing: No alarm system designed to transmit emergency messages to the fire department through intermediate services shall be tested or demonstrated without first notifying the fire department dispatcher at Christian County 9-1-1. An alarm user who fails to comply with this subsection shall be charged a fee of one hundred dollars ($100.00) and said alarm shall count toward the alarm limits in subsection B1 of this section.
D. Notification: Whenever an alarm is activated thereby requiring emergency response to the location by the fire department, and the fire department does respond, the fire department personnel on the scene of the activated alarm system shall inspect the area protected by the system and shall determine whether the emergency response was, in fact, required as indicated by the alarm system or whether the alarm signal was a false fire alarm. In determining whether an alarm is a false fire alarm, all circumstances shall be considered.
If the Fire Department personnel at the scene of the activated alarm system determines the alarm to be false, said officer shall make a report of the false fire alarm.
The Chief of the Fire Department or the designee of the Fire Chief shall cause a notification of the false fire alarm report to be mailed, by certified mail, or delivered to the alarm user at the address of said alarm system installation location, advising the alarm user of the false fire alarm.
An alarm user who receives said notification shall have five (5) days within which to inform the Chief of the Fire Department that the alarm user disputes the existence of the false fire alarm. If the alarm user fails to make said notification within the stated time, it shall be presumed that the existence of the false fire alarm has been acknowledged.
E. Investigation: The Chief of the Fire Department or his designee shall have the right to inspect any alarm system on the premises to which a response has been made, and he may cause an inspection of such system to be made at any reasonable time thereafter.
F. Response By Alarm User: Whenever an alarm user or owner of the protected premises is notified or aware that their alarm system has been activated, the alarm user or owner's designated representative shall cooperate with any investigation undertaken by City personnel in responding to the activated alarm. This shall include, but not be limited to, the alarm user's or owner's presence at the premises protected by said alarm within a reasonable period of time after the alarm or owner becomes aware that the alarm has been activated. Furthermore, the use of an alarm system and its activation shall constitute consent on the part of the alarm user and owner of the premises to City personnel permitting said personnel to enter the premises to investigate the cause(s) of the alarm. The alarm user's or owner's failure to cooperate in any of the foregoing investigations shall constitute a violation of this Section and subject the alarm user or owner or both to a fine in an amount not less than one hundred dollars ($100.00) nor more than five hundred dollars ($500.00).
G. Payment: Any person, firm, or corporation assessed a false fire alarm fee hereunder shall make payment in full to the City Clerk within thirty (30) days of receiving notice of the fee charged. The number of false fire alarms will be counted per system. The fact that an alarm user subscribes to an alarm system shall be no defense. This fee is imposed whether the Fire Department or the designated agency received the alarm by direct connection or through an intermediary such as an answering service or modified central station. The fee imposed by this Section is imposed solely when the choice is made to employ an alarm system. If the possessor of the alarm shows to the satisfaction of the Fire Chief that the false fire alarm was not the result of negligence or improper maintenance, such fee may be waived. (Ord. 3386, 6-2-2008)