For the purposes of this chapter, unless otherwise apparent from the context, certain words and phrases used in this chapter are defined as follows:
(a) “Alarm agent” shall mean a person employed by an alarm business, either directly or indirectly, whose duties include all or any of the following: selling, leasing, altering, installing, maintaining, moving, repairing, replacing, servicing, responding to, or monitoring an alarm system, or a person who manages or supervises a person employed by an alarm business to perform any of the duties described herein.
(b) “Alarm subscriber” shall mean the person who owns, leases, rents, uses or makes available for use by his agents, employees, representatives or family, an alarm system.
(c) “Alarm system” shall mean any mechanical or electrical device or assembly of equipment and devices designed or used for the detection of an unauthorized entry into a building or facility, or to signal the presence of a hazard requiring urgent attention and which, when activated, emits a sound or transmits a signal or message, to an alarm business, to which the police are expected to respond. Alarm systems include, but are not limited to, direct dial telephone devices, audible alarms and proprietor alarms, but shall not include devices not designed to register audible, visible or perceptible alarms outside of the protected building or audible alarms affixed to automobiles.
(d) “Audible alarm” refers to a characteristic of an alarm system that generates an audible sound on or about the premises when it is activated.
(e) “False alarm” shall mean an alarm signal activated by causes other than the commission or attempted commission of an unlawful act or a hazard requiring urgent attention which the alarm system is designed to detect necessitating response by the police for which an emergency situation does not exist. A determination as to whether an alarm signal was a false alarm or actual alarm shall be made by the Chief of Police. “False alarm” shall not include those alarms activated by extraordinary meteorological, atmospheric, or other conditions or means as determined by the Chief of Police.
(f) “Direct dial service” shall mean a device which is connected to a telephone line and upon activation of an alarm system, automatically transmits a message or signal indicating the need for emergency response.
(g) “Person” shall mean a natural person, firm, partnership, association or corporation but shall not include the city, county or other governmental agency.
(h) “Proprietor alarm” shall mean an alarm which is not serviced by an alarm business.
(§ 2, Ord. 918-NS, eff. April 15, 1986)