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This article is intended to regulate the activities and responsibilities of those persons who purchase, lease or rent and those persons who own or conduct the business of selling, leasing, renting, installing, maintaining, or monitoring alarm systems, devices or services. It is further intended to encourage the improvement in reliability of these systems, devices and services to ensure that police department personnel will not be unduly diverted from responding to actual criminal activity as a result of responding to false alarms. This article specifically encompasses burglary, robbery and commercial panic alarms, both audible and inaudible (silent). Except as otherwise provided in this article, this article shall not apply to audible alarms affixed to motor vehicles, audible fire alarms, medical alert devices, and alarm systems that are operated by the city, county, state, or federal government and installed on premises which such entity occupies or uses for governmental purposes. However, such entities shall apply for and obtain a registration for each alarm system it operates and the registration will be waived.
(Ord. No. 10967, § 2, 2-28-12, eff. 4-1-12)
In this article, unless the context otherwise requires:
Act of God means an unusual, extraordinary, sudden and unexpected manifestation of the forces of nature, which cannot be prevented by reasonable human care, skill or foresight. Such events include tornadoes, floods, earthquakes, and other similarly violent conditions.
Alarm administrator means a person designated by the chief of police under this article to administer, control, and review false alarm reduction efforts and administer the provisions of this article.
Alarm agent means any person, whether an employee, independent contractor or otherwise, who acts on behalf of an alarm business and leases, rents, maintains, services, repairs or installs alarm systems, other than alarm systems located on the person's own property or the property of the person's employer.
Alarm business means any person that, either individually or through a third party, engages in the business of providing alarm monitoring services or the business of selling, leasing, renting, maintaining, repairing or installing alarm systems, devices or services. Alarm businesses may also monitor alarms.
Alarm site means each separate physical location which houses an alarm system. In the instances of an apartment complex or other residential rental property, both the facility and business itself, as well as each individual unit that has an individual alarm system, is an alarm site.
Alarm system means a device or series of devices, including but not limited to hardwired systems and systems interconnected with a radio frequency method such as cellular or private radio signals, which emit or transmit a remote or local audible, visual or electronic signal indicating an alarm condition and intended to summon a public safety response. Alarm system does not include an alarm installed in a vehicle or on someone's person unless the vehicle or personal alarm is permanently located at a site.
Alarm user means the owner, lessor, or occupant, agent, employee, operator or manager of property upon which an alarm system is located, as well as a party or person who actually causes a false alarm.
Alarm user awareness class means a class conducted for the purpose of educating alarm users about the responsible use, operation and maintenance of alarm systems and the problems created by false alarms.
Audible alarm means a device designed for the detection of an unauthorized entry on premises and which when activated generates an audible sound on the premises. For the purposes of this definition, an audible alarm does not include an alarm installed in a vehicle or on someone's person.
Common cause means a common technical difficulty or malfunction which causes an alarm system to generate a series of false alarms, all of which occur within a twenty-four (24) hour period. The series of false alarms shall be counted as one (1) false alarm only if the cause of the series of false alarms is repaired before it generates additional false alarms, documentation of the repair is provided to the alarm administrator, and during the thirty (30) day period following the repair, the alarm system generates no additional false alarms from the documented cause.
Controlling person means all current officers, managers and directors, and any person who is a stockholder, member, general or limited partner or owner, or who holds more than ten (10) percent of the ownership, management rights, control or claim to the profits of the business. Controlling person does not include current officers, directors or shareholders of stock in any corporation that is traded on a national stock exchange.
Duress alarm means an alarm system signal generated by the entry of a designated code into an alarm system in order to signal that the alarm user is being forced to turn off the system and needs law enforcement response.
Emergency means the commission or attempted commission of a robbery or burglary, or other crime of violence, or other life/safety issue.
Enhanced call verification, verify or verification means two (2) documented attempts by the company monitoring an alarm, or its representative, to contact the site of the alarm and/or the alarm user by telephone and/or other electronic means, whether or not actual contact with a person is made, to determine whether an alarm signal is valid before requesting law enforcement dispatch, in an attempt to avoid an unnecessary request for response. (Excluding a holdup, robbery, panic, or duress alarm activation.)
False alarm means an alarm signal, sound or message which results in a response by the police department or fire department where an emergency does not exist, or which is not caused by or is not the result of a criminal act or unauthorized entry.
Holdup alarm means an alarm signal generated by the manual activation of a device intended to signal a robbery in progress.
Licensing authority means the city finance department, except that when referring to reciprocal licenses, it means the city department or the police department, as applicable, who has the authority to issue licenses pursuant to the reciprocal alarm licensing ordinance of another city or town.
Medical alert device means a device designed to help a patient obtain adequate help during a medical emergency.
Monitoring/monitored alarm means the process by which a person receives signals from an alarm system and relays a request for response to the police department or fire department for the purpose of summoning response to the alarm site.
Monitoring company means a person in the business of providing monitoring services.
Panic alarm means any device or system designed to be victim activated to alert others to the existence of an emergency.
Person means any natural person, employee, company, firm, partnership, association, corporation, agent, manager, lessor, lessee, operator or entity.
Primary alarm business license means a license issued by the licensing authority of a city or town that has adopted the reciprocal alarm licensing ordinance to an alarm business that has its headquarters, main office, corporate office or designated branch of the alarm business located within this state. In the event that an alarm business has its headquarters, main office, corporate office or designated branch in a city or town that does not require the licensing of alarm businesses, the alarm business may apply for a primary alarm business license from any city or town in this state that has adopted the reciprocal licensing ordinance.
Proprietor alarm means any alarm or alarm system which is owned by the alarm user and is not maintained or monitored by an alarm business.
Proprietor alarm owner means the owner of a proprietor alarm.
Reciprocal alarm business license means a license issued by the licensing authority of a city or town that has adopted the reciprocal alarm licensing ordinance, and in which that alarm business conducts business. This license shall be issued only to an alarm business that has a valid primary alarm business license from a similar licensing authority within this state that has adopted the reciprocal alarm licensing ordinance.
Responsible party means an individual capable of reaching the alarm site within sixty (60) minutes and having access to the alarm site, the code to the alarm system and the authority to accept responsibility for the alarm site.
Robbery, holdup or panic alarm means a device or system designed to be victim activated to alert others to the existence of an emergency.
SIA control panel standard CP-01 means the ANSI (American National Standard Institute) approved Security Industry Association (SIA) CP-01 control panel standard, as may be updated from time to time, that details recommended design features for security system control panels and their associated arming and disarming devices to reduce the incidence of false alarms. Control panels built and tested to this standard by Underwriters Laboratory (UL), or other nationally recognized testing organizations, will be marked to state: "design evaluated in accordance with SIA CP-01 control panel standard features for false alarm reduction."
Verify or verification means two (2) attempts by the company monitoring an alarm, or its representative, to contact the site of the alarm and/or the alarm user by telephone and/or other electronic means, whether or not actual contact with a person is made, to determine whether an alarm signal is valid before requesting law enforcement dispatch, in an attempt to avoid an unnecessary request for response.
(Ord. No. 9975, § 1, 5-24-04, eff. 1-1-05; Ord. No. 10967, § 3, 2-28-12, eff. 4-1-12)
A. It shall be unlawful for any person to conduct, operate, engage in or carry on an alarm business, or to engage in the occupation of alarm agent, or represent oneself as an alarm agent, without first having obtained such licenses as are required by this article. A separate license is required for each business name under which an alarm business conducts business or advertises. In the event that the finance director has reasonable cause to believe that an alarm business does not have a valid alarm business license as required by this article, or that a person is engaged in the alarm business without a valid alarm business license, the finance director, with the assistance of the police department, shall issue a warning to the alarm business stating that it is in violation of the provisions of this article. The alarm business receiving such a notice shall not engage in the alarm business until an alarm business license is issued pursuant to this article.
B. The administration of this article, including the duty of prescribing forms, is vested in the finance director. License applications made pursuant to this article shall be submitted to the finance director, which shall have the authority to issue, deny, suspend or revoke a license in accordance with the provisions of this article.
C. The license required by this article shall be in addition to any other licenses or permits required by the city, county or state in order to engage in business. Persons engaging in activities described in this article shall comply with all other ordinances and laws, including the city zoning laws, as may be required to be engaged in the business to be licensed. Failure of any applicant or licensee, as applicable, to meet the requirements of this subsection shall be grounds for denial, suspension or revocation of a license.
D. All licenses issued pursuant to this article shall be for a period of one (1) year from the date of issue and shall be renewable annually, one (1) year from the original date of issue or renewal, as applicable, subject to renewal pursuant to section 7-456.
E. Upon written request and the payment of a ten dollar ($10.00) fee, the finance director shall issue a duplicate license to a licensee whose license has been lost, stolen or destroyed.
F. It shall be unlawful for an alarm business to use, or to contract with for purposes of using, the services of an unlicensed alarm business or alarm agent.
(Ord. No. 9975, § 1, 5-24-04, eff. 1-1-05)
A. The types of licenses that may be issued pursuant to this article are as follows.
1. Primary alarm business license. A primary alarm business license may be applied for by an alarm business that is physically located within this city, in a jurisdiction that has not adopted this reciprocal alarm license ordinance, or in a jurisdiction outside this state.
2. Reciprocal alarm business license. An alarm business, whether physically located within or outside the state, that has a valid primary alarm business license issued by a jurisdiction within this state that has adopted the reciprocal alarm license ordinance, shall be entitled to the issuance of a reciprocal alarm business license upon compliance with the requirements of this article.
3. Alarm agent license. A person desiring to engage in the business or occupation of alarm agent shall apply for and receive an alarm agent license from the jurisdiction that issues the primary alarm business license for the alarm business for which the alarm agent is or will be working. A person holding a valid alarm agent license, who desires to work for an alarm business holding a reciprocal alarm license, does not have to obtain a separate license, but shall provide a copy of his or her license, upon request, to the jurisdiction in which the reciprocal license has been issued.
(Ord. No. 9975, § 1, 5-24-04, eff. 1-1-05)
A. All applications for alarm business license made pursuant to this article shall include the following:
1. The name, business address, mailing address and telephone number of the alarm business. If the applicant is a corporation, general or limited partnership, limited liability company, or other legal entity, the name of the applicant shall be set forth exactly as shown in its articles of incorporation, charter, certificate of limited partnership, articles of organization or other organizational documents, as applicable, together with the state and date of incorporation and the names, residence addresses and dates of birth of each controlling person. If one or more of the partners, members or shareholders of the applicant is a corporation or other legal entity, the provisions of this subsection relating to information required of a corporation shall apply.
2. In the event that the applicant is a corporation, general or limited partnership, limited liability company or other legal entity, the applicant shall designate one of its officers, general partners, or members to act as its responsible managing officer. Such designated person shall complete and sign all application forms required of an individual applicant under this article. The applicant shall provide a copy of the corporation, partnership or limited liability company formation documents.
3. The name of the applicant and each controlling person, any alias or other name used or by which the applicant or any controlling person has been previously known, his or her current residence and business addresses, telephone numbers, including facsimile numbers and e- mail addresses, if applicable.
4. The names and addresses of the alarm agents employed by the alarm business.
5. The residence and business address of the applicant and each controlling person for the five-year period immediately preceding the date of filing of the application and the inclusive dates of each such address.
6. Proof that the applicant and each controlling person is at least eighteen (18) years of age, as indicated on a current driver's license with picture, or other picture identification document issued by a governmental agency.
7. Height, weight, color of eyes and hair and date of birth of the applicant and each controlling person.
8. Two (2) current two-inch by two-inch (2" x 2") photographs of the applicant and each controlling person.
9. The employment history of the applicant and each controlling person for the five (5) year period immediately preceding the date of the filing of the application.
10. Information as to whether the applicant or any controlling person, or the business on behalf of which the license is being applied for, has ever been refused or denied any similar license or permit, or has had any similar permit or license revoked, canceled or suspended, and the reason or reasons for the revocation, denial, cancellation or suspension.
11. Whether or not the applicant or any controlling person has ever been convicted of a crime, regardless of whether the conviction was later set aside or expunged, in any domestic, foreign or military court. "Crime" means any and all felonies, misdemeanors and serious driving offenses, including driving under the influence of intoxicating liquor or drugs, reckless driving, driving on a suspended, revoked, canceled or refused driver license, or any driving offense for which the possible penalty includes jail time. "Crime" does not include minor or civil traffic offenses. "Convicted" means having plead guilty or no contest to a crime, having been found guilty of a crime, or having been sentenced for a crime, whether incarcerated, placed on probation, fined or having received a suspended sentence. An applicant or controlling person shall also answer "yes" to this question, even though he or she has not been convicted of a crime, if the applicant or controlling person is presently pending trial or other court proceeding for a crime.
12. For initial and renewal applications for primary alarm business licenses only, one (1) full set of fingerprints on fingerprint cards, or fingerprint data, as provided in section 7-455 for the applicant and each controlling person. Fingerprints or fingerprint data must be submitted on fingerprint cards provided or approved by the licensing jurisdiction, but may be taken by any law enforcement or other government agency.
13. Copies of the State of Arizona Registrar of Contractor's C-11, C-12 or l-67 license, as applicable, or a copy of the K-67 license for combined residential and commercial, issued to the alarm business applicant, and a copy of the state transaction privilege tax license, if applicable.
14. A list of all Arizona counties, cities and towns where the applicant conducts business.
15. An express agreement by the alarm business that any and all records of the alarm business, whether written or recorded, electronically or otherwise, or in any other form, relating to information required to be supplied to the police department in case of an alarm, shall be made available within three (3) business days upon request for inspection by agents of the police department.
16. A copy of a valid primary alarm business license if the application is made for an original or renewal reciprocal alarm business license.
17. Such other information, evidence, statements or documents as may be deemed by the finance director to be reasonably necessary to process and evaluate the application or renewal.
B. Applicants for primary or reciprocal alarm business licenses, or applicants for renewal of any such licenses, shall notify the finance director, in writing, of any change in the information contained in the license application or renewal application. Notification shall be given to the finance director within fifteen (15) calendar days of the occurrence of the change.
(Ord. No. 9975, § 1, 5-24-04, eff. 1-1-05; Ord. No. 10967, § 4, 2-28-12, eff. 4-1-12)
A. An alarm agent license application shall include the following information about the applicant:
1. The name of the applicant and any alias or other name, used by or by which the applicant has been previously known, his or her current residence and business addresses, telephone numbers, including facsimile numbers, and e-mail addresses, if applicable.
2. The name, business address and business telephone number of the alarm business where the applicant is or will be employed.
3. Proof that the applicant is at least eighteen (18) years of age, as indicated on a current driver license with picture, or other picture identification document issued by a governmental agency.
4. Height, weight, color of eyes and hair and date of birth of the applicant.
5. Two (2) current two-inch by two-inch (2" x 2") photographs of the applicant.
6. The applicant's employment history for the five (5) year period immediately preceding the date of the filing of the application.
7. Information as to whether, in this city or elsewhere, the applicant has ever been refused or denied any similar license or permit, or has had any similar permit or license revoked, canceled, or suspended and the reason or reasons for the revocation, denial, cancellation or suspension.
8. Whether or not the applicant has ever been convicted of a crime, regardless of whether the conviction was later set aside or expunged, in any domestic, foreign or military court. "Crime" means any and all felonies, misdemeanors and serious driving offenses, including driving under the influence of intoxicating liquor or drugs, reckless driving, driving on a suspended, revoked, canceled or refused driver's license, or any driving offense for which the possible penalty includes jail time. "Crime" does not include minor or civil traffic offenses. "Convicted" means having plead guilty or no contest to a crime, having been found guilty of a crime, or having been sentenced for a crime, whether incarcerated, placed on probation, fined or having received a suspended sentence. An applicant shall also answer "yes" to this question, even though he or she has not been convicted of a crime, if the applicant is presently pending trial or other court proceeding for a crime.
9. One (1) full set of fingerprints on fingerprint cards, or fingerprint data, as provided in section 7-455. Fingerprints or fingerprint data must be submitted on fingerprint cards provided or approved by the licensing jurisdiction, but may be taken by any law enforcement or authorized government agency.
10. A list of all Arizona counties, cities or towns where the applicant conducts business.
11. Such other information, evidence, statements or documents as may be deemed by the finance director to be reasonably necessary to process and evaluate the application or renewal.
B. Applicants for alarm agent licenses, or applicants for renewal of such licenses, shall notify the finance director, in writing, of any change in the information contained in the license application or renewal application. Notification shall be given to the finance director within fifteen (15) calendar days of the occurrence of the change.
(Ord. No. 9975, § 1, 5-24-04, eff. 1-1-05)
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