For the purposes of this Chapter, the following terms, phrases and words, and derivations thereof, shall have the meaning given herein. When consistent with the context, words used in the present tense include the future, words in the plural number include the singular number and words in the singular number include the plural number. The word "shall" is mandatory and not merely directory.
ALARM AGENT: Any person employed by an alarm business whose duties include the installation, maintenance, repair, service, response to or summoning others to respond to an alarm system. When the alarm system is the sole responsibility of the user and no contractual agreements with another company exist for the maintenance of alarm equipment, the user shall be considered the alarm agent for purposes of this Chapter.
ALARM OFFICER: The Chief of Police of the City of Twin Falls or his designee.
ALARM SUBSCRIBER: Any person who purchases, leases, contracts for or otherwise obtains an alarm system or contracts for the servicing or maintenance of an alarm system.
ALARM SYSTEM: Any mechanical, electrical or other device which is designed or used for the detection of a trespass, burglary or robbery within a building, structure or facility, or for alerting others to a hazard or to the commission of an unlawful act within a building, structure or facility, or which emits a sound or transmits a signal or message when activated and which is designed to elicit a response from the Police Department. Alarm systems include, but are not limited to, direct dial telephone devices, audible alarms and proprietor alarms. Devices which are not designed or used to register alarms are audible, visible or perceptible outside the protected building, structure or facility are not included within this definition. An alarm system includes all the necessary equipment designed and installed for the detection of a trespass, burglary, robbery or other hazard in a single building, structure or facility, or for alerting others to the commission of an unlawful act within a building, structure or facility.
AUDIBLE ALARM: A device designed for the detection of unauthorized entry or presence on certain premises when it is activated.
AUTOMATIC DIALING DEVICE: An alarm system which automatically sends over regular telephone lines, by direct connection or otherwise, a prerecorded voice message or coded signal indicating the existence of an emergency situation that the alarm system is designed to detect.
EMERGENCY: Any condition for which the alarm was designed and installed, and which results in a response of police personnel. An emergency is a situation or condition which involves the imminent potential for serious injury, death, violent crime, serious public hazard or a felony crime in progress.
FALSE ALARM: An alarm signal, message, transmittal or communication which is activated from an alarm system which is responded to by personnel of the Police Department for which no emergency situation exists or existed as determined by the responding police personnel. False alarm shall not include alarms caused by natural occurrences such as hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes or other extraordinary circumstances determined by the alarm officer to be clearly beyond the control of the alarm subscriber.
PENALTY STATUS: That status achieved by more than two (2) false alarms within the calendar year beginning January 1 and ending December 31.
PERSON: Any individual, partnership, association, corporation or organization of any kind, or any governmental entity or political subdivision thereof.
POLICE DEPARTMENT: The Twin Falls City Police Department.
PROPRIETOR ALARM: An alarm which is not serviced by an alarm agent. (Ord. 2463, 11-7-94, eff. 1-1-95)