(A) Purpose. The purpose of this section is to reduce abuse and deliberate misuse of the 9-1-1 emergency telephone system and to ensure the availability of 9-1-1 and other emergency telephone lines for the reporting of true emergencies, so that personnel and equipment may be available for use in true emergency situations.
(B) Definitions. For the purpose of this section, the following definitions shall apply unless the context inculcates or requires a different meaning.
9-1-1. A three-digit telephone number assigned for use by the public in reporting an emergency situation or summoning emergency assistance from a public safety agency.
AUTOMATIC DIALING AND ANNOUNCING DEVICE. An electronically- or mechanically-operated instrument which automatically dials telephone numbers it has been programmed to dial and which plays a prerecorded message when answered.
AUTOMATIC PROTECTION DEVICE. An electronically- or mechanically-operated instrument that automatically signals or sends by any means (including direct or indirect connection to regular telephone lines) pictures, sound, odor or a prerecorded message, either by voice or other alarm, from a protected premises upon receipt of a stimulus from a sensory detection apparatus. AUTOMATIC PROTECTION DEVICES include any audible alarm or light signaling device attached to the interior or exterior of a protected premises.
EMERGENCY. Any situation which involves an immediate threat to property or person.
INTENTIONALLY. Is defined in O.R.S. 161.085.
PUBLIC SAFETY AGENCY. Any sheriff, police, fire or emergency medical entity operating within Union County.
(C) Improper use. No person shall make improper use of emergency telephone system by:
(1) Knowingly or intentionally dialing the 9-1-1 number for any purpose other than to report an event which the caller reasonably believes to be an emergency;
(2) Knowingly or intentionally programming and activating an automatic dialing and announcing device or an automatic protection device which results in the transmission of a prerecorded message to a public safety agency via 9-1-1; and
(3) Knowingly allowing telephone equipment to be used in violation of divisions (C)(1) and (2) above.
(Ord. 425, passed 1-14-1991) Penalty, see § 33.99