For the purposes of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
ALARM COMPANY. A business providing among its services alarm sales, installation, service, monitoring or billing alarm users or the service of receiving on a continuous basis, through trained employees, emergency signals from alarm systems and thereafter immediately relaying the message by live voice or other forms of communication to the communication center or other places as directed by the city.
ALARM SYSTEM. Any device used to detect or prevent intrusion, criminal activity or other emergency situations which, when activated, causes notification to be made directly, or indirectly to the Police or Fire/EMS Departments, or any device or system designed primarily for the purpose of giving an audible or visual signal of an attempted intrusion, criminal activity, fire or other emergency. An ALARM SYSTEM for the purpose of this chapter shall not include an alarm installed on a motor vehicle.
ALARM USER. The person, firm, partnership, association, corporation, company or organization of any kind in control of any building, structure or facility who owns, leases, installs or contracts for or otherwise obtains an alarm system and thereafter contracts with or hires an alarm company to monitor and/or service the alarm device, or who owns or operates an alarm system.
BUILDING. Any single-family housing, multi-family dwelling, apartment, commercial business, school, church, religious facility, structure or place within the city.
CHIEF. The Police Chief and/or Fire Chief or designated representative who is authorized by the Chief to exercise any power or duty conferred to the Chief under this chapter.
CITY. The City of Urbandale, Iowa.
FALSE ALARM. An alarm signal causing a response by police or fire when a situation requiring a response did not exist at or about the time of the response. The burden of providing that an alarm signal was not a FALSE ALARM shall be on the alarm user.
MONITORING. The process by which an alarm company or its designated alarm answering service receives signals from an alarm system and relays an alarm dispatch request to the communication center, or other places as directed by the city, for the purpose of summoning police and/or fire personnel to the alarm site.