As used in this chapter, the following words and terms shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section:
ALARM EQUIPMENT SUPPLIER: Any person, firm or corporation that sells, leases or installs automatic alarm systems which transmit alarms upon receipt of a stimulus from a detection apparatus.
ALARM SYSTEM: Any assembly of equipment, mechanical or electrical, designed to signal the occurrence of an illegal entry, fire or other activity requiring urgent attention and response by the appropriate law enforcement department or fire and emergency medical services departments or a private security company. The definition of "alarm system" shall be interpreted broadly to include any type of alarm system that is based on any type of technology and further includes each of the alarm systems defined in this chapter, as amended: "automatic telephone dialing system", "central station alarm system", "direct connect alarm system" and "wireless alarm system".
ALARM USER: The person, firm, partnership, association, corporation, company or organization of any kind in control of any building, structure or facility or portion thereof wherein an alarm system is maintained.
AUTOMATIC TELEPHONE DIALING SYSTEM: Any alarm system which upon being activated automatically transmits by telephone or telephone line to the Western Springs department of law enforcement services a recorded message or code signal indicating a need for emergency response. This system may only be programmed for use with a seven (7) digit phone number, as designated by the permit issued under the provisions of this chapter.
CENTRAL STATION ALARM SYSTEM: An alarm system in which the alarm signal is maintained by an agency or private security company other than the Western Springs department of law enforcement services.
DIRECT CONNECT ALARM SYSTEM: An alarm system which has the capability of transmitting system signals to and receiving them at the Western Springs department of law enforcement services communications center.
FALSE ALARM:
A. A visual and/or audible signal transmitted by an alarm system which indicates the existence of an emergency situation, when in fact, no such emergency exists, and, shall include any activation of an alarm system by whatever means, but shall not include alarms resulting from any of the following causes:
1. Criminal activity.
2. Acts of nature: earthquake, tornado, flooding, lightning or high winds.
3. Fire or smoke causing structural or property damage to the protected premises.
4. Telephone line malfunction.
5. Electrical service interruption.
6. Wireless service interruption.
B. If the alarm, when communicated to the department of law enforcement services before an officer or fire unit is dispatched to investigate, is clearly identified to the department as resulting from authorized entry, authorized system test or other noncriminal cause, presence of smoke due to accidental activation (e.g., burnt food) or any other related incident where the system operated properly, it shall not be considered a false alarm. If police and/or fire units responding to an alarm and checking the protected premises, do not discover any evidence of unauthorized entry, criminal activity or fire, there shall be a rebuttable presumption that the alarm is false. Department of law enforcement services and department of fire and emergency medical services records shall be prima facie evidence of the facts stated therein with regard to alarms and responses.
WIRELESS ALARM SYSTEM: Any assembly of equipment, mechanical and/or electrical, that utilizes wireless technology to signal and receive the occurrence of an illegal entry, fire or other activity requiring urgent attention and response by the appropriate law enforcement or fire and emergency medical services departments or a private security company. See also, the definition of "wireless protection system" as defined in section 3.3.212 of the "National Fire Alarm Code Handbook Of 2002", as amended, which is incorporated herein by reference. (Ord. 12-2690, 8-27-2012)