511.01 DEFINITIONS.
(a) "Alarm system" means any assembly of equipment and devices which signals so as to be seen or heard outside the protected building or space to indicate the presence of fire, smoke or the occurrence of robbery, burglary, vandalism or unauthorized intrusion and includes an interconnected alarm system as defined in subsection (b) hereof.
(b) "Interconnected alarm system" means an alarm system which directly or indirectly automatically or manually, uses a telephone line, cable line or radio wave to transmit an alarm or message upon activation of the alarm system.
(c) "Local alarm system" means an alarm system that when activated only sounds a horn, bell, buzzer, or other type of audible or visible alarm that is designed to be audible or visible beyond the premises being served, but which does not result in the transmission of a signal to any other location.
(d) "Appropriate authority" means the Mayor of the City of Wooster, Ohio, or his/her designee.
(e) "Automatic dialing device" means a device which is interconnected to a telephone line and is programmed to select a predetermined telephone number and transmit by voice, message or code signal an emergency message indicating a need for emergency response.
(f) "Alarm" means an alarm signal transmitted to the central dispatch facility or a phone call forwarded by an alarm company monitoring center, requiring the response of the Wooster Police or Fire Divisions.
"Alarm" shall also include any system which meets the definition in subsection (c) of "local alarm system".
(g) "False alarms" are those calls for police or fire service as detailed in subsection (f) hereof, which are erroneously transmitted or sounded due to mechanical or human error. “False alarms” shall be in two categories: non-chargeable and chargeable.
(1) "Non-chargeable false alarms" shall include those alarms which are transmitted or sounded due to weather conditions, power or telephone outages. Calls made to the central dispatch facility canceling the appropriate police or fire service prior to their arrival may, at the discretion of the appropriate chief, constitute a "non-chargeable false alarm".
(2) "Chargeable false alarms" shall include those alarms which are transmitted or sounded due to human error or equipment malfunctions not included in subsection (g)(1) hereof.
(Ord. 1999-1. Passed 2-1-99.)