Chapter 5.48
ALARM SYSTEMS
Sections:
5.48.020 Services provided by department of public safety.
5.48.030 False alarms – Fees – Corrective actions.
5.48.010 Definitions.
Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter:
A. “Alarm system” means any electronic device with one terminal in the protected premises and the other terminal at the alarm provider’s business location that is intended to provide the emergency services personnel of the city with notice of robbery, burglary, unauthorized entry, fire, or other emergency condition.
B. “Audible alarm system” means any device that is intended to provide the emergency services personnel of the city with notice of a robbery, burglary, unauthorized entry, fire, or other emergency condition by means of an external bell or other noise-making device, whether or not the audible alarm system is also connected to an electric or electronic device communicating with a remote monitoring business.
C. “Department of public safety” means the city’s police, fire and emergency medical response personnel.
D. “False alarm” means the activation of an alarm system by other than a forced entry or attempted forced entry to the premises served and occurring at a time when no burglary, robbery or other emergency exists. (Ord. 2272 § 1, 1996)
5.48.020 Services provided by department of public safety.
The department of public safety is authorized to provide services for alarm systems as follows:
A. Alarm systems serving business or private premises shall not be installed in or terminate at the department of public safety.
B. Commencing with the effective date of the ordinance codified in this chapter, no person shall use or shall cause to be used any telephone device or telephone attachment that automatically selects a public telephone trunk line of the city or of any office of the city and then reproduces a reproduces message to report an emergency, except as provided by this section.
C. Nothing in this section shall preclude law enforcement agencies from the utilization of specialized alarm equipment for investigative or surveillance purposes, when such equipment involves the use of city trunk lines; provided, that such law enforcement use has been authorized by the director of public safety. (Ord. 2272 § 1, 1996)
5.48.030 False alarms – Fees – Corrective actions.
It is the policy of the city to prevent inadvertent false alarms. To this end, the director of public safety shall administer this chapter as follows:
A. For the first false alarm in any six-month period generated at a premises served by an alarm system, no fee shall be charged. The person owning or occupying the premises served by the alarm shall, within three working days after notice to do so, make a written report to the director of public safety on forms provided by the director, setting forth the cause of the false alarm, the corrective action taken, whether the system has been inspected by a trained service person, and such other information as the director may reasonably require in order to determine the cause of the false alarm and any necessary correction taken.
B. For the second false alarm in any six-month period, no fee shall be charged. A written report shall be required of the owner or occupant of the premises served by the alarm system, as in the case of the first false alarm. In addition, the director is authorized to inspect the alarm system at the premises, and to prescribe necessary corrective action by written notice to the owner or occupant of the premises served by the alarm system.
C. For the third false alarm during any six-month period, and for any subsequent false alarm within six months of such third false alarm, the director shall impose a fee in an amount set by city council resolution as reimbursement for the costs of response. The fee shall be paid by the owner or occupant of the premises generating the false alarm. Billings for the fees shall be directed through the finance director on a monthly basis, using an itemized list showing the date and time of each false alarm for which the fee is imposed.
D. Owners or occupants of premises causing false alarms shall report all such false alarms to the director of public safety, whether or not the false alarm is directly received by the alarm provider, in order that corrective measures may be taken. (Ord. 2272 § 1, 1996)
5.48.040 Unlawful acts.
It is a misdemeanor:
A. For any person to have or maintain on any premises an audible alarm system unless there is posted at the main entrance to such premises a prominent notice of the telephone numbers at which the person or persons authorized to enter the premises and turn off the alarm can be reached at all times. The owner or occupant of the protected premises will also provide the names of the people whose numbers are prominently posted to the department of public safety; or
B. For any person to fail to turn off any audible alarm system within one hour of being notified to do so; or
C. For any person, upon notifying the department of public safety of an inadvertent false alarm apparently caused by an electrical or other malfunction of the alarm system, to fail to also notify the department of public safety of the apparent malfunction; or
D. For any false alarm fee for any alarm system which is imposed pursuant to the provisions of BMC 5.48.030 to remain unpaid for more than 30 days after its due date; or
E. For any corrective action for any alarm system directed by the director of public safety pursuant to the provisions of this chapter not to be taken within 90 days. (Ord. 2272 § 1, 1996)