Chapter 8.16
PRIVATE BURGLAR AND FIRE ALARM SYSTEMS*
Sections:
Article I. Definitions
8.16.010 Definitions.
Article II. Alarm Permit
8.16.020 Permit—Required.
8.16.030 Application.
8.16.040 Alarm terminal application.
8.16.050 Alarm terminal terms and conditions.
8.16.060 Transfer prohibited.
8.16.070 Suspension or revocation.
8.16.080 Reinstatement.
8.16.090 Rules and regulations.
Article III. Alarm Terminal Facilities
8.16.100 Installation.
8.16.110 Prohibited phone device.
Article IV. Audible Alarm Regulations
8.16.120 Timing device/battery backup.
8.16.130 Sirens.
8.16.140 Nuisance.
Article V. Violation and Appeals Procedure
8.16.150 Appeal procedure.
8.16.160 Violation—Penalty.
Article VI. False Alarms
8.16.170 Exceptions.
8.16.180 Notification.
8.16.190 Alarm response fee.
8.16.200 Excessive false alarms.
* Prior ordinance history: Ords. 710 and 919.
Article I. Definitions
8.16.010 Definitions.
For the purposes of this chapter, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to them:
A. “Alarm company” means any person who sells, leases, maintains, services, repairs, alters, replaces, moves or installs any alarm system, or who causes any alarm system to be sold, maintained, serviced, repaired, altered, moved or installed, in or on any building, place or premises.
B. “Alarm system” means any device designed for the detection of an unauthorized entry on the premises, or for alerting others of the commission of an unlawful act, reporting a fire, and, when activated, emits a sound and/or transmits a signal.
C. “Alarm terminal facility” means an alarm system that reports directly to the Communications Center of the San Carlos Police Department.
D. “Audible alarm” means a device designed for detection of unauthorized entry on the land, building, structure or facility of any alarm owner, and which generates sound audible outdoors when activated.
E. “False alarm” means an alarm signal activated intentionally or through inadvertence or negligence, to which personnel of the police department respond, when there is no need for such response, shall constitute a false alarm for purposes of this chapter.
F. “Own” means to purchase, rent or lease an alarm system.
G. “Owner” means the person or firm who purchases, rents or leases an alarm system to protect his or her property. “Owner” also means and includes the person or firm who owns the premises on which the alarm system is located. (Ord. 1250 § 1 (part), 1998)
Article II. Alarm Permit
8.16.020 Permit—Required.
The owner of any alarm system shall first obtain a permit as required by this chapter. No alarms may be operated without first obtaining a permit. (Ord. 1250 § 1 (part), 1998)
8.16.030 Application.
Applications for all permits required hereunder shall be filed with the police department and shall be accompanied by a one time fee. The fee is established to cover costs of investigating and processing the application and permits and is not refundable. (Ord. 1250 § 1 (part), 1998)
8.16.040 Alarm terminal application.
Any person desiring to obtain an alarm terminal permit shall file an application with the Police Department on the designated form. The annual renewal fee of the permit, if issued, is set yearly by the City Council. (Ord. 1250 § 1 (part), 1998)
8.16.050 Alarm terminal terms and conditions.
The following terms and conditions shall be agreed to by any person desiring to install such terminal alarm facilities in the communication center, and shall be incorporated into the application and the permit. The Chief of Police shall approve such application if the following conditions are met:
A. It will be the sole responsibility of the applicant to make all the necessary arrangements with the telephone company to provide a telephone line for transmitting the alarm signal impulses from the applicant’s premises to the communication center.
B. All costs of installation and maintenance of such telephone lines shall be borne by the person requesting the terminating phone line.
C. The permittee shall furnish the Chief of Police or his/her designated agent with a complete set of written specifications adequately describing the equipment and the placement of such alarm systems. After installation, no change, modification or altercation of the equipment shall be made unless and until the applicant furnishes additional written specifications showing such changes.
D. No person shall adjust, repair, remove, inspect or otherwise tamper with any portion of such equipment unless such person presents sufficient identification to show that he/she is qualified and authorized to do so by the permittee. All such adjustments, repairs and the like shall be made as the sole responsibility of the permittee.
E. Only repair personnel authorized by the police department will be allowed to work on equipment in the alarm terminal facility.
F. If malfunctions should develop in the permitted terminal facilities that would jeopardize the proper operation of any other terminal facilities or communications sys-
tems in the communications center, service will be discontinued immediately.
G. All installation and repairs shall comply with the direction and specification of the Chief of Police or his/her designated agent. They shall be made at such times and under such conditions as the Chief of Police or his/her designated agent deems not to interfere with the conduct or business of communication. (Ord. 1250 § 1 (part), 1998)
8.16.060 Transfer prohibited.
No permit issued under the provisions of this chapter shall be in any manner transferred or assigned. (Ord. 1250 § 1 (part), 1998)
8.16.070 Suspension or revocation.
Any permit issued under the provisions of this chapter may be suspended or revoked by the Chief of Police or his/her designated agent when it appears that the permittee has breached the terms and conditions thereof, or has failed to comply with departmental rules or the other provisions of this chapter, or that the privilege so granted has been abused to the detriment of the public. (Ord. 1250 § 1 (part), 1998)
8.16.080 Reinstatement.
The Chief of Police or his/her designee is authorized to reinstate any alarm system suspended under this chapter, upon payment of any outstanding service charges together with a reinstatement fee in an amount established by resolution of the City Council. (Ord. 1250 § 1 (part), 1998)
8.16.090 Rules and regulations.
The Chief of Police, or his/her designated agent, is authorized and empowered to adopt such rules as he/she may deem reasonably necessary to fulfill the purposes of this chapter. Such rules shall be in writing and shall be given to each permittee at the time of the issuance or renewal of such permits. (Ord. 1250 § 1 (part), 1998)
Article III. Alarm Terminal Facilities
8.16.100 Installation.
Private burglary, robbery, panic and fire alarm systems may be installed in the communication center after submission of application in writing to the Chief of Police and payment of annual fees. (Ord. 1372 § 2, 2006: Ord. 1250 § 1 (part), 1998)
8.16.110 Prohibited phone device.
No person shall use or cause to be used any telephone device or telephone attachment on any telephone trunk line of the Police Department which reproduces any tone, signal or prerecorded message to report any burglary, robbery or other emergency. (Ord. 1250 § 1 (part), 1998)
Article IV. Audible Alarm Regulations
8.16.120 Timing device/battery backup.
A. Each audible alarm system shall be equipped with a timing device that will silence or turn off such audible signal within fifteen minutes of activation. The owner of each audible alarm system that is not so equipped shall update the alarm system to comply with this regulation.
B. Each system shall also be equipped with a battery backup capable of powering the alarm system for not less than four hours. (Ord. 1250 § 1 (part), 1998)
8.16.130 Sirens.
It is unlawful to install or maintain any audible alarm which generates a sound similar to sirens used on authorized emergency vehicles or for civil disaster purposes. (Ord. 1250 § 1 (part), 1998)
8.16.140 Nuisance.
Any alarm that is audible for longer than fifteen minutes will be deemed a nuisance and may be disabled by the Police Department. If disabled by the Police Department, all repairs will be the responsibility of the owner. (Ord. 1250 § 1 (part), 1998)
Article V. Violation and Appeals Procedure
8.16.150 Appeal procedure.
Any person aggrieved by the action of the Chief of Police or his/her designated agent in denying a permit, application fee, alarm response fee, or in the suspension or revocation of any permit provided by this chapter, may appeal to the Administrative Hearing Officer. (Ord. 1250 § 1 (part), 1998)
8.16.160 Violation—Penalty.
Any person who installs or causes to be installed any device as provided for in this chapter without first obtaining a permit as described herein shall be guilty of a misdemeanor. Alarms that are deemed a nuisance will be required to comply with this chapter. These violations shall be punishable by a fine set forth by the City Council.
Article VI. False Alarms
8.16.170 Exceptions.
A. If the alarm owner makes contact with the Police Department before responding units arrive at the location of the alarm, the owner will not be charged with a false alarm.
B. In the event of a natural disaster, i.e., earthquake, power outage, etc., the false alarm generated as a result of this occurrence will not be charged as a false alarm response. (Ord. 1250 § 1 (part), 1998)
8.16.180 Notification.
In the event a false alarm is activated by any alarm system within the City, a notice will be issued by the Police Department. The notice shall set forth the time and nature of the false alarm. The notice will be mailed to the record alarm owner by regular United States mail, postage prepaid, to the address at which the alarm is installed or by other suitable means as deemed appropriate by the Chief of Police. (Ord. 1250 § 1 (part), 1998)
8.16.190 Alarm response fee.
A. Each alarm system shall be allowed one false alarm without service charge during each fiscal year from July 1st through June 30th. The alarm owner shall pay a service charge in an amount established by resolution of the City Council for each subsequent false alarm during the calendar year.
B. A violation notice will be generated and an invoice sent to the alarm owner at the alarm location. Failing to pay the required fees will result in a suspension of an alarm permit and a non-response to subsequent alarms by the Police Department. (Ord. 1250 § 1 (part), 1998)
8.16.200 Excessive false alarms.
In the event any alarm system within the
City activates more than twelve false alarms within any one-year period, such alarm system shall be suspended until written verification by an alarm company can show proof that the problem has been corrected. The police department will put the alarm location on a non-response until such time the problem has been corrected. (Ord. 1250 § 1 (part), 1998)