Chapter 5.88
BURGLAR ALARMS

Sections:

5.88.010    NOTICE OF PERSONS TO CONTACT REQUIRED.

5.88.020    NOTIFICATION OF POLICE.

5.88.030    DEFINITIONS.

5.88.040    PREVENTABLE FALSE ALARM - FEE - DISCONNECTION CONDITIONS.

5.88.050    FALSE ALARM - REPORT TO POLICE.

5.88.060    PREVENTABLE FALSE ALARM - POLICE CHIEF DETERMINATION.

5.88.070    UNLAWFUL CONNECTIONS AND EQUIPMENT.

5.88.080    VIOLATION - PENALTY.

5.88.010 NOTICE OF PERSONS TO CONTACT REQUIRED.

It is unlawful to have or maintain on any premises an audible-type burglary and/or robbery alarm unless there is posted at the main entrance to such premises a prominent notice of the current telephone number or numbers at which the person or persons authorized to enter such premises and turn off such alarm can be reached at all times. It is unlawful for any such person to fail to appear and turn off any such alarm within one (1) hour after being notified by the police to do so. (Ord. 4284 §1, 1990; Ord. 3899 §1, 1984)

5.88.020 NOTIFICATION OF POLICE.

It is unlawful for anyone to activate any robbery or burglary alarm for the purpose of summoning police except in the event of an actual or attempted burglary or robbery, or in the reasonable belief that such is occurring. It is unlawful to notify police of an activated alarm having knowledge that such activation was apparently caused by an electrical or other malfunction of the alarm system or an employee error without at the same time notifying the police of such apparent malfunction. (Ord. 4284 §2, 1990; Ord. 3899 §2, 1984)

5.88.030 DEFINITIONS.

(a)    "Person" shall mean any person, firm, partnership, association, corporation, company or organization of any kind.

(b)    "False alarm" shall mean the activation of a burglary and/or robbery alarm at a time when no burglary or robbery is being committed or attempted to be committed.

(c)    "Unpreventable false alarm" shall mean a false alarm caused by power failures or interference unrelated to the operation of the owner’s business.

(d)    "Preventable false alarm" shall mean a false which is not an unpreventable false alarm, as provided in section (c). (Ord. 4284 §3, 1990; Ord. 3899 §3, 1984)

5.88.040 PREVENTABLE FALSE ALARM - FEE - DISCONNECTION CONDITIONS.

For each first preventable false alarm resulting in a response by the Bremerton Police Department, in any one quarter (Jan-Mar/Apr-Jun/Jul-Sept/Oct-Dec), a fee pursuant to Chapter 3.01 shall be charged. If subsequent false alarms occur within that same quarter, a graduated fee schedule will be implemented, pursuant to Chapter 3.01 for subsequent false alarms in a calendar quarter. If subsequent false alarms result from the failure to take necessary corrective action as prescribed by the Chief of Police, the Chief of Police may order the disconnection of such alarm system until such corrective action is taken; provided, that no disconnection shall be ordered as to any premise required by law to have an alarm system in operation. (Ord. 4730, Reaffirmed, 11/30/2000; Ord. 4677; Amended, 12/11/1999; Ord. 4284 §5, 1990; Ord. 3899 §5, 1984)

5.88.050 FALSE ALARM - REPORT TO POLICE.

Any person having or maintaining such burglary and/or robbery alarm shall within three (3) working days after notice by the police department at the scene of a false alarm, shall make a written report to the Chief of Police setting forth the cause of such false alarm, the corrective action taken, whether such alarm has been inspected by an authorized service man, and such other information as the Chief of Police may reasonably require to determine the cause of such false alarm and prescribe corrective action necessary. (Ord. 4284 §4, 1990; Ord. 3899 §4, 1984)

5.88.060 PREVENTABLE FALSE ALARM - POLICE CHIEF DETERMINATION.

The determination whether or not a false alarm was preventable shall be made by the Chief of Police or his designee. Any fee resulting from a determination that a false alarm was preventable shall be billed by the City Treasurer’s Office, and shall be deposited in the General Fund. (Ord. 4284 §6, 1990; Ord. 3899 §6, 1984)

5.88.070 UNLAWFUL CONNECTIONS AND EQUIPMENT.

It is unlawful for any person having or operating a privately owned fire alarm system to have direct electrical mechanical, telephonic or other type of connection with the facilities of any office, branch, department or agency of the fire department, unless such person has and maintains a central station protective signaling system meeting the standards of the National Fire Protection Association dated June, 1956 (C.F. #234509), or for any person having or operating a privately owned burglary and/or robbery alarm system to have or maintain any equipment or device at or any direct connection with the facilities of any office, branch, department or agency of the police department; provided, That nothing herein shall prohibit the installation or use of regular private or business telephone lines for the reporting by any person of a fire, burglary or robbery. (Ord. 4284 §7, 1990; Ord. 3899 §7, 1984)

5.88.080 VIOLATION - PENALTY.

Anyone convicted of a violation of or failure to comply with any of the provisions of this ordinance shall be guilty of a civil infraction. (Ord. 4284 §8, 1990; Ord. 3899 §8, 1984)