[HISTORY: Adopted by the Common Council of
the City of Burlington as indicated in article histories. Amendments
noted where applicable.]
[Adopted 2-1-1994 by Ord. No. 1462(35)]
The purpose of this article is to regulate alarm
systems directly connected to the Fire Department or Police Department
and to minimize false alarms from these systems.
No person shall give or send or cause to be
given any alarm of fire, burglary, robbery, or other emergency which
the person knows to be false.
As used in this article, the following terms
shall have the meanings indicated:
The person in control of any building, structure or facility
or portion thereof in which an alarm system is connected to either
the Fire Department or Police Department central station alarm panels.
An alarm notification summoning the Fire or Police Department
to the location of an alarm activation when the responding officer
finds no evidence of the crime of burglary, attempted burglary, robbery
or attempted robbery or fire. "False alarm" does not include an alarm
activation signal caused by extraordinary extremes of weather, such
as high winds, thunder and lightning storms.
An alarm panel and appurtenant equipment maintained at the
Fire Department for the receipt of emergency signals indicating fire
or other emergency condition.
[Amended 11-18-2003 by Ord. No. 1740(20)]
An alarm panel and appurtenant equipment maintained at the
police station for the receipt of emergency signals indicating burglary,
robbery or other emergency condition.
[Amended 11-18-2003 by Ord. No. 1740(20)]
A.
The Chief of Police shall determine the number and
type of alarm users which may be connected to the Police Department
central alarm station. No person shall cause to be connected to the
Police Department central alarm station a private alarm system unless
such proposed connection receives prior approval in writing by the
Chief of Police.
B.
The Fire Chief shall determine the number and type
of alarm owners or alarm users which may be connected to the Fire
Department central alarm station. No person shall cause to be connected
to the Fire Department central alarm station a private alarm system
unless such proposed connection receives prior approval in writing
by the Fire Chief.
The Fire Chief and Chief of Police shall give
priority for connection to the central alarm system to those persons
required by state or federal law or regulation to maintain an alarm
system on their premises.
All alarm users whose application for connection
to the fire or police central alarm station is approved shall comply
with the following conditions:
A.
The alarm user shall:
(1)
Pay to the contracted alarm company the fee for connection
established by the contract between the City and the alarm company.
(2)
Pay to the alarm company a monthly service charge.
(3)
Use alarm equipment that meets minimum UL alarm device
standards.
(4)
Pay all costs of disconnection or termination of service,
whether such disconnection or termination is initiated by the City
or the alarm user.
(5)
Perform testing of the alarm system in accordance
with rules and procedures promulgated by the chief of the department
maintaining the central alarm panel.
(6)
Pay all expenses of termination and reconnection whenever
the location of a central alarm system is changed or the system is
updated.
(7)
Sign an agreement holding the City, the Fire Department
and the Police Department harmless for any damages or losses resulting
from an alarm connection terminating at the Fire Department or the
Police Department.
B.
Each alarm user connected to a central alarm system
in accordance with this section shall cause the system to be periodically
inspected and maintained in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations.
C.
No alarm user shall cause or permit the City's Fire or Police Department to be notified of a false alarm. If either the Fire or Police Department is notified of two false alarms within a calendar year from an alarm user, the alarm user shall be billed $30 for the third false alarm and $60 for each false alarm received thereafter. In the event that any such bill is not paid within 30 days of receipt, the user shall be subject to a penalty for the third false alarm, and an increased penalty for each false alarm received thereafter, as set forth in Chapter 1, § 1-4, of this Municipal Code.
[Amended 11-18-2003 by Ord. No. 1740(20); 8-19-2008 by Ord. No. 1868(10)]
D.
A period of 30 days shall be allowed for debugging
a newly installed alarm system during which false alarms shall not
be counted.
A.
Failure to comply with any provision of this article
or in excess of 10 false alarms per calendar year shall be cause for
an alarm system to be disconnected from the Police Department or Fire
Department upon 30 days' prior written notice by the Fire Chief or
Chief of Police. Such disconnection shall be made at the alarm holder's
expense.
[Amended 11-18-2003 by Ord. No. 1740(20)]
B.
An order of disconnection may be appealed by filing
a written notice of appeal with the City Clerk within 10 days of the
date of the order. Such appeal shall be heard by the Common Council
within 30 days of the date of filing the appeal. The Common Council
may affirm, reverse or modify the order of the Fire Chief or Chief
of Police. An appeal which is timely filed suspends the disconnection
until the Common Council renders its decision. The City Clerk shall
give written notice of the time and place of the hearing to the appellant
not later than 24 hours prior to the hearing.
[Amended 11-18-2003 by Ord. No. 1740(20)]
C.
The Fire Chief or Chief of Police may, at his discretion,
require the immediate disconnection of any alarm system connected
to the fire or police central alarm station if technical failure or
defects of the system result in a continual or sporadic alarm.
[Adopted 2-1-1994 by Ord. No. 1463(36); amended in its entirety 11-18-2003 by Ord. No. 1740(20)]
The purpose of this article is to regulate alarm
systems and to minimize false alarms from private alarms.
As used in this article, the following terms
shall have the meanings indicated:
Any mechanical or electrical equipment arranged to signal
the occurrence of a fire, burglary, or robbery alarm requiring immediate
Fire or Police Department notification, including local alarms which
are audible or visible upon the exterior of a structure.
The person in control of any building, structure or facility
or portion thereof in which an alarm system is in operation.
An alarm notification summoning the Fire or Police Department
to the location of an alarm activation when the responding officer
finds no evidence of the crime of burglary, attempted burglary, robbery
or attempted robbery or fire. "False alarm" does not include an alarm
activation signal caused by extraordinary extremes of weather, such
as high winds, thunder and lightning storms.
Any equipment arranged to signal the occurrence of a robbery
or burglary by signaling such occurrence with alarms from the premises
in the immediate area of the structure.
A.
No person may use or operate, attempt to use or operate,
cause to be used or operated, or arrange, adjust, program or otherwise
provide or install any alarm system that will, upon activation, either
mechanically, electronically or by any other automatic means, initiate
a call and deliver a recorded message to any telephone number of the
City of Burlington Fire or Police Department.
B.
No alarm system may be operated or programmed to initiate,
transmit, or deliver by automatic means, to any City agency, an alarm
notification described as "panic," "disturbance," "police alert,"
"medical emergency," or other miscellaneous incidents distinguished
from the specific burglary, robbery or fire alarms.
[Amended 8-19-2008 by Ord. No. 1868(10)]
No alarm user shall cause or permit the City's Police or Fire Department to be notified of a false alarm. If either the Fire or Police Department is notified of two false alarms within a calendar year by an alarm user, the alarm user shall be billed $30 for the third false alarm and $60 for each false alarm received thereafter. In the event that any such bill is not paid within 30 days of receipt, the user shall be subject to a penalty for the third false alarm, and an increased penalty for each false alarm received thereafter, as set forth in Chapter 1, § 1-4, of this Municipal Code.
