[R.O. 1992 § 202.010; Ord. No. 7190 § 1, 2-18-1992; Ord. No. 05-9745 §§ 1—2, 3-7-2005; Ord. No. 16-11513, 4-18-2016]
For the purpose of this Chapter, the following terms, phrases and words shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to them by this Section.
ACTUAL ALARM
The following shall be considered actual alarms:
1. 
When an alarm is caused by an attempted and unauthorized or illegal entry, of which there is visible evidence, or when another emergency exists or has occurred; or a system has activated either by manual means or automatically in response to smoke, water flow or fire conditions.
2. 
When an alarm is intentionally caused by a resident, or other person acting under a reasonable belief that a need exists to solicit emergency response from emergency service of the City of Washington, Missouri.
ALARM AGENT
Any person employed by an alarm vendor whose duties include the altering, installing, maintaining, removing, repairing, replacing, selling, servicing or monitoring or causing others to respond to an emergency alarm system.
ALARM USER
Any person that leases, contracts for, buys or otherwise obtains and operates an emergency alarm system for the purpose of obtaining a response to the alarm from the Police or Fire Department, and on whose premises an emergency alarm system is maintained, excluding audible alarms on motor vehicles.
ALARM VENDOR
Any business operated by a person who engages in the activity of altering, installing, leasing, maintaining, removing, repairing, replacing, selling, or servicing an emergency alarm system, or which causes any of these activities to take place.
ANNUNCIATOR
The instrumentation of an alarms console at the receiving terminal of a signal line which through visual and/or audible signals shows when an alarm device at a particular location has been activated or it may also indicate trouble conditions.
CHIEF OF POLICE
The Chief of the Washington Police Department or his/her designated representative.
CITY
The City of Washington, Missouri.
DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS
The Director of the Washington Communications Division or his/her designated representative.
EMERGENCY ALARM SYSTEM
An assembly of equipment and devices arranged to signal the presence of a hazard requiring urgent attention of any emergency service.
FALSE ALARM
Any activation of an emergency alarm system intentionally or by inadvertence, negligence or unintentional act to which any City Department responds, including activation caused by the malfunction of the emergency alarm system.
FIRE CHIEF
The Chief of the Washington Fire Department or his/her designated representative.
PERSON
Any individual, firm, partnership, association, corporation, company or organization of any kind.
SYSTEM TESTING
When the protected premises is conducting testing of the system or an alarm vendor is conducting testing on its behalf.
TROUBLE SIGNAL
When the Chief of Police, Director of Communications, or Fire Chief determines that an alarm has been caused by damage, testing or repair of communication equipment, and is notified in writing and copy forwarded to the City of Washington, Director of Communications.
[R.O. 1992 § 202.020; Ord. No. 7190 § 2, 2-18-1992; Ord. No. 05-9745 §§ 1—2, 3-7-2005; Ord. No. 16-11513, 4-18-2016]
A. 
The alarm user shall furnish the Director of Communications with the name and address and phone number of the person designated by the applicant to receive notice issued under this Chapter;
B. 
The alarm user shall furnish the Director of Communications with a current list containing three (3) names, addresses and phone numbers of persons who have access to the emergency alarm systems or can respond to an alarm immediately when deemed necessary by a responding City department;
1. 
Upon activation of an actual alarm, the alarm user or his/her designate will be notified by a representative of the Washington Communications Division and advised of the alarm and the proper action to be taken.
2. 
Upon activation of a fire alarm, the alarm user or his/her designate shall be required to respond to the protected premises or protected equipment to reset the fire alarm system within one (1) hour response time.
3. 
In the event normal service or testing is being conducted on an emergency alarm system, it is the responsibility of the alarm user to notify the alarm vendor, and the Washington Communications Division, prior to and upon completion of service or testing. Failure to do so will result in an automatic fine.
C. 
Alarm User Rules and Regulations. The Director of Communications may establish, promulgate and enforce reasonable rules and regulations in order to administer and enforce the provisions of this Chapter.
1. 
Inspection Of Alarm System.
a. 
Commercial alarm users under this Chapter shall be required to have its emergency alarm system inspected at least once a year by a qualified alarm professional. Certification of the inspection and the completion of any necessary repairs shall be maintained on the premises where the emergency alarm system is maintained.
(1) 
The alarm user shall maintain written records for a minimum of one (1) year at the protected premises.
(2) 
A copy of all fire alarm inspections shall be forwarded to the Fire Marshal for review and recordkeeping.
b. 
The City and/or its designees shall have the authority, at reasonable times and upon reasonable oral notice, to enter any premises in the City or in or upon which emergency alarm systems subject to this Chapter are located, to inspect the installation and/or operation of such emergency alarm system.
c. 
The City and/or its designees, upon locating an emergency alarm system that is not operating as intended during a response to an alarm, shall provide notice to the alarm user, and the alarm user shall make the appropriate modifications.
2. 
Alarm User–False Alarm Charge. All false alarms to which any City department responds shall result in the following to the alarm user:
a. 
A warning for the first alarm in any calendar year;
b. 
A second false alarm in any calendar year shall constitute an ordinance violation and be punishable by a fine up to fifty dollars ($50.00);
c. 
A third false alarm in any calendar year shall constitute an ordinance violation and be punishable by a fine up to seventy-five dollars ($75.00);
d. 
A fourth or any subsequent false alarm in any calendar year shall constitute an ordinance violation and be punishable by a fine up to one hundred dollars ($100.00).
e. 
If the responding agency determines that an on-site employee of the alarm vendor and/or an employee of the alarm user directly caused the false alarm in any calendar year it shall constitute an ordinance violation and be punishable by a fine up to one hundred dollars ($100.00) for every occurrence.
f. 
Upon determination by the Director of Communications that a false alarm has occurred, the Director of Communications shall send a notice to the alarm user notifying the alarm user of the determination and directing payment within thirty (30) days of any fine that may be due, payable to the City Collector. The Director of Communications shall cancel any notice or service charge upon satisfactory proof by the alarm user that a particular alarm falls within Section 202.010, "actual alarm." Willful refusal to pay any such service charge within thirty (30) days of notice shall constitute a violation of this Chapter, but in any prosecution under this Subsection for violation of this provision, the alarm user shall have the burden of proof that the service charge was improperly imposed.
3. 
Power To Investigate. For the purpose of enforcing this Chapter, the Director of Communications shall have the power to make an investigation and, to the extent necessary for this purpose, he/she shall have the power to compel the production of all relevant books, accounts, documents and other records of the alarm user.
[R.O. 1992 § 202.030; Ord. No. 7190 § 3, 2-18-1992; Ord. No. 7518 § 1, 2-7-1994; Ord. No. 05-9745 §§ 1—2, 3-7-2005; Ord. No. 16-11513, 4-18-2016]
A. 
No person, persons, corporation or partnership shall engage or attempt to engage in the business of selling, leasing, maintaining, servicing, repairing, altering, replacing, moving, or installing emergency alarm systems in or on any building or premises in the City of Washington without a current valid business license issued pursuant to this Chapter.
1. 
The alarm vendor will be required to obtain a business license from the City Council of the City of Washington, Missouri. Application for the business license shall be signed by the authorized agent for the alarm vendor and, in addition to the information prescribed by the Director of Communications, shall contain these words:
"Undersigned applicant agrees that the City of Washington, Missouri, shall have no responsibility in rendering or not rendering any service or in termination of service in connection with any alarm or alarm system, any service being voluntary and solely for the benefit of applicant and at no expense to applicant."
2. 
A person, persons, corporation, or partnership applying for a license shall file a written verified application with the Director of Communications, which application shall require the following information:
a. 
The name, address and telephone number of the alarm vendor;
(1) 
If an unincorporated association, the names and addresses of the members of the association;
(2) 
If a corporation, the trade name, the names and addresses of the officers of the corporation, and the name and address of the registered agent of the corporation;
(3) 
If a sole proprietorship, the name and address of the owner;
(4) 
If a partnership, either limited or otherwise, the names and addresses of all partners.
b. 
The address of all offices of the alarm vendor in Missouri.
c. 
The names and addresses of any employee, agent, corporate officer, partner or business associate whose position with the alarm vendor gives him/her access to information in the installation and use of emergency alarm systems for alarm users.
d. 
Specifications of the emergency alarm systems that are to be installed.
e. 
A copy of instructions provided to alarm users as follows:
(1) 
Upon activation of an actual or full alarm, the alarm vendor shall contact the Washington Communications Division and advise the on-duty Communications Officer:
(a) 
Name of alarm user;
(b) 
Location;
(c) 
Type of alarm (burglar, fire, etc.);
(d) 
Callback number of alarm vendor.
(2) 
Upon activation of a trouble alarm, the alarm vendor will contact the alarm user and initiate whatever steps it deems necessary to correct the situation. In the event normal services or testing is being conducted on an emergency alarm system, it is the responsibility of the alarm user to notify the alarm vendor and the Washington Communications Division prior to and upon completion of service or testing.
3. 
Automatic dialing devices are prohibited.
4. 
Alarm Alteration Disclosure. It shall be unlawful for any person engaging in the alarm vendor business or any alarm agent to adjust, alter, replace, fix or change any alarm system or part thereof without written disclosure to the alarm user and notice to the Director of Communications. Normal service calls are excluded.
5. 
Repair And Maintenance Service Required. The alarm vendor shall make available repair and maintenance services, including emergency services during non-business hours, to alarm users for whom the alarm vendor has made installations. At the time of installation, the installer shall furnish to the alarm user a repair service information card. This card shall inform the alarm user of the services available and include the telephone numbers to call for regular and emergency service.
6. 
Disconnection Notice. If the alarm user terminates service with an alarm vendor, or the alarm vendor terminates services and protected premises monitoring required by other ordinance, the Director of Communications shall be notified of the alarm service interruption in writing.
7. 
Power To Investigate. For the purpose of enforcing this Chapter, the Director of Communications shall have the power to make an investigation, and to the extent necessary for this purpose, may examine a licensee or any other persons and shall have the power to compel the production of all relevant books, accounts, documents and other records.