[CC 1985 §5-200; Ord. No. 2834, 1-25-1996]
It is the intent and purpose of this Chapter to provide minimum standards and regulations applicable to users and installers of burglar, fire, holdup and automatic telephone dialer alarms within the boundaries of the City of Ste. Genevieve, to provide penalties for non-compliance and to encourage the proper and error-free installation and operation of protective alarm systems in all dwellings and commercial structures.
[CC 1985 §5-201; Ord. No. 2834, 1-25-1996]
For the purpose of this Chapter, the following terms, phrases, words and their derivations shall have the meaning given herein. Where not inconsistent with the text, words used in the present tense include the past tense and words used in the singular number include the plural number. The word "shall" is always mandatory and not merely directory.
ALARM BUSINESS
The business by an individual, partnership, corporation, governmental unit or other entity of selling, leasing, maintaining, servicing, repairing, altering, replacing, moving, monitoring or installing any alarm system or causing to be sold, leased, maintained, serviced, repaired, altered, replaced, moved or installed any alarm system in or on any building, structure or facility.
ALARM SYSTEM
An assembly of equipment and devices or a single device, such as a solid state unit, which may operate from a power source, arranged to signal the presence of a hazard requiring urgent attention and to which Police or fire personnel are expected to respond. Also known as a Police alarm device or fire alarm device.
ALARM USER
Any person, firm or corporation who is lawfully in possession of any property or premises on which an operating alarm system is located.
ANSWERING SERVICE
A telephone answering business providing among its services the service of receiving on a continuous basis through trained employees emergency signals from alarm systems and thereafter immediately relaying the message by live voice to the communication center used by the Ste. Genevieve Police Department.
AUTOMATIC DIAL PROTECTION DEVICE
An electronically operated instrument composed of sensory apparatus and related hardware which automatically sends over regular telephone lines a pre-recorded voice alarm upon receipt of a stimulus from the sensory apparatus that has detected a force or condition characteristic of an unauthorized intrusion or any emergency message indicating a need for emergency response.
BURGLARY ALARM SYSTEM
An alarm system signaling an entry or attempted entry into an area protected by the system.
CENTRAL ALARM STATION
Any facility which is manned at all times by trained operators employed to receive, record and validate alarm signals and to relay information about validated signals to the Police radio dispatch room when appropriate.
CITY
The City of Ste. Genevieve, Missouri.
DIRECT ALARM DEVICE
Any alarm device or system which transmits by whatever means its alarm signal from the location of the alarm to the Police radio dispatch room or other Police dispatch facility without the last step in the transmission process being a live voice capable of two-way communication. This definition includes automatic telephone alarm devices connected to emergency line 911 or other telephone numbers.
FALSE ALARMS
Any alarm signal originating from a Police alarm device, fire alarm device, direct alarm device or audible alarm device to which Police or Fire Department respond and which results from:
1. 
False activation including, but not limited to, reporting a robbery where no actual or attempted robbery has occurred or reporting a burglar alarm where there is no evidence to substantiate an attempted or forced entry to the premises.
2. 
Alarm malfunction, including mechanical failure or electrical failure.
3. 
Alarm triggered by subscriber's or subscriber's employee negligence, including overly sensitive settings.
An alarm will not be considered a false alarm if it is determined that the alarm was caused by:
1.
Vandalism causing physical damage to the premises.
2.
Natural or manmade catastrophe or an act of God. Such events include tornadoes, floods, earthquakes or other similarly violent conditions.
3.
Telephone line malfunction verified in writing to the Chief of Police by an authorized telephone company representative within seven (7) days of the occurrence.
4.
Electrical service interruption verified in writing to the Chief of Police by an authorized electric utility representative within seven (7) days of the occurrence.
5.
An attempted entry of a location that causes visible, physical or other evidence of damage to the location.
6.
Severe weather causing physical damage to the premises.
7.
The test of a local alarm system by a licensed alarm business agent or employees, repairing or installing the alarm, when such testing does not result in the alarm being activated of an uninterrupted period exceeding sixty (60) seconds and when the communication unit of the Police Department or Fire Department, whichever department is appropriate, has been notified prior to the test.
LICENSEE
Any person, firm or corporation that has, because of the operating of a central alarm station, become subject to the license requirement of this Chapter.
LOCAL ALARM DEVICE
Any alarm device which produces an audible signal at the premises where it is installed, whether by means of bells, horns, sirens or other mechanism, thereby notifying persons within audible range of the signal that Police or fire should be notified. Alarm device may also produce a visual signal intended to be seen by others outside of the protected premises indicating that Police or fire should be notified.
NOTICE
Written notice given by personal service upon the addressee or given by United States mail, postage prepaid, addressed to the person to be notified at his/her last known address. Service of such notice shall be effective upon completion of personal service or upon placing the same in the custody of the United States Postal Service.
PERMIT/LICENSE YEAR
A calendar year beginning on the first (1st) day of January and ending on the thirty-first (31st) day of December.
PERMITTEE
Any person, firm or corporation that has, because of the use of a Police alarm device, fire alarm device or audible alarm device, become subject to the permit requirements of this Chapter.
PERSONAL RESIDENCE
The principal place of abode of any alarm user who personally installs and operates an alarm system for the security of their own home.
PRIMARY TRUNKLINE
A telephone line leading into the communications center used by the Police Department that is for the purpose of handling emergency calls on a person-to-person basis and which line is identified by a specific listing among the emergency numbers in the telephone directory issued by the telephone company serving the City.
PROPRIETARY SYSTEM
An alarm system sounding and/or recording and supervisor signals to a control center being under the supervision of the proprietor of the premises. If a proprietary system includes a signal line connected directly or by means of an automatic dialing device to a Police communications system, a central alarm station or answering service, it thereby becomes an alarm system as defined in this Section.
[CC 1985 §5-202; Ord. No. 2834, 1-25-1996]
A. 
No person(s), firm or corporation or governmental entity, either as principal officer, agent, servant or employee, shall possess or operate an alarm system after the effective date of this Chapter which is designed to elicit, either directly or indirectly, a response by Police and/or fire personnel without first registering such system with City Hall. Such registration shall be renewable annually for each successive permit/license year such system is possessed or operated; provided however, a permit shall not be required to operate local alarm systems affixed to motor vehicles.
B. 
An annual registration fee of up to fifteen dollars ($15.00) for said alarm will be required. This fee shall be the actual cost of providing the registration services as determined by the City.
C. 
All persons using an alarm system installed prior to the effective date of this Chapter shall register with City Hall not later than thirty (30) days after the effective date of this Chapter authorizing the continued use of the alarm system.
D. 
No registrations shall be issued for a new installation until work required by the Building Code required by the City has been completed and final inspections have been made and the work approved by the City Building Inspector.
E. 
The registration shall be requested by an application provided by City Hall which shall include:
1. 
Address at which the alarm system is installed, not to include post office boxes.
2. 
Full name and address of the alarm user.
3. 
Full name, street address and telephone number of the owner(s) of the property at which the system is installed.
4. 
Description of the alarm system, including whether it is equipped to cease admitting an audible alarm sound within fifteen (15) minutes of activation for property located within an area zoned residential and within thirty (30) minutes of activation for property located within all other areas not zoned residential and not within five hundred (500) feet of an area zoned residential.
5. 
Full name, address and phone number of the firm installing (or who has already installed) the alarm system.
6. 
Date the alarm system was installed.
7. 
If the alarm system is serviced or maintained by someone other than the alarm user, full name(s), address(es), phone number(s) of the person(s) servicing or maintaining the alarm system.
8. 
If the alarm system is monitored by someone other than the alarm user, full name(s), address(es) and telephone number(s) of the person(s) monitoring the system.
9. 
Name, address and telephone number of a person to be contacted by the Police Department or Fire Department in the event the alarm user is not available.
10. 
Any other information required by the Police Department to facilitate compliance with this Chapter.
F. 
When the possession of the premises at which an alarm system is maintained is transferred, the person(s) obtaining possession of the property shall file an application for an alarm registration within thirty (30) days of obtaining possession of the property.
G. 
Whenever the information provided on the alarm registration application changes, the correct information will be provided to City Hall within thirty (30) days of the change.
H. 
Alarm user registration applications shall be confidential and shall be inaccessible to the general public and all persons other than the alarm user, the courts, law enforcement agencies and persons authorized with the administration and enforcement of this Chapter.
I. 
An alarm user which is a governmental political unit shall not be subject to the payment of any fees or the imposition of any assessment as provided herein, but they must register.
J. 
An alarm user which temporarily and in cooperation with the Ste. Genevieve Police Department possesses, maintains or controls an alarm system owned by the Police Department shall be subject to this Section; provided however, such alarm user shall not be subject to the payment of any fees or the imposition of any assessment as provided herein.
K. 
It is in the best interest of safety and efficient service for the alarmed premises to provide address numbers which are clearly visible from a distance of one hundred (100) feet or more (Section 520.070, Street Address Numbers Required). The address numbers shall be posted to the left, right or overhead to the main entrance of the building, structure or facility and if such building, structure or facility is on a corner lot, address numbers shall face the street named in the official address as designated by the United States Postal Service.
[CC 1985 §5-203; Ord. No. 2834, 1-25-1996]
A. 
Local alarm systems located within an area zoned residential or within five hundred (500) feet of an area zoned residential shall automatically discontinue emitting an audible sound within fifteen (15) minutes of activation.
B. 
An alarm system which emits an intermittent signal shall discontinue emitting an audible sound within fifteen (15) minutes of activation.
C. 
Local alarm systems located within an area not zoned residential and not within five hundred (500) feet of an area zoned residential shall automatically discontinue emitting an audible sound within thirty (30) minutes of activation.
D. 
All new alarms shall meet the requirements listed above in Subsections (A), (B) and (C) and all existing alarms shall have someone nearby to deactivate.
[CC 1985 §5-204; Ord. No. 2834, 1-25-1996]
A. 
An alarm system regulated by Subsection (A) or Subsection (B) of Section 202.040 which fails to discontinue emitting an audible sound within fifteen (15) minutes of activation is declared to be a nuisance. An alarm system regulated by Subsection (C) of Section 202.040 which fails to discontinue emitting an audible sound within thirty (30) minutes of activation is declared to be a nuisance.
B. 
Employees of the City are authorized to take necessary and reasonable steps to abate the nuisance declared by this Section.
C. 
A notice shall be sent to the registrant within a reasonable time following abatement of the nuisance.
[CC 1985 §5-205; Ord. No. 2834, 1-25-1996]
A. 
An alarm user shall be notified in writing of each false alarm determination over the limit allowed in a calendar year under Section 202.070.
B. 
The City shall, when requested by an alarm user, review the determination that an alarm was false. Such review may be done only if the alarm user requests in writing such a review within fifteen (15) days of the date of the mailing or other delivery of the notice of false alarm determination.
C. 
The request for a determination shall include at least the following information:
1. 
Alarm user name;
2. 
Address at which the alarm is installed;
3. 
Date of alarm being contested;
4. 
Facts upon which the request for determination is made.
[CC 1985 §5-206; Ord. No. 2834, 1-25-1996]
A. 
Any person using an alarm system which reports or causes to report three (3) or more false alarms within a calendar year is in violation of this Chapter and is subject to a fine not to exceed the following:
Offense
False Alarms
Administrative Fee
1st
3
$35.00
2nd
4
$50.00
3rd
5
$100.00
4th
6
$175.00
5th
7
$200.00
Subsequent offenses
8 or more
$225.00
B. 
Each day of a violation of any provision article shall constitute a separate violation.
C. 
Violations of other Sections of this Chapter will be subject to the general punishment set out in Section 100.260.
D. 
When the alarm company has caused an alarm activation through mechanical failure, malfunction, improper installation, improper adjustment, negligence of a person or an alarm signal transmitted in the absence of an alarm condition, except when initiated by an act of God, it shall be considered a violation of this Chapter. The alarm owner shall be responsible and the punishment shall be the same as those set up for the user and indicated in this Section.
E. 
If any person, firm, corporation or other entity fails to pay within thirty (30) days any assessment levied under Subsection (A) hereinabove. The following action shall be taken:
1. 
If said alarm does not use the dispatch panel, then said person, firm, corporation or other entity shall be notified by registered letter and informed that they may be subject to fines at the maximum rate as listed in Subsection (A). If payment is not received within one hundred twenty (120) days of the mailing of the first (1st) notice, additional action shall commence through Municipal Court to enforce payment.
[CC 1985 §5-207; Ord. No. 2834, 1-25-1996]
All information submitted in compliance with this Chapter shall be held in strictest confidence, shall be deemed a public record exempt from disclosure and shall be kept so that the contents thereof shall not be known except to persons authorized with the administration and enforcement of this Chapter.