The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this article, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
Alarm notification.
A notification intended to summon the Police Department or Fire Department, which is designed either to be initiated purposely by a person or by an alarm system that responds to a stimulus characteristic of unauthorized intrusion or fire.
Alarm site.
A single premises or location (one street address, area or subarea) served by an alarm system that is under the control of one owner.
Alarm system.
A device or system that emits, transmits, or relays a signal intended to summon or that would reasonably be expected to summon police or fire services of the city, including, but not limited to, local alarms.
Burglar alarm.
An alarm system as defined in this section, but does not include an alarm:
(1) 
Installed on a vehicle unless the vehicle is permanently located at a site; or
(2) 
Designed to alert only the inhabitants of a premises which does not have a local alarm.
Chief.
The city fire chief or authorized representative in matters under this article pertaining to fires. In all other cases, the term “chief” means the chief of police or authorized representative.
False alarm notification.
An alarm notification to the Police Department or Fire Department, when the responding officer or Fire Department personnel finds no evidence of an attempted criminal offense or criminal offense or fire.
Local alarm.
An alarm system that emits a signal at an alarm site that is audible or visible from the exterior of a structure.
Permit holder.
The person designated in the application as required in section 42-182(1) who is ultimately responsible for responding to alarms and giving access to the site and who is also responsible for proper maintenance and operation of the alarm system and payment of fees.
(1966 Code, sec. 14½-1; 2001 Code, sec. 42-146; Ordinance 86-2006, sec. 1, adopted 11/7/06)
(a) 
A permit holder in control of an alarm system shall:
(1) 
Maintain premises containing an alarm system in a manner that ensures proper operation of the alarm system.
(2) 
Maintain the alarm system in a manner that will minimize false alarm notifications.
(3) 
Respond or cause a representative to respond within a reasonable period of time when notified by the city to repair or inactivate a malfunctioning alarm system, to provide access to the premises, or to provide security for the premises.
(4) 
Not manually activate an alarm for any reason other than an occurrence of an event that the alarm system was intended to report.
(b) 
A person in control of a local alarm shall adjust the mechanism or cause the alarm signal to sound for no longer than 15 minutes after being activated.
(1966 Code, sec. 14½-4; 2001 Code, sec. 42-148; Ordinance 86-2006, sec. 1, adopted 11/7/06)
A permit holder in control of an alarm system shall not allow alarm signals to be reported through a relaying intermediary that does not comply with the requirements of this article and any rules and regulations promulgated by the chief.
(1966 Code, sec. 14½-5; 2001 Code, sec. 42-149; Ordinance 86-2006, sec. 1, adopted 11/7/06)
An intermediary who is engaged in the business of relaying alarm notifications to the city shall communicate alarm notifications to the city in a manner and form determined by the chief.
(1966 Code, sec. 14½-6; 2001 Code, sec. 42-150; Ordinance 86-2006, sec. 1, adopted 11/7/06)
No person shall use or cause or permit to be used any alarm device which automatically selects a telephone trunk line of the Police Department or Fire Department and then reproduces any prerecorded voice messages to report any robbery, burglary, fire or other emergency.
(1966 Code, sec. 14½-7; 2001 Code, sec. 42-151; Ordinance 86-2006, sec. 1, adopted 11/7/06)
A person in control of an alarm system shall maintain at each alarm site a complete set of written operating instructions for each alarm system. For a fire alarm system, such instructions shall be posted at the alarm panel at the alarm site. Special codes, combinations or passwords must not be included in these instructions.
(1966 Code, sec. 14½-8; 2001 Code, sec. 42-152; Ordinance 86-2006, sec. 1, adopted 11/7/06)
(a) 
The police officer or Fire Department representative responding to an alarm call resulting from an attempted criminal offense, criminal offense, or fire or a false alarm notification shall record such information as necessary to permit the chief to maintain records, including, but not limited to, the following information:
(1) 
Identification of the permit holder.
(2) 
Identification of the alarm site.
(3) 
Arrival time and dispatch received time.
(4) 
Time of day and date.
(5) 
Area and subarea.
(6) 
Name of permit holder’s representative on premises, if any.
(b) 
The responding police officer shall indicate on the dispatch record whether the notification was caused by a criminal offense or fire or whether the notification was the result of a false alarm.
(1966 Code, sec. 14½-9; 2001 Code, sec. 42-153; Ordinance 86-2006, sec. 1, adopted 11/7/06)
If there is reason to believe that an alarm system is not being used or maintained in a manner that ensures proper operation and suppresses false alarms, the chief may require a conference with an alarm permit holder and the individual or association responsible for maintenance of the alarm system to review circumstances of each false alarm.
(1966 Code, sec. 14½-10; 2001 Code, sec. 42-154; Ordinance 86-2006, sec. 1, adopted 11/7/06)
(a) 
The holder of an alarm permit shall pay a service fee for the signaling of a false alarm by a burglar alarm as established by separate ordinance.
(b) 
If the responding police officer or Fire Department official determines that an alarm notification was caused by an attempted criminal offense, criminal offense, or fire, no service fee will be assessed for that notification.
(1966 Code, sec. 14½-11; 2001 Code, sec. 42-155; Ordinance 86-2006, sec. 1, adopted 11/7/06)