For purposes of this article, the following terms shall apply:
A device or system that emits, transmits or relays a signal
intended to summon or that would reasonably be expected to summon
emergency services of the city, including, but not limited to, local
alarms. Alarm system shall include, but not be limited to, cable television
alarm systems, fire alarms, medical alert alarms, and other emergency
assistance alarms. Alarm system does not include an alarm installed
on a vehicle, unless such vehicle is permanently located at a site,
nor an alarm designed to alert only the inhabitants of a premises
which does not have a local alarm.
An electrically operated instrument composed of sensory apparatus
and related hardware which automatically sends over regular telephone
lines, by direct connection or otherwise, a prerecorded voice alarm
upon receipt of a stimulus from the sensory apparatus that has detected
a physical force or condition inherently characteristic of a fire
or unauthorized intrusion.
An alarm notification to the police department, when the
responding officer finds no evidence of unauthorized intrusion, attempted
unauthorized intrusion, robbery, attempted robbery, an attempt to
take a person hostage, or any other occurrence which an alarm system
or automatic protection device is designed to signal or warn of, or
to summon emergency assistance.
An alarm system that emits a signal at an alarm site that
is audible or visible from the exterior of a structure.
The person designated in the permit application who is 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 and fines assessed under this article.
A telephone line leading into the communications center of
the fire department or police department that is for the purpose of
handling emergency calls on a person-to-person basis, and which the
line is identified by a specific listing among the emergency numbers
in the telephone directory issued by the telephone company serving
the city.
An alarm which is activated by the overt action of a person
to signal an intrusion, attempted unauthorized intrusion, robbery,
attempted robbery or a hostage situation.
A telephone line leading into the central switchboard in
the city hall that is identified by a special listing among the emergency
numbers in the telephone directory or handling administrative or other
calls on a person-to-person basis.
(Ordinance 629, sec. 1, adopted 8/7/95; Ordinance 2011-0923 adopted 6/20/11)
(a)
Any
financial institution that is required by regulations of federal supervisory
agencies issued pursuant to the Bank Protection Act of 1968 to have
an appropriate device for notifying the police department that a burglary
or a robbery has occurred or is in progress, may arrange to have an
alarm system installed on a signal line directly to the police department.
(b)
A financial institution installing an alarm system shall obtain a permit therefor annually, upon application to the chief of police or his representative and payment of a permit fee as provided in the fee schedule found in appendix A.
(c)
Any financial institution required to have such device described in subsection (a) above will bear the cost of installation and maintenance of such system. Such financial institution will provide for repair and maintenance of such system on a twenty-four (24) hour basis.
(d)
The
chief of police or his representative will have the right to inspect
such system and may require changes, modernization, consolidation
or removal of the alarm equipment at the expense of the financial
institution.
(e)
Such
financial institution shall be subject to the same service fee schedule
for false alarms or other provisions applicable to alarm permit holders
as are provided in this article.
(Ordinance 629, sec. 1, adopted 8/7/95; Ordinance adopting Code)
(a)
All
individuals, homeowners, businesses, and corporations using an alarm
system in the city will be required to secure a permit therefore from
the chief of police prior to the operation of such system. All individuals,
homeowners, businesses, and corporations who have an existing system
have sixty (60) days to comply with this article.
(b)
Each alarm use permit will be issued for a fee payable to the city as provided in the fee schedule found in appendix A.
(c)
The
permit application will include, as a minimum, the following information:
(1)
The name, address, organization (corporation, partnership, etc.)
and telephone number of the person, firm, corporation or other entity
in whose name the permit will be held.
(2)
The name, address, and telephone number of the person or persons
responsible for the maintenance and operation of the alarm system.
(3)
The name, address, and telephone number of the person or persons
to be notified should the alarm system be activated.
(4)
Purpose of the alarm.
(5)
Classification of the system as commercial or residential.
(6)
Description of the operation of the system.
(7)
Description of the methods by which the police department will be
notified of alarm activation.
(8)
Indication of whether the alarm is silent or audible.
(9)
The name and address of the installer of the system.
(10)
Any other information the chief of police or his representative may
deem necessary.
(d)
Should any change occur in any of the information required by subsection (c) during the term of the permit, the permittee shall, within ten (10) days of the change of such information, give written notification to the chief of police or his representative of such change in order that the information required and furnished on the permit application will be kept current at all times. Violation of this section may result in suspension of this permit.
(e)
No
alarm use permit shall be issued except upon approval by the chief
of police or his representative.
(f)
Any
false statement or misrepresentation on an application will constitute
grounds for denial of the application or suspension of an existing
permit.
(g)
No
alarm use permit shall be transferrable to any other person, firm,
corporation, or entity.
(h)
Information
furnished in the permit application or otherwise by the permittee
to the police department or kept in the records of the city relevant
to alarm systems or that concern the location of an alarm system,
the name of the occupant of an alarm system location, or the type
of alarm system that is used is confidential and may not be disclosed
except as provided by the Texas Government Code, chapter 552, or other
applicable statute, and shall specifically be considered confidential
and not subject to the provisions of the Texas Open Records Act.
(i)
An
initial alarm use permit will expire on December 31 of the second
year following the year of issuance. For example, a permit issued
on April 15, 1984, would expire on December 31, 1986. Renewals shall
be for a period of two (2) years, and shall be applied for and issued
on or before January 15 of the year following expiration.
(Ordinance 629, sec. 1, adopted 8/7/95; Ordinance adopting Code)
(a)
Permit
holders will adjust or modify sensory mechanisms to suppress false
indications of force so that the alarm system will not be activated
due to transient pressure changes in water pipes, flashes of light,
wind noise caused by rattling or vibration of windows or doors, vehicular
noise, electrical power fluctuations or other forces unrelated to
an actual emergency.
(b)
The
alarm system will be adjusted to allow a total of no longer than thirty
(30) minutes of sound after activation.
(c)
Upon
activation, no alarm system will transmit another alarm signal without
first being manually reset.
(d)
The
permit holder or an authorized representative will be required to
come to the alarm site within thirty (30) minutes after being notified
and so requested by the police department of an alarm activation.
Failure to respond as required will result in a letter of warning
from the chief of police on the first occasion. A second failure to
respond will result in suspension of the permit until the permit holder
satisfactorily demonstrates that compliance with this provision will
be accomplished.
(e)
False alarms.
(1)
A permit holder will be assessed a service fee as provided in the fee schedule found in appendix A of this code for the signaling of a false alarm by an alarm system.
(2)
A permit holder shall pay any service fees as assessed under the
provisions of this article within thirty (30) days after receiving
notification from the city that a service fee has been assessed. If
the assessed fees become ninety (90) days delinquent, a ten percent
(10%) late charge will be added.
(3)
A permit holder having more than ten (10) false alarms will have
his permit suspended by the chief of police or his representative
until he can satisfactorily demonstrate that the alarm system will
be properly operated.
(4)
The officer assigned to respond to an alarm site will make the initial
determination as to whether or not alarm notification is false; this
officer will prepare a report for the chief of police or his representative.
The chief of police or his representative will make the final determination
of whether an alarm notification is false.
(5)
The police department will maintain records necessary to carry out
the provisions of this article.
(Ordinance 629, sec. 1, adopted 8/7/95; Ordinance 2011-0923 adopted 6/20/11)
(a)
Automatic
protection devices shall report alarms only over a telephone line
established by the chief of police or his representative for such
purpose.
(b)
Businesses
that monitor and relay alarm notifications to the police department
shall be licensed by the Texas Board of Private Investigators and
Private Security Agencies as provided by state law. The relay of such
alarm notifications shall be by a human operator on a telephone line
designated by the chief of police or his representative.
(Ordinance 629, sec. 1, adopted 8/7/95)
