The purpose of this chapter is to reduce or eliminate the incidence
of false alarms. False alarms constitute a hazard to police officers
and the general public. False alarms result in substantial costs incurred
to the City, and the ability of the Police Department to respond to
valid alarms and other emergencies is reduced.
For the purposes of this chapter, the words and/or phrases in
this section shall have the following meanings:
"Alarm system"
means any equipment which is designed or intended to notify
persons of an emergency at a particular location to which the Police
Department is expected to respond. The term "alarm system" includes
any equipment which is designed to detect an emergency, or which is
designed to be activated by a person to report an emergency.
"Alarm user"
means any person who owns or is entitled to possession of
any premises on which an alarm system has been installed.
"Audible alarm"
means any system which, when activated, generates a sound
which is audible outside the structure where the system is located.
"Automatic dialing system"
means any alarm system which automatically sends over regular
telephone lines, by direct connection or otherwise, a pre-recorded
voice message indicating the existence of an emergency situation that
the alarm system is designed to detect.
"False alarm"
means an alarm signal that prompts a response by the Police
Department when an emergency does not exist.
1.
Alarms generated by severe storms, earthquakes, or other violent
acts of nature when an emergency does not exist, shall not be deemed
a false alarm.
2.
A robbery/hold-up alarm activated for any other purpose than
a robbery in progress shall be deemed a false alarm.
"Permittee"
means any person holding an alarm permit issued under the
provisions of this chapter.
"Person"
means any natural person, partnership, corporation, unincorporated
association, or other business entity.
"Robbery/hold-up alarm"
means any alarm system which is activated by the direct action
of the person being robbed or an observer of the robbery.
"Silent alarm"
means any alarm system which, when activated, transmits an
alarm signal to a receiving center without obvious local indication
of alarm activation.
This chapter shall not apply to alarm systems affixed to automobiles,
boats, or recreational vehicles.
Following the revocation of the alarm permit, the permit may
be reinstated upon recommendation of the Chief of Police when:
A. The
cause for the revocation has been corrected.
B. The permittee pays a permit reinstatement fee to the City of Blue Lake for the amount as prescribed in Section
8.32.140.
It is unlawful for any person to sell, install, or operate any alarm system for use within the jurisdiction of the City which does not meet the minimum standards as prescribed by Section
8.32.130.
The Chief of Police or his/her designated representative is
hereby authorized to make inspection of the alarm site to verify facts
stated on the alarm permit application.
It is unlawful for any person to engage in, conduct, or carry
on any alarm business within the City of Blue Lake unless the person
has first registered the intention to engage in such alarm business
with the Blue Lake Police Department, giving the Department such information
as it may require; and has displayed to the Department a current valid
license or permit issued by the State of California, where State law
requires such a permit or license.
Any person violating any of the provisions of this chapter shall
be guilty of an infraction, and any person, upon conviction of the
infraction, shall be punished in accordance with the penalties for
infractions provided for by the State of California in the Penal Code.
All alarm systems within the City of Blue Lake installed on
or before the effective date of the ordinance codified in this chapter
shall be brought within the standards set forth within 30 days of
said effective date.
The City may, by resolution, amend the fees and alarm standards
of this chapter and adopt such rules and regulations necessary or
appropriate to reduce or eliminate false alarms.