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.
"Excessive false alarm"
means any false alarm in excess of three within any six-month period.
"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.
A. 
It is unlawful for any person to use, install, or cause to be installed an alarm system on any premises within the City of Blue Lake without first applying for and receiving an alarm permit.
B. 
It is unlawful for any person to use or operate an alarm system within the City of Blue Lake under a revoked permit.
A. 
Any person desiring an alarm permit shall make application to the City of Blue Lake Police Department on the City's application form, including the following information:
1. 
Name and address of applicant.
2. 
The name, address, and telephone number of the business or premises where the alarm system will operate.
3. 
The names and telephone numbers of three or more persons who will respond to the alarm site, if activation occurs, during any hour of the day or night. If the alarm site is a residence, one or more names must be provided.
4. 
A description of the alarm system, including the manufacturer's name and the model number.
5. 
If the alarm is monitored, the name and telephone number of the monitoring agency.
6. 
At the time of application a nonrefundable application fee, as prescribed in Section 8.32.140, shall be paid to the City of Blue Lake Police Department to cover the cost of investigation of the facts stated in the application and the processing thereof.
B. 
An alarm permit will be issued providing:
1. 
The provisions of this article have been adhered to.
2. 
The alarm system meets the standards prescribed by Section 8.32.130.
3. 
The application is approved by the Chief of Police or the designated representative.
C. 
An annual renewal fee, as prescribed in Section 8.32.140, shall be paid on or before July 1st of each year by each permittee wishing to continue permittee's alarm permit.
D. 
Permits—Change of Information. The permittee shall give notice to the Blue Lake Police Department within five working days of any change in the information provided on the alarm permit application.
A. 
An alarm permit shall be revoked by recommendation of the Chief of Police for any of the following reasons.
1. 
False representations were made upon the permit application.
2. 
Any alarm system, silent or audible, that emits more than 12 false alarms within any six-month period shall be deemed an "immediate safety hazard," and by recommendation of the Chief of Police, the alarm permit shall be revoked.
3. 
Failure to observe any of the regulations or provisions of this chapter.
B. 
Notice and Effective Dates. A written notice of revocation, stating the reason for the action, shall be mailed by certified mail giving the permittee 10 working days from the mailing date to disconnect or remove the alarm system when required by this chapter. Failure to so disconnect shall be a violation of this chapter.
A. 
Revocation of an alarm system permit may be appealed to the City Council or designated representative. The permittee may submit a written statement, setting forth the reasons why the permit should not be revoked, to the office of the City Clerk not more than 10 working days from the mailing date of the notice of revocation.
B. 
The alarm user may continue to operate the alarm system during the appeal process, unless required by the City Council or designated representative upon recommendation from the Chief of Police to disconnect the alarm system.
C. 
The decision of the City Council or designated representative with respect to this section will be final and conclusive.
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.
A. 
It is unlawful for any person to use, operate, or maintain an alarm system within the City of Blue Lake that emits excessive false alarms.
B. 
It is unlawful for any person who operates, manages, maintains, or uses the premises on which an alarm system is located, to permit the alarm system to emit excessive false alarms.
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.
A. 
Alarms.
1. 
No alarms shall have an automatic dialing system that connects directly with the Blue Lake Police Department.
2. 
All alarm systems shall have a standby backup power supply which will automatically assume operation of the alarm system should any interruption occur in the power to the system. The transfer of power from the primary source to the backup source must occur in a manner which does not activate the alarm. Backup power supply must be capable of at least 12 hours of operation.
3. 
All silent burglar alarm systems shall have a pre-alert or pre-alarm unit allowing the user to reset the system if activated in error, before the system goes into full alarm activation.
B. 
Audible Alarms.
1. 
All audible alarm systems shall have a sign or notice posted on or near the system with the name and telephone number of the person responsible for the service and maintenance of the system. The notice shall be conspicuously posted and readable from ground level.
2. 
All audible alarms shall be equipped with a device that will deactivate the alarm system not more than 15 minutes after activation.
3. 
Any alarm system which has an automatic shutoff with a rearming phase must be able to distinguish between an open and closed circuit; and, if the circuit is open, will not rearm.
A. 
The initial permit application fee shall be $15.00.
B. 
The permit renewal fee shall be $5.00.
C. 
The fee for an excessive false alarm shall be $50.00.
D. 
The fee to reinstate an alarm permit following revocation shall be $200.00.
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.