[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Supervisors of Shenandoah County 3-23-1993. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Fire prevention — See Ch. 95.
[Amended 9-23-1997 by Ord. No. 97-7]
Pursuant to §§ 15.2-1200 and 18.2-212 of the Code of Virginia of 1950 (as amended), the installation and operation of alarm systems in Shenandoah County, including incorporated towns that do not regulate said alarm systems, shall comply with the regulations as set forth herein.
For the purpose of this chapter, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to them by this section:
ALARM BOARD
A facility within the communications center located within the County dispatch center which is designed to receive direct signals from alarm systems.
ALARM SYSTEM
An assembly of equipment and/or devices arranged to signal the presence of an emergency requiring urgent attention and to which police, firefighters or other emergency personnel are expected to respond.
ALARM USER
The person who has primary control over the residence or commercial premises in which an alarm is installed or the person who contracts for such alarm services.
AUDIBLE ALARM
A device designed for the detection of unauthorized entry or fire on protected premises which generates an audible sound when it is activated.
AUTOMATED DIALING
A device which is interconnected to a telephone line and is programmed to a selected and predetermined telephone number and which transmits by prerecorded voice message or signal the existence of an emergency requiring urgent attention and to which police, fire fighters or other emergency personnel are expected to respond.
BANK
A financial institution which is required by federal law or regulation to maintain an alarm system or other device for notification of criminal activity related to robbery or burglary.
COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR
The appointed Chief Administrative Officer of Shenandoah County or his designee.
FALSE ALARM
Any communication generated by an alarm system, sent directly or indirectly to police, fire fighters or other emergency personnel for the purpose of securing their response when, in fact, there is no emergency requiring urgent attention from either the police, fire fighters or other emergency personnel. "False alarms" include negligently or accidentally activated signals; signals which are the result of faulty, malfunctioning or improperly installed or maintained equipment; signals which are purposely activated to summon emergency assistance when requirement for such assistance does not exist; and signals for which the actual cause is not determined. "False alarms" shall not include signals activated by unusually severe weather conditions or other causes which are identified and determined by the appropriate authority to be beyond the control of the user.
FIRE ALARM
A signal from an alarm system denoting the existence of fire on the protected premises, or such alarm system.
FIRE CHIEF
The chief of a fire department or his designee.
FIRE MARSHAL
The Fire Marshal of Shenandoah County or his designee.
PERSON
Any individual, group of persons, firm, partnership, association of any kind, company or corporation.
PROTECTED PREMISES
The premises upon which an alarm system has been placed for the purpose of detecting an emergency as described in this chapter.
SHERIFF
The Sheriff of Shenandoah County or his designee.
USER
Any person using an alarm system regardless of whether the person owns the premises on which the alarm system is located.
A. 
Automatic dialing devices designed to transmit a prerecorded message or signal directly into the communications center may be programmed to dial a special telephone line terminating in the communications center, provided that the owner or lessee of such device has permission from the Shenandoah County Sheriff and a permit from the Shenandoah County Building Official and complies with all other provisions in this section.
B. 
The owner or lessee of an automatic dialing device which is programmed to dial a special telephone line transmitting directly into the communications center shall pay Shenandoah County an installation application fee as provided in Ch. A170, Fees, to help defray administrative and operational costs of the system.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code; see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I.
C. 
Every business or person selling or leasing any automatic dialing device which is programmed to dial a special telephone line transmitting directly into the communications center shall either:
(1) 
Provide or make available at all times repair service for such device should it malfunction, and provide the alarm user written information, including telephone number, where services for such device may be obtained at all times; or
(2) 
Furnish the alarm user, if the device is to be serviced by the user, a manual or other detailed information which enables the alarm user to properly operate, service and maintain the device together with written information, including telephone number, concerning where service may be obtained.
A. 
It shall be unlawful for any user to install or operate an automatic dialing device which is programmed to transmit a prerecorded message or code signal directly to any local emergency telephone number or to any other telephone line not designated for this purpose unless a permit has been issued by the Shenandoah County Building Official.
B. 
Any person who installs, operates or maintains an automatic dialing device which is programmed to transmit a prerecorded message or code signal directly to any emergency telephone number or to any other telephone line not designated for this purpose without said permit shall be in violation of this chapter.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code; see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I.
C. 
Any person who possesses or controls an automatic dialing device which transmits a prerecorded message or code signal directly to any local telephone number or to any other telephone line not designated by Shenandoah County for this purpose where there is no actual or threatened emergency or criminal activity shall be in violation of this chapter.[2]
[2]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code; see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I.
D. 
This section shall apply only to those automatic dialing devices interconnected to the communications center of Shenandoah County Emergency Services.
Every person maintaining or using an audible alarm shall post a current notice containing the names and telephone numbers of the persons to be notified for rendering repairs or service and securing the protected premises during any hour of the day or night when the audible alarm is activated. Such notices shall be posted near the alarm in a position so that it is legible from the ground level adjacent to the location of the audible alarm. Any violations of this section shall be punishable as provided in § 57-16.
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code; see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I.
Any audible alarm once activated must be silenced within thirty (30) minutes, either manually or by an automatic cutoff device. Any violation of this section shall be punishable as provided in § 57-16.
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code; see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I.
At the discretion of the Shenandoah County Building official an alarm system may connect directly into a telephone trunk line which terminates at an alarm board within the communications center under the following conditions:
A. 
Conformance to procedures and guidelines promulgated by Shenandoah County. Requests for connection of fire alarms shall be first submitted in writing and approved by the Building Official and Fire Marshal. Requests for connection of burglar alarms shall be first submitted in writing and approved by the Building Official and Sheriff.
B. 
Submission to Shenandoah County, on forms to be provided, of written request containing the following information:
(1) 
The name, address and telephone number of the person making the request.
(2) 
The address and telephone number of the premises secured by the alarm system.
(3) 
The names, addresses and telephone numbers of the person installing, the person maintaining and the person owning the alarm system.
(4) 
The names, addresses and telephone numbers of at least two (2) persons to be contacted in the event of an alarm or alarm malfunction.
(5) 
Any additional relevant information required by Shenandoah County.
The following are the responsibilities of users after approval by Shenandoah County:
A. 
Cost of installation and hookup to the alarm board.
B. 
Maintenance and testing of the alarm system.
C. 
Continuous training of all employees and other persons who may have occasion to activate the alarm system. Such training program shall emphasize the proper setting, activation and resetting of alarms.
D. 
Execution of a written agreement absolving Shenandoah County from responsibility or obligation as to any omission or commission resulting from termination of the user's alarm system at the alarm board in the communications center.
[Amended 4-12-2011 by Ord. No. 2011-01]
A. 
The owner or lessee of any alarm or automatic dialing device shall be assessed a fee as provided in Ch. A170, Fees, for each false alarm in excess of four transmitted by such device in any twelve-month period which resulted in a response by police, fire, rescue or other emergency services personnel.
B. 
The determination as to which alarms are false shall be made by the Fire Marshal and/or Fire Chief with fire alarms and the Sheriff with all other alarms.
C. 
The Building Official or Fire Marshal of Shenandoah County shall administer collection of fees and penalties imposed by this chapter and shall promptly transmit all such fees and penalties collected to the County of Shenandoah. Checks shall be made payable to the Treasurer of Shenandoah County.
A. 
In the event of the occurrence of nine or more false alarms originating from the same user location within any ninety-day period or in the event that a user fails to pay any fees and penalties imposed by this chapter within 30 days of billing, the Building Official shall issue written notice of intent to disconnect such user's alarm device from the alarm board.
B. 
Such user's alarm device may remain connected if, prior to expiration of a period of 15 days from the date of such notice, the user remits all outstanding fees and penalties and provides evidence satisfactory in the judgment of the Sheriff or Fire Marshal that corrective action to prevent additional false alarms has been taken; otherwise, the user's alarm system shall be disconnected from the alarm board.
C. 
An alarm system which has been disconnected from the alarm board pursuant to this chapter may at the discretion of the Sheriff or Fire Marshal be reconnected after all applicable fees have been paid.
A. 
The user of any alarm system connected to the alarm board on the effective date of this chapter shall, by written communication, within 30 days thereof, notify the Building Official, when applicable, of his intention to retain the connection of his alarm system to the alarm board in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.
B. 
Any user who, after 30 days from the effective date of this chapter, has failed to communicate his intention to remain connected to the alarm system shall be disconnected.
It shall be deemed a Class 1 misdemeanor for any person to knowingly and willfully:
A. 
Call or summons, without just cause, by telephone or other method any police, ambulance or firefighting apparatus or personnel.
B. 
Activate any alarm system to summon police, fire fighters or apparatus or any other rescue or emergency personnel.
C. 
Maliciously activate any manual or automatic fire alarm in any building used for public assembly or any other public use, including but not limited to schools, theaters, stores, office buildings, shopping centers and malls, coliseums and arenas, whether or not fire apparatus responds.
[Amended 9-23-1997 by Ord. No. 97-7]
No user shall allow any alarm system or automatic dialing device which terminates in the communications center to become operational without first obtaining written permission from the Sheriff or Fire Marshal as required by this chapter. Violation of this section is punishable as provided in § 57-16.
Shenandoah County shall be under no duty or obligation to a user or any other person under any provision of this chapter and shall not be held liable for actions, failure to act or conditions, including but not limited to any defects in an alarm system or any delays in transmission or responses to any alarm.
A. 
The provisions of this chapter shall not be applicable to audible alarms affixed to automobiles, boats, boat trailers or recreational vehicles or to alarm systems which generate a signal limited to the premises and intended to alert only persons on the premises.
B. 
Governmental agencies or departments are exempt from fees required by this chapter.
Any violation of the provisions of this chapter shall constitute a Class 1 misdemeanor. Each day that the violation continues to exist shall constitute a separate offense.
[1]
Editor's Note: Added at time of adoption of Code; see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I.