[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:
A facility within the communications center located within
the County dispatch center which is designed to receive direct signals
from alarm systems.
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.
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.
A device designed for the detection of unauthorized entry
or fire on protected premises which generates an audible sound when
it is activated.
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.
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.
The appointed Chief Administrative Officer of Shenandoah
County or his designee.
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.
A signal from an alarm system denoting the existence of fire
on the protected premises, or such alarm system.
The chief of a fire department or his designee.
The Fire Marshal of Shenandoah County or his designee.
Any individual, group of persons, firm, partnership, association
of any kind, company or corporation.
The premises upon which an alarm system has been placed for
the purpose of detecting an emergency as described in this chapter.
The Sheriff of Shenandoah County or his designee.
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]
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]
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]
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.
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.
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.
