Alarm Ordinance

5-4-1: AUTHORITY:
The county hereby has the authority to promulgate regulations for the effective implementation of this chapter and to regulate the placement of alarm systems and the methodology for reporting of alarms within the county. Such regulations shall be presented to the board and approved by resolution. (Ord. 178B, 8-6-1996)

 5-4-2: DEFINITIONS:
In construing the provisions of this chapter, except where otherwise plainly declared or clearly apparent from the context, words used in this chapter shall be given their common and ordinary meaning, and in addition, the following definitions shall apply:

ALARM SERVICE COMPANY: Any privately owned business, partnership or corporation which installs or supplies an alarm system or acts as an intermediary for contacting public safety agencies when an alarm is sounded.

ALARM SYSTEM: Any assembly of equipment, mechanical or electrical, designed to alert public safety agencies, the public or any person of the commission or attempted commission of a crime or any other public safety emergency at a particular or given location.

ALARM USER: Any person, business or other entity which owns, or has control over, any building, structure or facility where an alarm system is maintained.

AUTHORIZED SERVICE PERSONNEL: Those persons who by reason of their experience, training or occupation can demonstrate to the county that they are qualified to inspect and repair alarm systems.
FALSE ALARM: The intentional or unintentional activation of any alarm system that elicits a response from a public safety agency when no public safety emergency has occurred. The causes of false alarms include, but are not limited to, the following: equipment malfunction, improper installation, improper maintenance of equipment, human error or negligence or any cause other than the actual occurrence of a public safety emergency.

PUBLIC SAFETY AGENCY: Any governmental entity or agency which responds to law enforcement emergencies, fire emergencies or medical emergencies including, but not limited to, the sheriff's department, any fire protection district or association operating in the county and any emergency medical service provider operating in the county and dispatched by the county 9-1-1 center. The county 9-1-1 center, or any other public safety dispatch center, shall also be considered a public safety agency.

PUBLIC SAFETY EMERGENCY: A public safety emergency shall be present under the following circumstances:
A. When a criminal act has been committed or attempted.
B. A fire has occurred on or near the premises served by the alarm, or a situation is presented which requires the immediate response of fire protection agencies.
C. A person has an illness or injury which requires immediate medical attention by trained emergency medical personnel. (Ord. 178B, 8-6-1996)

 5-4-3: ALARM EQUIPMENT:
A. Prohibited Equipment: Alarm systems designed to alert any public safety agency by providing unattended automatic dialing to any public phone number of a public safety agency for the purpose of transmitting a preprogrammed signal message or code shall be prohibited.
B. Required Equipment: All alarm systems shall have a standby backup power source which will automatically assume the operation of the alarm system should any interruption occur in power to the system. The transfer of power from the primary source to the backup source must occur in a manner that does not activate the alarm.
C. Time Limit On Audible Alarms: It shall be unlawful for any person to install or to operate an audible alarm system which does not shut off within a maximum of thirty (30) minutes from the time of activation. Shutoff may be accomplished either with an automatic cutoff or by manual operation. If the alarm system has an automatic cutoff or with a rearming phase, the rearming phase must be able to distinguish between an open and closed circuit, and if the circuit is broken, the system will not rearm. (Ord. 178B, 8-6-1996)

 5-4-4: EMERGENCY RESPONSE INFORMATION:
A. No person or business shall establish or maintain an alarm system unless a current alarm information file is always maintained with the alarm monitoring company or at the alarm point of termination.
B. The alarm file must contain the following information:
1. A recognized numerical address;
2. Detailed directions from a major road or landmark;
3. A list of persons authorized to enter the premises;
4. Where the alarm is located; and
5. Where the shutoff or disarming device is located.
C. If the address or directions are incomplete, the call shall be deemed a false alarm. The name of the monitoring service and a twenty four (24) hour telephone number must be clearly displayed outside of the premises where the alarm is located.
1. Upon notification by a public service agency that his presence is required, the alarm user, or his representative, shall promptly proceed to the scene of the alarm within thirty (30) minutes and render necessary service. Such service, when necessary, shall include turning off the alarm and/or opening the alarmed premises so a search can be made.
2. Circumstances that may require the alarm user's presence include, but are not limited to, continual malfunction of an alarm system which causes repeated false alarms over a short period of time, evidence at the alarmed premises indicating a crime was committed or attempted, and further investigation is necessary or the premises are not, or cannot be, properly secured.
3. Any alarm company, upon notification that a false alarm has sounded, shall immediately notify the public service agency that a false alarm has been sounded, that the alarm company has been notified that it is a false alarm and that the public service agency no longer needs to respond to the earlier reported location. (Ord. 178B, 8-6-1996)

5-4-5: FALSE ALARMS:
No alarm user shall cause or allow a false alarm.
A. The intentional activation of an alarm system for the purpose of summoning the public service agency for other than an actual public safety emergency, shall be punishable as a misdemeanor.
B. The failure of an alarm company or alarm company employee to notify the public safety agency of the cancellation of an alarm signal shall be punishable as a misdemeanor.
C. The third false alarm and any subsequent false alarm, from the same location or alarm system within a six (6) month period, resulting from equipment malfunction, improper installation, improper maintenance of equipment, human error or negligence shall constitute a misdemeanor. (Ord. 178B, 8-6-1996) 5-4-6:

OBLIGATION OF PUBLIC SAFETY AGENCIES:
Nothing in this chapter shall be construed or interpreted to create a duty to respond on the part of the public safety agency. The public safety agency shall respond to alarms on such basis and in accordance with the availability of resources, manpower and preexisting duties. No cause of action shall arise from the failure of the public safety agency to respond to any alarm. (Ord. 178B, 8-6-1996)

5-4-7: PENALTIES:
The violation of any section of this chapter shall constitute a misdemeanor, punishable as provided in the general penalty in section 1-4-1 of this code. (Ord. 178B, 8-6-1996; amd. 2004 Code)