§ 10-48. Definitions.
The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this article, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
Alarm administrator means the person or persons designated by the Chief of Police to administer, control and review false alarm reduction efforts and to administer the provisions of this ordinance.
Alarm company means and includes any business operated for profit, engaged in the installation, maintenance, alteration, monitoring or servicing of alarm systems or which coordinates a response to such alarm systems.
Alarm permit means a permit issued by the City allowing the operation of an alarm system within the city.
Alarm signal means a detectable signal, either audible or visual, generated by an alarm system, to which the Department of Police is requested to respond.
Alarm system means an assembly of equipment or a device installed in or for commercial or residential premises which transmits a signal, visibly, audibly, electronically, mechanically or otherwise, to indicate the presence of a hazard requiring urgent attention and to which the Department of Police is requested to respond. It does not include motor vehicle or boat alarms, domestic violence alarms, or alarms designed to elicit a medical response.
Alarm user means any person, corporation, partnership, proprietorship, or any other entity owning or leasing an alarm system, or on whose premises an alarm system is maintained for the protection of such premises.
Alarm user awareness class means a class conducted for the purpose of educating alarm users about the responsible use, operation, and maintenance of alarm systems and the problems created by false alarms.
Business day means any weekday except Saturday, Sunday or a holiday recognized by the City.
Cancellation means the process where a response is terminated when the alarm company (designated by the alarm user) notifies the Department of Emergency Communications that there is not an existing situation at the alarm site requiring police response after an alarm dispatch request.
False alarm means any alarm signal communicated to the Department of Emergency Communications which is not in response to an actual or threatened hazard. False alarms include negligently or accidentally activated signals; signals which are activated as the result of faulty, malfunctioning or improperly installed or maintained equipment; and signals which are purposefully activated to summon police or fire personnel in nonemergency situations. False alarms do not include alarms for which cancellation has occurred prior to the arrival of police at the scene or signals which are activated by unusually severe weather conditions or other causes and are identified and determined by the Chief of Police to be beyond the control of the owner or the user of an alarm system.
Runaway alarm means an alarm system that produces repeated alarm signals that are not caused by separate human action.
SIA Control Panel Standard CP-01 means the American National Standard Institute (ANSI) approved Security Industry Association (SIA) CP-01 Control Panel Standard, as may be updated from time to time, that details recommended design features for security system control panels and their associated arming and disarming devices to reduce false alarms.
Twelve-month calculation period means the 12-month period of time, commencing with the date of permit issuance, or for non-registered alarm systems, the date of the first false alarm response, that shall be used for calculating violations.
Verify means an attempt by the alarm company monitoring the alarm system, or its representative, to contact the alarm user by telephone, whether or not actual contact with a person is made, in order to determine whether an alarm signal is valid before requesting law enforcement dispatch and avoid an unnecessary alarm dispatch request.
(Ord. No. 2016-049, § 2, 5-13-2016)
(Ord. No. 2016-049, § 2, 5-13-2016)