3.51.010 Purpose and scope.

The purpose of this chapter is to protect the emergency services of the City from misuse and recover cost incurred by the City responding to false alarms.

This chapter governs burglary and robbery alarm systems, requires permits, establishes fees, provides for allocation of revenues and deficits, provides for revocation of permit, provides for punishment of violations and establishes a system of administration. (Ord. 2829 § 1 (part), 1992: Ord. 2174 § 1 (part), 1977).

3.51.030 Alarm user's permits required.

Every alarm user shall obtain an alarm user's permit from the Chief of Police for each system from the Coordinator's office upon the effective date of this chapter or prior to use of an alarm system. Application for a burglary or robbery alarm user's permit shall be filed with the Coordinator's office each year. Each user of a burglary or robbery alarm system shall pay an annual fee of an amount equal to the permit fee required by City Council resolution. The fee shall be paid to the City Treasurer's office at the time of filing the application for the alarm user's permit. Each permit shall bear the signature of the Chief of Police.

The permit shall be physically upon the premises using the alarm system and shall be available for inspection by the Chief of Police.

A permit year shall begin on the date of original application and issuance of permit. Each permit shall be renewed upon the anniversary date of each permittee.

A charge will be assessed in addition to the fee provided in subsection A of this section to a user who fails to obtain a permit within sixty days after the effective date of the ordinance codified in this chapter, or who is more than sixty days delinquent in renewing a permit. (Ord. 2829 § 1 (part), 1992: Ord. 2595 §§ 2 - 6, 1986; Ord. 2174 § 1 (part), 1977).

3.51.060 False alarms - Permit revocation - Notice.

Each alarm user will be permitted two false alarms each permit year.

Each alarm user will be assessed a fee for each false alarm beginning with the third false alarm in a permit year. The fee will be based on a fee schedule approved by City Council resolution.

Alarm users who have more than ten false alarms in a permit year may have their permit reviewed by the Chief of Police. The Chief of Police may revoke their permit or impose reasonable restrictions and conditions upon the user if he deems necessary. Notification of any action taken by the Chief of Police will be by certified mail to the permit holder.

Alarm users my submit a written request for a hearing to the Alarm Coordinator to protest fees charged for false alarms or action taken by the Chief of Police to impose restrictions and conditions or the revocation of a permit. Request for appeal hearings must received within ten days of receipt of notification of action taken by the Chief of Police.

The hearing shall be before the City Manager, and the alarm user shall have the right to present written and oral evidence, subject to the right of cross-examination. The City Manager shall issue written findings in regard to the hearing results.

Preliminary notice of a false alarm activation and response by the Police Department will be made in the form of a "Notice of False Alarm" form left by the police officers who responded to the business. The notice form will be left on the premises in a conspicuous location or presented to any employees present at the location. No other formal notice is required prior to billing the permit holder for false alarm response fees outlined in this chapter. (Ord. 2829 § 1 (part), 1992: Ord. 2303, 1980; Ord. 2174 § 1 (part), 1977).

3.51.090 Enforcement and penalties.

Enforcement of this chapter may be by civil action as provided in Section 1.08.040, or by criminal prosecution as provided in Section 1.08.010. (Ord. 2829 § 1 (part), 1992: Ord. 2174 § 1 (part), 1977).

3.51.100 Penalty.

Any violation of this chapter is a misdemeanor. (Ord. 2829 § 1 (part), 1992: Ord. 2825 § 7, 1992).