Chapter 5.48
ALARM SYSTEMS
Sections
5.48.020 Instructions for operation of a system—user responsible
5.48.030 Persons responding to activated alarms
5.48.040 Notifying police of alarms—records required
5.48.050 Local or audible alarm systems cutoff
5.48.060 Operational defects to be remedied
5.48.070 Automatic dialing and prerecorded telephone messages prohibited
5.48.080 Improper activation of alarm
5.48.100 Licensing required—application—term—renewal
5.48.010 Definitions
As used in this chapter:
“Alarm business” means any person engaged in the business of installing, planning the installation, servicing, maintaining, repairing, or replacing of alarm systems in the city of Kodiak.
“Alarm condition” means an actual or attempted burglary, robbery, forced entry, or other crime.
“Alarm system” means any mechanical equipment or device which is designed to detect an unauthorized entry into any building or onto any property, or to direct attention to a robbery in progress and to signal the above occurrences either by a local or audible alarm or by a silent and remote alarm. Alarm systems shall not include alarms installed in motor vehicles which by their nature are mobile and are intended to prevent theft through the creation of a loud noise.
“False alarm” means an alarm signal transmitted in the absence of an alarm condition.
“Local or audible alarm” means an alarm that when activated makes a loud noise at or near the protected area or floods the site with light or both.
“Person” includes any individual, partnership, corporation, or association.
“Silent bypass or remote alarm” means an alarm without an obvious local indication that an alarm has been activated and which transmits a signal to a remote monitoring station.
“User” means any person who owns, leases, or otherwise controls premises upon which an alarm system has been installed. [Ord. 791, 1986]
5.48.020 Instructions for operation of a system—user responsible
(a) Alarm businesses shall instruct user customers orally and through written instructions on the proper operation of a system after it is installed. It shall be the responsibility of the user to see that all employees of businesses with installed alarm systems, or persons regularly using other premises on which an alarm is installed, are instructed in proper operating procedures to avoid false alarm signals.
(b) No person shall sell or offer to sell any alarm system by advertising or representing that it can be used automatically to summon the police for any reason. Any button installed in an alarm system and intended to be depressed manually for the purpose of summoning the police shall be referred to as a “silent bypass alarm” and instructions shall be given that it is not to be used unless there is an actual or attempted crime in progress.
(c) It shall be the responsibility of the user of an alarm system to cause the system to be maintained in reliable operating condition. [Ord. 791, 1986]
5.48.030 Persons responding to activated alarms
(a) Upon installation of any alarm system, the users shall provide the police department with the names and telephone numbers of at least two persons designated by the user who can reset or turn off the alarm system when needed. The user shall promptly notify the police department of any changes in the identity or phone numbers of those persons designated to respond. Upon notification of activation of an alarm, at least one such person designated by the user shall proceed immediately to the location of the activated alarm and render all necessary service and assistance to reset the alarm system. Responding personnel shall arrive on the scene within a reasonable time not to exceed 30 minutes after receiving notice of the alarm. It is unlawful for any such person to willfully and intentionally fail to appear and turn off any such alarm within 30 minutes after being notified by the police to do so.
(b) All silent or remote alarms maintained by any alarm business shall terminate in an office of such business. Whenever the alarm business has reason to believe there is a valid alarm it will immediately notify the police department. [Ord. 791, 1986]
5.48.040 Notifying police of alarms—records required
(a) Whenever any alarm business employee notifies the police department of an activated alarm system, the employee shall state the business name and furnish the address of the activated alarm, the name and type of establishment from which the alarm originated, the precise location of the alarm (if there is more than one floor or department), and the type of alarm, e.g., silent robbery, silent burglary, or ringer type alarm.
(b) Alarm businesses that request police responses to an alarm signal shall maintain a record of all police calls stating the time, date, and location of the alarm. These records shall be made available to an authorized member of the police department during normal business hours. [Ord. 791, 1986]
5.48.050 Local or audible alarm systems cutoff
Every alarm which uses a local or audible alarm device shall be equipped with an automatic cutoff device set for 16 minutes or less. [Ord. 791, 1986]
5.48.060 Operational defects to be remedied
The sensory mechanisms used in connection with alarm systems shall be adjusted to suppress false alarms so that the device will not be activated by impulses due to transient pressure changes in water pipes, short flashes of lights, wind noises such as the rattling or vibrating of doors or windows, vehicular noises adjacent to the installation, or other forces unrelated to genuine alarms. [Ord. 791, 1986]
5.48.070 Automatic dialing and prerecorded telephone messages prohibited
No person shall use or operate, attempt to use or operate, or cause to be operated, or arrange, adjust, program, or otherwise operate any device or combination of devices that will, upon activation, automatically dial or initiate a telephone call and deliver a prerecorded message to any telephone number assigned to the police department. [Ord. 791, 1986]
5.48.080 Improper activation of alarm
It is unlawful for anyone to activate any alarm system for the purpose of summoning police except in the event of an actual or attempted crime, or for anyone notifying the police of an activated alarm system and having knowledge that such activation was apparently caused by an electrical or other malfunction of the alarm system to fail at the same time to notify the police of such apparent malfunction. [Ord. 791, 1986]
5.48.090 Reserved
[Ord. 791, 1986]
5.48.100 Licensing required—application—term—renewal
All alarm systems must be licensed as follows:
(a) Application. An annual license application shall be filed with the police department and will contain the following information:
(1) Name, mailing address, and telephone number of the owner or leaseholder of the premises upon which an alarm system is installed;
(2) Physical address of premises with installed alarm system;
(3) Names and telephone numbers of at least two designated persons who can reset or turn off the alarm system;
(4) Type of alarm (burglar, holdup, etc.);
(5) A floor plan or line drawing accurately depicting the floor plan. This plan should include locations of doors, windows, and other access points as well as information on any hazardous materials, equipment, or other significant information concerning the premises; and
(6) Installer or alarm business which monitors and services the alarm.
(b) Term. The license will be issued for a term beginning May 1 and ending April 30, following approval of the police chief or the chief’s designee.
(c) License form. The license shall consist of an approved and current copy of the license application.
(d) Renewal. License renewal shall consist of updating all information on the original application form. [Ord. 791, 1986]