TITLE III—PUBLIC SAFETY

CHAPTER 3—FALSE ALARMS

(Ord. 1068, eff. 9/6/1985)

Sec. 3800 Purpose.

The purpose of this ordinance is to reduce or eliminate the incidence of false alarms. False alarms constitute a hazard to police officers and the general public. The Arcata Police Department receives and responds to approximately 450 false alarms each year, many at the same location. This high incidence of false alarms results in substantial costs incurred to the City of Arcata, and the ability of the police department to respond to valid alarms and other emergencies is reduced.

Sec. 3801 Definitions.

For the purpose of this ordinance, the words and/or phrases shall have the following meaning:

a.    "Alarm System": any equipment which is designed or intended to notify persons of an emergency at a particular location to which the police department is expected to respond. The term "alarm system" includes any equipment which is designed to detect an emergency, or which is designed to be activated by a person to report an emergency.

b.    "Alarm User": any person who owns or is entitled to possession of any premises on which an alarm system has been installed.

c.    "Audible Alarm": any alarm system which, when activated, generates a sound which is audible outside the structure where the system is located.

d.    "Silent Alarm": any alarm system which, when activated, transmits an alarm signal to a receiving center without obvious local indication of alarm activation.

e.    "Robbery/Hold-up Alarm": any alarm system which is activated by the direct action of the person being robbed or an observer of the robbery.

f.    "Automatic Dialing System": any alarm system which automatically sends over regular telephone lines, by direct connection or otherwise, a prerecorded voice message indicating the existence of an emergency situation that the alarm system is designed to detect.

g.    "False Alarm": an alarm signal that prompts a response by the police department when an emergency does not exist.

1.    Alarms generated by severe storms, earthquakes, or other violent acts of nature when an emergency does not exist, shall not be deemed a False Alarm.

2.    False Alarms generated within a twenty-four hour period shall be deemed one (1) false alarm.

3.    A robbery/hold-up alarm activated for any other purpose than a robbery in progress shall be deemed a false alarm.

h.    "Permittee": any person holding an alarm permit issued under the provisions of this ordinance.

i.    "Police Alarm Board": The alarm receiving center located in the police department communications center.

j.    "Person": any natural person, partnership, corporation, unincorporated association, or other business entity.

Sec. 3802 Exemptions.

This ordinance shall not apply to alarm systems affixed to automobiles, boats, or recreational vehicles.

Sec. 3803 Alarm Permit.

a.    It shall be unlawful for any person to use, install, or cause to be installed an alarm system on any premises within the City of Arcata without first applying for and receiving an Alarm Permit.

b.    It shall be unlawful for any person to use or operate an alarm system within the City of Arcata under a revoked permit.

c.    Any person operating an alarm system within the City of Arcata without an Alarm Permit as required by this ordinance or under a revoked permit shall be punished pursuant to Title I of the Arcata Municipal Code.

Sec. 3804 Permit Application and Issuance.

a.    Any person desiring an Alarm Permit shall make application to the City of Arcata Police Department, furnishing the following information:

1.    Name and address of applicant.

2.    The name, address, and telephone number of the business or premises where the alarm system will operate.

3.    The names and telephone numbers of three (3) or more persons who will respond to the alarm site, if activation occurs, during any hour of the day or night. If the alarm site is a residence, one (1) or more names must be provided.

4.    A description of the alarm system, including the manufacturer’s name and the model number.

5.    At the time of application a non-refundable fee, in such amount as shall be set from time to time by resolution of the City Council, shall be paid to the City of Arcata Police Department to cover the cost of investigation of the facts stated in the application and the processing thereof.

b.    Alarm Permit will be issued providing:

1.    The provisions of this article have been adhered to.

2.    The alarm system meets the standards prescribed by resolution of the Arcata City Council.

3.    The application is approved by the Chief of Police or the designated representative.

c.    Permits; Change of Information. The permittee shall give notice to the Arcata Police Department within five (5) working days of any change in the information provided on the Alarm Permit application.

Sec. 3805 Permit Revocation.

a.    An Alarm Permit shall be revoked by recommendation of the Chief of Police for any of the following reasons.

1.    False representations were made upon the permit application.

2.    Alarm system emits excessive false alarms, deeming the system an immediate safety hazard as prescribed by resolution of the Arcata City Council.

3.    Failure to observe any of the regulations or provisions of this ordinance.

b.    Notice and Effective Dates: A written notice of revocation, stating the reason for the action, shall be mailed by certified mail giving the permittee ten (10) working days from the mailing date to disconnect or remove the alarm system when required by this ordinance shall be punished pursuant to Title I of the Arcata Municipal Code.

Sec. 3806 Permit Revocation—Appeals.

a.    Revocation of alarm system permit may be appealed to the City Manager or designated representative. The permittee may submit a written statement, forth the reasons why the permit should not be revoked, to the office of the City Manager not more than ten (10) working days from the mailing date of the notice of revocation.

b.    The alarm user may continue to operate the alarm system during the appeal process, unless required by the City Manager or designated representative upon recommendation from the Chief of Police to disconnect the alarm system.

c.    The decision of the City Manager or designated representative with respect to this section, will be final and conclusive.

Sec. 3807 Permit Reinstatement.

Following the revocation of the Alarm Permit, the permit may be reinstated upon recommendation of the Chief of Police when:

a.    The cause for the revocation has been corrected.

b.    The permittee pays a Permit Reinstatement fee to the City of Arcata Finance Department, for the amount set by resolution of the Arcata City Council.

Sec. 3808 False Alarms.

a.    It shall be unlawful for any person to use, operate, or maintain an alarm system within the City of Arcata that emits excessive false alarms.

b.    It shall be unlawful for any person who operates, manages, maintains, or uses the premises on which an alarm system is located, to permit the alarm system to emit excessive false alarms.

c.    The number of false alarms to be considered "excessive" as described in sections (a) and (b) shall be determined by resolution of the Arcata City Council.

Sec. 3809 Alarm Standards.

It shall be unlawful for any person to sell, install, or operate any alarm system for use within the jurisdiction of the City which does not meet the minimum standards as prescribed by resolution of the Arcata City Council.

Sec. 3810 Inspection of Alarm Site.

The Chief of Police or his designated representative is hereby authorized to make inspection of the alarm site to verify facts stated on the Alarm Permit Application.

Sec. 3811 Alarm Business Registration.

It shall be unlawful for any person to engage in, conduct, or carry on any alarm business within the City of Arcata unless said person has first registered the intention to engage in such alarm business with the Arcata Police Department, giving the department such information as it may require; and has displayed to the department a current valid license or permit issued by the State of California, where state law requires such a permit or license.

Sec. 3812 Penalty for Violation.

Any person violating any of the provisions of this Ordinance shall be punished pursuant to Title I of the Arcata Municipal Code.

Sec. 3813 Applicability of Ordinance to Existing Alarm Systems.

All alarm systems within the City of Arcata installed on or before the effective date of this ordinance shall be brought within the standards set forth within thirty (30) days of the effective date of this ordinance.

Sec. 3814 Regulations.

The City may, by resolution, adopt such rules and regulations necessary or appropriate to reduce or eliminate false alarms.