Chapter 9.30
ALARM SYSTEMS
Sections:
9.30.050 Telephone devices – Prerecorded messages.
9.30.010 Purpose.
The purpose of this chapter is to control the use of all intrusive detection devices and distress alarms and to require alarm users to provide responsible training for their employees in order to avoid unnecessary alarms received at the police/fire departments and to assure adequate maintenance and supervision of such alarm systems. (Ord. 2007-20 § 1, 2007; Ord. 93-11 § 1, 1993)
9.30.020 Definitions.
“Alarm system” means a burglar alarm, a hold-up alarm, a fire alarm, or a combination of same.
“False alarm” means any emergency alarm, either an audible outside alarm or an alarm delivered to any alarm company or dispatch center that causes emergency response, where no emergency exists, as a result of equipment malfunction, improper installation, human error or negligence of the owner, agent, employee or resident at the alarm system site. Also, setting off manually activated distress alarm for any purpose other than for the purpose for which it was intended.
“False hold-up alarm” means any alarm indicating a hold-up that is found to be not bona fide.
“Manually activated distress alarm, hold-up alarm intrusion detection device, burglar alarm user” means any person or company using an alarm system.
“Unfounded alarm” means an alarm set off accidentally or because of equipment malfunction or for some reason other than criminal activity at the scene. (Ord. 2007-20 § 1, 2007; Ord. 93-11 § 1, 1993)
9.30.030 Prohibited alarms.
A. Any company selling and/or installing alarm systems in Riverdale shall provide the necessary equipment as required by the village at no expense to the village.
B. No person shall activate any manually activated distress alarm for any purpose other than a fire, or a robbery that is in progress or has occurred within the last few minutes of the alarm activation. Manually activated distress alarms are not to be used for less serious crimes such as merchandise theft, fights, or other misdemeanor crimes.
C. Alarm calls originating from any home and/or business not having a registration will be fined, and each day with no registration will constitute a separate offense. (Ord. 2007-20 § 1, 2007; Ord. 93-11 § 1, 1993)
9.30.035 Alarm registration.
Alarm registration dates and fees:
A. Residential alarm registration fee is ten dollars per year and is nonrefundable. Registration must be renewed annually before January 1st and all registrations expire on December 31st of each calendar year.
B. Business/commercial alarm registration fee is twenty-five dollars per year and is nontransferable.
C. New applicants for alarm installations are required to obtain a permit for the work and will pay for the first year’s registration fee at time of application for installation. The registration fee for new systems installed after July 1st of any year will be five dollars.
D. Beginning in February of any year, the renewal fee will double.
E. All outstanding registration fines must be paid prior to renewal.
F. Reinstatement of a registration is conditioned upon the payment in full of any and all fines outstanding plus the payment of twenty dollars reinstatement fee. (Ord. 2007-20 § 1, 2007)
9.30.040 False alarms.
An alarm system registration may be revoked where such device actuates excessive false alarms and the alarm subscriber or owner has failed to address or remedy issues concerning the number of false alarms. The owner shall be subject to fines or revocation under the following circumstances:
A. An alarm system subscriber or owner shall be subject to a fine or revocation under the following conditions:
1. Four to five false alarms in a calendar year: ordinance violation; fifty-dollar fine for residential and one-hundred-dollar fine for business/commercial.
2. Six to seven false alarms in a calendar year: ordinance violation; one-hundred-dollar fine for residential and one-hundred-fifty-dollar fine for business/commercial.
3. Eight and above false alarms in a calendar year: ordinance violation; two-hundred-dollar fine for residential and three-hundred-fifty-dollar fine for business/commercial.
4. Ten and above false alarms in a calendar year: five-hundred-dollar fine and the registration may be revoked.
B. No ordinance violation shall be issued where the alarm system owner or subscriber is able to demonstrate that the false alarm was caused by an in-line malfunction, power outage, severe weather-related incident, line being inspected and/or maintained by a qualified agent, or malicious acts by persons not under the control of the alarm owner.
C. Subscribers and owners shall keep their alarm systems in good repair.
D. Subscribers and owners shall notify the village’s emergency dispatch center prior to any service, test, repair, adjustment or installation which might actuate a false alarm. Any alarm actuated where such prior notice has been given shall not constitute a false alarm. (Ord. 2007-20 § 1, 2007; Ord. 93-11 § 1, 1993)
9.30.050 Telephone devices – Prerecorded messages.
A. No person shall use or cause to be used, in connection with any alarm, any telephone device or attachment that utilizes the emergency telephone number 911 and which reproduces any prerecorded message, sound or alarm to report any burglary or other emergency to the police or fire department. Any such device that was installed and operative prior to the effective date of this chapter shall be removed from the village emergency line within sixty days, unless written approval is issued by the police department allowing the system to remain in service.
B. This section does not prevent a telephone device that notifies independent security companies. (Ord. 2007-20 § 1, 2007; Ord. 93-11 § 1, 1993)