Chapter 7.28
EMERGENCY ALARMS
Sections:
7.28.020 Areas to which chapter applies.
7.28.030 Automatic dialing-announcing devices – Restricted.
7.28.040 Deactivation, reset and reconnection of alarm.
7.28.050 Written notice – Information required.
7.28.070 False alarms – Written notice.
7.28.080 False alarms – Corrective action.
7.28.090 False alarm response fee.
7.28.010 Definitions.
Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter:
“Audible or visible alarm” means any device located in a building, that senses or detects potential or threatened burglaries, robberies, uninvited entries, or other emergencies, and thereupon activates an audible and/or visible alarm (such as sirens, bells, whistles, gongs, or lights) upon the premises.
“Automatic dialing-announcing device” means any automatic telephone equipment that incorporates the following features;
1. Storage capability of numbers to be called, or a random or sequential number generator that produces numbers to be called; and
2. The ability to dial a call; and
3. The capability, working alone or in conjunction with other equipment, of disseminating a prerecorded message to the number called.
“Directly connected electronic alarm” means any device located in a building, that senses or detects potential or threatened burglaries, robberies, uninvited entries, or other emergencies, and thereupon directly signals, or directs a signal to, the Sheriff and/or the Cowlitz Communications Center, in notification of the emergency.
“Emergency alarm” means any directly connected electronic alarm, indirectly connected electronic alarm, audible or visible alarm, and/or automatic dialing-announcing device.
“False alarm” means the activation of an emergency alarm at a time when there is neither any burglary, robbery, uninvited entry, or other emergency upon the premises served by the alarm, nor any reasonable evidence that an attempted burglary, robbery or uninvited entry, or other emergency has occurred upon such premises.
“Indirectly connected electronic alarm” means any device located in a building, that senses or detects potential or threatened burglaries, robberies, uninvited entries, or other emergencies, and thereupon signals, or directs a signal to, a person who is to then notify the Sheriff and/or the Cowlitz Communications Center of the emergency.
“Owner” means the person(s) who occupies the premises served by the emergency alarm, regardless of whether such person(s) owns the premises, leases the premises, or has some other rights with respect to the premises.
“Person” means any individual, firm, corporation, organization, or other entity.
“Sheriff” means the Cowlitz County Sheriff, Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Office, and/or any deputy sheriff. [Ord. 90-136, § 1, 8-20-90.]
7.28.020 Areas to which chapter applies.
This chapter shall apply in the unincorporated areas of Cowlitz County. [Ord. 90-136, § 2, 8-20-90.]
7.28.030 Automatic dialing-announcing devices – Restricted.
It is unlawful for any person to use an automatic dialing-announcing device to transmit an emergency message to the Sheriff, whether directly or indirectly, except as provided in WAC 480-120-088, as now or hereafter amended. An “indirect” transmittal of an emergency message includes a message initially transmitted to the Cowlitz Communications Center and thereupon relayed to the Sheriff. [Ord. 90-136, § 3, 8-20-90.]
7.28.040 Deactivation, reset and reconnection of alarm.
Every owner of an emergency alarm shall designate at least two individuals who are not an owner of the alarm, and who reside at separate addresses in Cowlitz County. If the premises are not occupied for residential purposes, the designated individuals may be employees of the owner. The owner shall provide the designated individuals with (1) a key to the building in which the controls for deactivating, resetting, and/or disconnecting the alarm are located, and (2) written instructions on how to deactivate, reset, and/or disconnect the alarm. [Ord. 90-136, § 4(a), 8-20-90.]
7.28.050 Written notice – Information required.
Every owner of an emergency alarm shall provide the Cowlitz Communications Center with a written notice containing the following information:
A. The name, home address, home telephone number, work address, and work telephone number of each adult who resides at the premises served by the alarm and who is authorized to deactivate, reset, and/or disconnect the alarm. If the premises served by the alarm are not occupied for residential purposes, the notice shall state the name, home address, home telephone number, work address and work telephone number of the manager of the premises, or the manager’s representative;
B. The names, home addresses, home telephone numbers, work addresses, and work telephone numbers of the individuals designated under CCC 7.28.040. [Ord. 90-136, § 4(b), 8-20-90.]
7.28.060 Nuisance abatement.
Once the Sheriff has responded to an emergency alarm, the owner of the alarm shall deactivate or reset it upon request from the Sheriff or the Cowlitz Communications Center. The alarm shall be deemed a public nuisance if: (1) it is not deactivated or reset within one hour after the Sheriff or the Cowlitz Communications Center contacts one of the persons listed on the written notice described in CCC 7.28.050 and orally requests that the alarm be deactivated or reset; or (2) it is not deactivated or reset within one hour after the Sheriff or the Cowlitz Communications Center unsuccessfully attempts to contact the individuals listed on the notice described in CCC 7.28.050. The Sheriff may take the necessary steps to abate any such nuisance, including entering onto the premises served by the alarm and deactivating, resetting, or disconnecting the alarm. Any costs incurred by Sheriff in abating the nuisance shall be borne by the owner of the alarm. [Ord. 90-136, § 5, 8-20-90.]
7.28.070 False alarms – Written notice.
Promptly after responding to a false alarm, the Sheriff shall send a written notice to the owner of the alarm, stating that the Sheriff responded to a false alarm at the premises. [Ord. 90-136, § 6(a), 8-20-90.]
7.28.080 False alarms – Corrective action.
A. If the Sheriff responds to a fourth false alarm at the same premises within any 12-month period, the owner of the alarm shall take the following corrective action: (1) have the alarm inspected for defects by a person qualified to service such alarms; and (2) promptly either have the prescribed service work performed or disconnect the alarm. The Sheriff shall send the owner of the alarm a written notice stating that the Sheriff has responded to a fourth false alarm within a 12-month period, and stating what corrective action is required. Within 10 days of the date of such notice, unless the Sheriff agrees in writing to some longer period, the owner shall complete such corrective action and shall provide the Sheriff satisfactory written documentation thereof. If the owner fails to complete the corrective action and provide written documentation thereof by the deadline, the Sheriff may decline to respond to further emergency alarms originating from the premises until the owner has complied with such requirements.
B. If the Sheriff responds to more than four false alarms at the same premises within any 12-month period, the owner of the alarm shall take the following corrective action after each such false alarm: (1) have the alarm inspected for defects by the Sheriff or a person selected by the Sheriff, at the owner’s expense; (2) promptly either have the necessary service work performed, as prescribed by the Sheriff, or disconnect the alarm; and (3) pay the false alarm response fee established in CCC 7.28.090. The Sheriff shall send the owner of the alarm a written notice stating the number of false alarms to which the Sheriff has responded during the 12-month period, and stating what corrective action is required. Within 10 days of the date of such notice, unless the Sheriff agrees in writing to some longer period, the owner shall complete such corrective action and shall provide the Sheriff satisfactory written documentation thereof. If the owner fails to complete the corrective action and provide written documentation thereof by the deadline, the Sheriff may decline to respond to further emergency alarms originating from the premises until the owner has complied with such requirements. [Ord. 90-136, § 6(b), (c), 8-20-90.]
7.28.090 False alarm response fee.
A. The amount of the false alarm response fee required by CCC 7.28.080 is as follows:
1. For the fifth through ninth false alarms in any 12-month period, the fee for each false alarm is $50.00.
2. For the tenth through fourteenth false alarms in any 12-month period, the fee for each false alarm is $125.00.
3. For all false alarms after the fourteenth in any 12-month period, the fee for each false alarm is $225.00.
B. The Sheriff may waive all or any portion of a false alarm response fee if it is established to the Sheriff’s satisfaction that the owner recognizes the need to have the alarm repaired, has made good faith efforts to repair the alarm, and shows a good faith intent to have the alarm successfully repaired, replaced or disconnected. The Sheriff may condition any waiver upon reasonable terms. [Ord. 90-136, § 7, 8-20-90.]