Chapter 7.35
ALARM SYSTEMS
Sections:
7.35.030 Prohibited equipment.
7.35.040 Required information.
7.35.010 Purpose.
The purpose of this chapter is to:
(1) Regulate the installation, operation, and maintenance of security alarms.
(2) Seek to prevent the likelihood of false alarms and the resultant drain on financial, fire department and law enforcement resources from responding to such false alarms.
(3) Provide for recouping costs incurred as a result of responding to false alarms. [Ord. 848 § 1, 2002; Ord. 675 § 1, 1995.]
7.35.020 Definitions.
(1) “Alarm system” means any electronic device with a terminal on the protected premises that provides an audible signal at the premises or is connected to a monitoring location intended to alert emergency response services.
(2) “False alarm” means the activation of any alarm other than by illegal entry, criminal activity, distress or emergency, where no fire or other reportable emergency exists. False alarm shall include, but not be limited to, alarm malfunctions and human error.
(3) “Persons” means any individual, firm, partnership, association, company, or organization of any kind.
(4) “Fire department” means the La Conner fire department.
(5) “Law enforcement” refers to any police or law enforcement agency providing law enforcement services to the town of La Conner.
(6) “Public safety departments” means the La Conner fire and/or law enforcement departments. [Ord. 848 § 1, 2002; Ord. 675 § 2, 1995.]
7.35.030 Prohibited equipment.
Alarm equipment designed to alert any municipal emergency service by providing unattended automatic dialing of any emergency public safety service for the purpose of transmitting a preprogrammed signal message code. Persons violating the above may be ordered to disconnect such equipment by the town code enforcement officer. [Ord. 848 § 1, 2002; Ord. 675 § 3, 1995.]
7.35.040 Required information.
(1) No persons shall have or maintain on any premises an audible alarm system unless a notice is prominently posted at the main entrance which contains the telephone number(s) of the person(s) authorized to turn off the alarm system and where they can be contacted at all times. Failure to post a notice is a civil violation of this chapter.
(2) Any person who conducts alarm monitoring business, for the purpose of receiving alarms and notifying the proper public safety department, must provide to the public safety departments:
(a) The street address of the premises being served.
(b) The marked intersection nearest the premises being served by the public safety departments.
(c) The name and phone number of the person(s) authorized to allow public safety departments access to the premises.
Failure to provide such information is a civil violation of this chapter.
(3) All fire alarm systems are to be registered with the Skagit County fire marshal’s office prior to installation. [Ord. 848 § 1, 2002; Ord. 675 § 4, 1995.]
7.35.050 False alarms.
(1) The La Conner code enforcement officer shall notify the owner or occupant of the premises by mail, or telephone, or by posting a notice at the premises advising the occupants of the false alarm after the first false alarm that occurs at the premises in any six-month period. The appropriate public safety department shall keep a record of such notice on file.
(2) Upon the second false alarm in any six-month period the appropriate public safety department shall notify the owner or occupant of the premises by mail, or telephone, or by posting a notice at the premises advising of the false alarm and advise the owner or occupant that a written response of the cause and corrective action shall be forwarded to the proper public safety department within seven days. Failure to do so is a civil violation of this chapter.
(3) The third and subsequent false alarms within six months of any previous false alarm shall be deemed a civil infraction and subject to civil penalties as set forth and established in Chapter 1.15 LCMC.
(4) The owners or occupants of premises where security alarm systems are installed shall report all false alarms immediately to the appropriate public safety department. If such a report is made prior to the department’s response, the alarm will not be considered a false alarm for the purpose of this chapter.
(5) Intentionally causing a false alarm is a civil infraction subject to civil penalties as set forth and established in Chapter 1.15 LCMC. [Ord. 848 § 1, 2002; Ord. 839 § 17, 2001; Ord. 675 § 5, 1995.]
7.35.060 Civil infraction.
Any owner or occupant who violates the provisions of this chapter shall be guilty of a civil infraction and subject to a civil penalty as set forth and established in Chapter 1.15 LCMC. [Ord. 839 § 11, 2001.]