Chapter 5.28
BURGLARY, ROBBERY AND/OR INTRUSION ALARM SYSTEMS
Sections:
5.28.010 Creation and purpose.
5.28.020 Filing of emergency response card.
5.28.040 Unlawful activation or report of alarm.
5.28.050 False alarms –Fines assessed.
5.28.010 Creation and purpose.
A. There is established an ordinance of the city and a chapter of the municipal code which regulates the use of burglary, robbery and/or intrusion type alarm systems.
B. It is the purpose of this chapter to prevent the possible harm to police officers and citizens sometimes caused as a result of activated alarm systems, as well as to reduce the expense of police participation in responding to those alarms. These purposes shall be met by requiring the persons using the alarm to maintain current informational records with the police department and to immediately report false alarms to the police department as well as immediately correcting any faulty alarm system. (Ord. 500 § 1 (part), 1985)
5.28.020 Filing of emergency response card.
It is unlawful to have or maintain on any premises a burglary and/or robbery alarm unless there is on file with the Mukilteo police department an emergency response card containing the names of such persons as are authorized to enter such premises and turn off any alarm and current telephone numbers at which such persons can be reached at all times. It is unlawful for any such authorized person to fail to appear and turn off any such alarm within one hour after being notified by the Mukilteo police department to do so. (Ord. 500 § 1 (part), 1985)
5.28.030 Person defined.
For the purposes of this chapter, use of the singular terms “person” or “anyone” shall be construed to include the plural of such terms as well as corporations, partnerships, joint stock companies and all other forms of business organization. (Ord. 500 § 1 (part), 1985)
5.28.040 Unlawful activation or report of alarm.
It is unlawful for anyone to activate any robbery or burglary alarm except in the event of actual or attempted burglary or robbery. Intentional activation for the purpose of summoning the police shall not be included in this proscription, but shall be prosecuted under code provisions regarding false reporting. (Ord. 500 § 1 (part), 1985)
5.28.050 False alarms –Fines assessed.
For the purposes of this section, the term “false alarm” shall mean the activation of a burglary and/or robbery alarm by other than forced entry or attempted forced entry to the premises at a time when no burglary or robbery is being committed or attempted on the premises. For a police officer’s response to any false alarm, the police department shall assess and collect from the person having such a burglary and/or robbery alarm on premises owned or occupied by him, the following sum:
A. For a response to premises at which no other false alarm has occurred within the preceding six month period, hereinafter referred to as a first response, there shall be no fine assessment, but the person having such a burglary and/or robbery alarm shall, within three working days after written notice to do so, make a written report to the police department on forms prescribed by the police chief, setting forth the cause of such false alarm, the corrective action taken, whether such alarm has been inspected by an authorized serviceman and such other information as the police department may reasonably require in order to determine the cause of such false alarm and corrective action necessary.
B. For the second response to premises within six months after a first response, there shall be no fine assessment, but a written report shall be required as for a first response and the police department shall inspect or cause to be inspected the alarm system at such premises, prescribe necessary corrective action and shall give a copy of this section to the person having such alarm system.
C. For a third response to premises within six months of a first response, an assessment of twenty five dollars shall be levied, and a written report by the person having such alarm system to the police department or its designee shall be required within three working days, setting forth the cause of such false alarm, and the corrective action taken.
D. For a fourth response to premises within six months of a first response, an assessment of fifty dollars shall be levied, and a written report shall be required within three days, setting forth the cause of such alarm, and the corrective action taken.
E. For a fifth response to premises within six months of a first response, and for all succeeding responses within six months of the last response, an assessment of one hundred dollars shall be levied and if such fifth false alarm or any such succeeding false alarm is a result of failure to take necessary corrective action prescribed by the police department, the police department may order the disconnection of such alarm system and it shall be unlawful to reconnect such alarm system until such corrective action is taken; provided, however, that no disconnection shall be ordered for any premises required by law to have an alarm system in operation. (Ord. 500 § 1 (part), 1985)
5.28.060 Violation—Penalty.
Any person who violates or fails to comply with any of the provisions of this chapter or who counsels, aids or abets any such violation or failure to comply shall be civilly liable for a traffic infraction and shall be assessed a fine in accordance with RCW 46.63.110 and JTIR 6.2. (Ord. 500 § 1 (part), 1985)