Chapter 12.56
PRIVATE ALARM SYSTEMS
Sections:
12.56.030 Prohibited equipment.
12.56.040 Required information.
12.56.060 Violations and penalties.
12.56.010 Purpose.
In order to regulate the installation, operation and maintenance of burglary, robbery and distress alarms; to prevent the likelihood of false alarms and the resultant drain of financial and police resources in responding to such false alarms; and to provide for recoupment of costs incurred in so responding and penalties for failing to comply with the regulatory system, the uniform regulatory ordinance set out in this Chapter is enacted. (Ord. 12483 (part), 1990)
12.56.020 Definitions.
(1) “Alarm system” means any electronic device with a terminal in the protected premises that provides an audible signal at the premises or is connected to a monitoring location intended to alert emergency service personnel of a burglary, a robbery, or a distress or emergency situation.
(2) “False alarm” means the activation of any alarm other than by illegal entry, criminal activity, distress or emergency. “False alarm” shall include, but not be limited to, alarm malfunctions and human error.
(3) “Person” means any individual, firm, partnership, association, company, or organization of any kind.
(4) “Sheriff” means the Skagit County Sheriff or deputies of the Skagit County Sheriff’s Office. (Ord. 12483 (part), 1990)
12.56.030 Prohibited equipment.
Alarm equipment designed to alert any municipal emergency service by providing unattended automatic dialing of any municipal emergency service for the purpose of transmitting a preprogrammed signal message or code shall be prohibited except where permission to do so is granted by the Sheriff. Persons violating the above may be ordered to disconnect such equipment by the Sheriff. Failure to disconnect such equipment when so ordered is a criminal violation of this Chapter. (Ord. 12483 (part), 1990)
12.56.040 Required information.
(1) Persons shall not have or maintain on any premises an audible alarm system unless there is prominently posted at the main entrance to such premises a notice containing the telephone number(s) of persons authorized to turn off the alarm system and where they can be contacted at all times. Failure to post such a notice is a civil violation of this Chapter.
(2) Persons who conduct alarm monitoring businesses, for the purpose of receiving alarms and notifying law enforcement, must provide: (a) a street address, and (b) the nearest marked intersection of each premises served to the Sheriff; as well as the name and phone number of one or more persons authorized to respond to the location to allow the Sheriff access to the premises. They must also specifically relay the type of alarm to the Sheriff (i.e., robbery, medical, burglary, intrusion, etc.). Failure to provide such notice is a civil violation of this Chapter.
(3) The persons monitoring alarms must have available the phone number of the place of employment of the owner or occupant of the premises or any other phone number(s) where the owner or occupant can be called on a regular basis. Failure to have such phone number(s) available is a civil violation of this Chapter. (Ord. 12483 (part), 1990)
12.56.050 False alarms.
(1) The first false alarm in any six (6) month period generated at a premises served by an alarm system is not a civil violation of this Chapter. The Sheriff shall notify the owner or occupant of the premises by mail, telephone or posting a notice at the premises advising of the false alarm.
(2) The second false alarm in any six (6) month period is not a civil violation of this Chapter. The Sheriff shall notify the owner or occupant of the premises by mail, telephone, or posting a notice at the premises advising of the false alarm. The owner or occupant shall be required to respond to the Sheriff’s Office within seven (7) days, in writing, indicating what corrective action has been taken. Failure to so respond is a civil violation of this Chapter.
(3) The third and subsequent false alarms during any six (6) month period is a civil violation of this Chapter.
(4) Owners or occupants of premises shall report all false alarms immediately to the Sheriff. If such report is made prior to the Sheriff’s response, the alarm will not be considered a false alarm for the purposes of this Chapter.
(5) Intentionally causing a false alarm is a criminal violation of this Chapter. (Ord. 12483 (part), 1990)
12.56.060 Violations and penalties.
(1) A civil violation of this Chapter is punishable as follows:
(a) A civil penalty of fifty dollars ($50.00) for the first violation;
(b) A civil penalty of one hundred dollars ($100.00) for subsequent violations.
(2) A criminal violation of this Chapter is a misdemeanor, and is punishable as follows:
(a) A fine of not more than two hundred fifty dollars ($250.00) or two days in jail, or both, for a first offense;
(b) A fine of not more than five hundred dollars ($500.00) or twenty (20) days in jail, or both, for subsequent offenses.
(3) Failure to respond to a civil violation of this Chapter is a misdemeanor, punishable by ninety (90) days in jail, a one thousand dollar ($1,000) fine, or both. Failure to respond includes, but is not limited to, failure to pay a civil penalty within forty-five (45) days of such penalty being assessed.
(4) No right to jury trial exists as to the civil penalty. (Ord. 12483 (part), 1990)