[CC 1985 §5-200; Ord. No. 2834, 1-25-1996]
It is the intent and purpose of this Chapter to provide minimum
standards and regulations applicable to users and installers of burglar,
fire, holdup and automatic telephone dialer alarms within the boundaries
of the City of Ste. Genevieve, to provide penalties for non-compliance
and to encourage the proper and error-free installation and operation
of protective alarm systems in all dwellings and commercial structures.
[CC 1985 §5-201; Ord. No. 2834, 1-25-1996]
For the purpose of this Chapter, the following terms, phrases,
words and their derivations shall have the meaning given herein. Where
not inconsistent with the text, words used in the present tense include
the past tense and words used in the singular number include the plural
number. The word "shall" is always mandatory and not merely directory.
The business by an individual, partnership, corporation,
governmental unit or other entity of selling, leasing, maintaining,
servicing, repairing, altering, replacing, moving, monitoring or installing
any alarm system or causing to be sold, leased, maintained, serviced,
repaired, altered, replaced, moved or installed any alarm system in
or on any building, structure or facility.
An assembly of equipment and devices or a single device,
such as a solid state unit, which may operate from a power source,
arranged to signal the presence of a hazard requiring urgent attention
and to which Police or fire personnel are expected to respond. Also
known as a Police alarm device or fire alarm device.
Any person, firm or corporation who is lawfully in possession
of any property or premises on which an operating alarm system is
located.
A telephone answering business providing among its services
the service of receiving on a continuous basis through trained employees
emergency signals from alarm systems and thereafter immediately relaying
the message by live voice to the communication center used by the
Ste. Genevieve Police Department.
An electronically operated instrument composed of sensory
apparatus and related hardware which automatically sends over regular
telephone lines a pre-recorded voice alarm upon receipt of a stimulus
from the sensory apparatus that has detected a force or condition
characteristic of an unauthorized intrusion or any emergency message
indicating a need for emergency response.
An alarm system signaling an entry or attempted entry into
an area protected by the system.
Any facility which is manned at all times by trained operators
employed to receive, record and validate alarm signals and to relay
information about validated signals to the Police radio dispatch room
when appropriate.
The City of Ste. Genevieve, Missouri.
Any alarm device or system which transmits by whatever means
its alarm signal from the location of the alarm to the Police radio
dispatch room or other Police dispatch facility without the last step
in the transmission process being a live voice capable of two-way
communication. This definition includes automatic telephone alarm
devices connected to emergency line 911 or other telephone numbers.
Any alarm signal originating from a Police alarm device,
fire alarm device, direct alarm device or audible alarm device to
which Police or Fire Department respond and which results from:
False activation including, but not limited to, reporting a
robbery where no actual or attempted robbery has occurred or reporting
a burglar alarm where there is no evidence to substantiate an attempted
or forced entry to the premises.
Alarm malfunction, including mechanical failure or electrical
failure.
Alarm triggered by subscriber's or subscriber's employee negligence,
including overly sensitive settings.
|
An alarm will not be considered a false alarm if it is determined
that the alarm was caused by:
| |
|
1.
|
Vandalism causing physical damage to the premises.
|
|
2.
|
Natural or manmade catastrophe or an act of God. Such events
include tornadoes, floods, earthquakes or other similarly violent
conditions.
|
|
3.
|
Telephone line malfunction verified in writing to the Chief
of Police by an authorized telephone company representative within
seven (7) days of the occurrence.
|
|
4.
|
Electrical service interruption verified in writing to the Chief
of Police by an authorized electric utility representative within
seven (7) days of the occurrence.
|
|
5.
|
An attempted entry of a location that causes visible, physical
or other evidence of damage to the location.
|
|
6.
|
Severe weather causing physical damage to the premises.
|
|
7.
|
The test of a local alarm system by a licensed alarm business
agent or employees, repairing or installing the alarm, when such testing
does not result in the alarm being activated of an uninterrupted period
exceeding sixty (60) seconds and when the communication unit of the
Police Department or Fire Department, whichever department is appropriate,
has been notified prior to the test.
|
Any person, firm or corporation that has, because of the
operating of a central alarm station, become subject to the license
requirement of this Chapter.
Any alarm device which produces an audible signal at the
premises where it is installed, whether by means of bells, horns,
sirens or other mechanism, thereby notifying persons within audible
range of the signal that Police or fire should be notified. Alarm
device may also produce a visual signal intended to be seen by others
outside of the protected premises indicating that Police or fire should
be notified.
Written notice given by personal service upon the addressee
or given by United States mail, postage prepaid, addressed to the
person to be notified at his/her last known address. Service of such
notice shall be effective upon completion of personal service or upon
placing the same in the custody of the United States Postal Service.
A calendar year beginning on the first (1st) day of January
and ending on the thirty-first (31st) day of December.
Any person, firm or corporation that has, because of the
use of a Police alarm device, fire alarm device or audible alarm device,
become subject to the permit requirements of this Chapter.
The principal place of abode of any alarm user who personally
installs and operates an alarm system for the security of their own
home.
A telephone line leading into the communications center used
by the Police Department that is for the purpose of handling emergency
calls on a person-to-person basis and which line is identified by
a specific listing among the emergency numbers in the telephone directory
issued by the telephone company serving the City.
An alarm system sounding and/or recording and supervisor
signals to a control center being under the supervision of the proprietor
of the premises. If a proprietary system includes a signal line connected
directly or by means of an automatic dialing device to a Police communications
system, a central alarm station or answering service, it thereby becomes
an alarm system as defined in this Section.
[CC 1985 §5-202; Ord. No. 2834, 1-25-1996]
A.
No person(s),
firm or corporation or governmental entity, either as principal officer,
agent, servant or employee, shall possess or operate an alarm system
after the effective date of this Chapter which is designed to elicit,
either directly or indirectly, a response by Police and/or fire personnel
without first registering such system with City Hall. Such registration
shall be renewable annually for each successive permit/license year
such system is possessed or operated; provided however, a permit shall
not be required to operate local alarm systems affixed to motor vehicles.
B.
An annual
registration fee of up to fifteen dollars ($15.00) for said alarm
will be required. This fee shall be the actual cost of providing the
registration services as determined by the City.
C.
All persons
using an alarm system installed prior to the effective date of this
Chapter shall register with City Hall not later than thirty (30) days
after the effective date of this Chapter authorizing the continued
use of the alarm system.
D.
No registrations
shall be issued for a new installation until work required by the
Building Code required by the City has been completed and final inspections
have been made and the work approved by the City Building Inspector.
E.
The registration
shall be requested by an application provided by City Hall which shall
include:
1.
Address
at which the alarm system is installed, not to include post office
boxes.
2.
Full
name and address of the alarm user.
3.
Full
name, street address and telephone number of the owner(s) of the property
at which the system is installed.
4.
Description
of the alarm system, including whether it is equipped to cease admitting
an audible alarm sound within fifteen (15) minutes of activation for
property located within an area zoned residential and within thirty
(30) minutes of activation for property located within all other areas
not zoned residential and not within five hundred (500) feet of an
area zoned residential.
5.
Full
name, address and phone number of the firm installing (or who has
already installed) the alarm system.
6.
Date
the alarm system was installed.
7.
If the
alarm system is serviced or maintained by someone other than the alarm
user, full name(s), address(es), phone number(s) of the person(s)
servicing or maintaining the alarm system.
8.
If the
alarm system is monitored by someone other than the alarm user, full
name(s), address(es) and telephone number(s) of the person(s) monitoring
the system.
9.
Name,
address and telephone number of a person to be contacted by the Police
Department or Fire Department in the event the alarm user is not available.
10.
Any
other information required by the Police Department to facilitate
compliance with this Chapter.
F.
When
the possession of the premises at which an alarm system is maintained
is transferred, the person(s) obtaining possession of the property
shall file an application for an alarm registration within thirty
(30) days of obtaining possession of the property.
G.
Whenever
the information provided on the alarm registration application changes,
the correct information will be provided to City Hall within thirty
(30) days of the change.
H.
Alarm
user registration applications shall be confidential and shall be
inaccessible to the general public and all persons other than the
alarm user, the courts, law enforcement agencies and persons authorized
with the administration and enforcement of this Chapter.
I.
An alarm
user which is a governmental political unit shall not be subject to
the payment of any fees or the imposition of any assessment as provided
herein, but they must register.
J.
An alarm
user which temporarily and in cooperation with the Ste. Genevieve
Police Department possesses, maintains or controls an alarm system
owned by the Police Department shall be subject to this Section; provided
however, such alarm user shall not be subject to the payment of any
fees or the imposition of any assessment as provided herein.
K.
It is in the best interest of safety and efficient service for the alarmed premises to provide address numbers which are clearly visible from a distance of one hundred (100) feet or more (Section 520.070, Street Address Numbers Required). The address numbers shall be posted to the left, right or overhead to the main entrance of the building, structure or facility and if such building, structure or facility is on a corner lot, address numbers shall face the street named in the official address as designated by the United States Postal Service.
[CC 1985 §5-203; Ord. No. 2834, 1-25-1996]
A.
Local
alarm systems located within an area zoned residential or within five
hundred (500) feet of an area zoned residential shall automatically
discontinue emitting an audible sound within fifteen (15) minutes
of activation.
B.
An alarm
system which emits an intermittent signal shall discontinue emitting
an audible sound within fifteen (15) minutes of activation.
C.
Local
alarm systems located within an area not zoned residential and not
within five hundred (500) feet of an area zoned residential shall
automatically discontinue emitting an audible sound within thirty
(30) minutes of activation.
[CC 1985 §5-204; Ord. No. 2834, 1-25-1996]
A.
An alarm system regulated by Subsection (A) or Subsection (B) of Section 202.040 which fails to discontinue emitting an audible sound within fifteen (15) minutes of activation is declared to be a nuisance. An alarm system regulated by Subsection (C) of Section 202.040 which fails to discontinue emitting an audible sound within thirty (30) minutes of activation is declared to be a nuisance.
B.
Employees
of the City are authorized to take necessary and reasonable steps
to abate the nuisance declared by this Section.
C.
A notice
shall be sent to the registrant within a reasonable time following
abatement of the nuisance.
[CC 1985 §5-205; Ord. No. 2834, 1-25-1996]
A.
An alarm user shall be notified in writing of each false alarm determination over the limit allowed in a calendar year under Section 202.070.
B.
The City
shall, when requested by an alarm user, review the determination that
an alarm was false. Such review may be done only if the alarm user
requests in writing such a review within fifteen (15) days of the
date of the mailing or other delivery of the notice of false alarm
determination.
[CC 1985 §5-206; Ord. No. 2834, 1-25-1996]
A.
Any person
using an alarm system which reports or causes to report three (3)
or more false alarms within a calendar year is in violation of this
Chapter and is subject to a fine not to exceed the following:
|
Offense
|
False Alarms
|
Administrative Fee
| |
|---|---|---|---|
|
1st
|
3
|
$35.00
| |
|
2nd
|
4
|
$50.00
| |
|
3rd
|
5
|
$100.00
| |
|
4th
|
6
|
$175.00
| |
|
5th
|
7
|
$200.00
| |
|
Subsequent offenses
|
8 or more
|
$225.00
|
B.
Each
day of a violation of any provision article shall constitute a separate
violation.
C.
Violations of other Sections of this Chapter will be subject to the general punishment set out in Section 100.260.
D.
When
the alarm company has caused an alarm activation through mechanical
failure, malfunction, improper installation, improper adjustment,
negligence of a person or an alarm signal transmitted in the absence
of an alarm condition, except when initiated by an act of God, it
shall be considered a violation of this Chapter. The alarm owner shall
be responsible and the punishment shall be the same as those set up
for the user and indicated in this Section.
E.
If any person, firm, corporation or other entity fails to pay within thirty (30) days any assessment levied under Subsection (A) hereinabove. The following action shall be taken:
1.
If said alarm does not use the dispatch panel, then said person, firm, corporation or other entity shall be notified by registered letter and informed that they may be subject to fines at the maximum rate as listed in Subsection (A). If payment is not received within one hundred twenty (120) days of the mailing of the first (1st) notice, additional action shall commence through Municipal Court to enforce payment.
[CC 1985 §5-207; Ord. No. 2834, 1-25-1996]
All information submitted in compliance with this Chapter shall
be held in strictest confidence, shall be deemed a public record exempt
from disclosure and shall be kept so that the contents thereof shall
not be known except to persons authorized with the administration
and enforcement of this Chapter.
