[R.O. 2012 §240.010; CC 1988 §270.010; Ord. No. 340 §1, 9-16-1975]
An "emergency alarm" is any device which, when
actuated by a criminal act, fire, unauthorized intrusion, or other
emergency, activates a local noise making device, or transmits a prerecorded
message, or other signal by telephone, radio or other means to a central
station, modified central station, licensed answering service or directly
to the communications center of the Warson Woods Police Department.
[R.O. 2012 §240.020; CC 1988 §270.020; Ord. No. 340 §1, 9-16-1975]
A.
A "false alarm" shall be an emergency alarm which is actuated
by inadvertence, negligence, or unintentional act to which the Fire
or Police Department responds, including alarms caused by the malfunction
of the alarm system. The following shall not be considered false alarms,
if shown by the owner of the alarm system that:
1.
Alarms
were caused by the malfunction of the indicator in the Police Station;
2.
Alarms
were caused by the testing or repair of telephone equipment or lines;
3.
Alarms
were caused by an act of God, such as earthquakes, floods, windstorm,
thunder or lightning;
4.
Alarms
were caused by an attempted illegal entry, of which there is visible
evidence;
5.
Alarms
were intentionally caused by the resident acting under a sincere belief
that a need exists to call the Police or Fire Department;
6.
Alarms
were followed by a call to the Police Department canceling the alarm
by giving the proper code number, prior to the arrival of the Police
or Fire Department.
B.
In determining
the existence of the false alarm, a decision shall be made in favor
of the alarm user if the Chief of Police finds that a doubt exists
as to the cause of the alarm.
[R.O. 2012 §240.030; CC 1988 §270.030; Ord. No. 340 §1, 9-16-1975]
All emergency alarm systems equipment with an exterior sound-producing
device, including but not limited to gongs, buzzers, sirens, bells
or horns, shall within ninety (90) days of September 16, 1975, be
equipped with a time device which limits the operation of such exterior
sound-producing device to fifteen (15) minutes, except that commercial
installations shall be allowed thirty (30) minutes.
[R.O. 2012 §240.040; CC 1988 §270.040; Ord. No. 340 §1, 9-16-1975]
A.
Any person,
firm or corporation residing in or located in the City of Warson Woods
who desires to install an emergency alarm system shall first apply
for and obtain a permit from the City Clerk on a form to be provided
by the City Clerk. Each application shall be signed by the applicant
and shall include among other things, the following:
1.
The
name, address and telephone number of the alarm user;
2.
The
name of the alarm equipment supplier;
3.
The
name of the intermediary to which the alarm system will be connected;
4.
The
name, address and telephone number of at least one (1) other person
with access to the premises protected by the system.
[R.O. 2012 §240.050; CC 1988 §270.050; Ord. No. 340 §1, 9-16-1975]
A.
All emergency
alarm systems shall be subject to the following operational requirements:
1.
The
sensory mechanism used in connection with such alarms must be adjusted
to the degree reasonably possible to suppress false indications of
fire or intrusion, so that alarms will not be actuated by natural
phenomena, including but not limited to, transient pressure change
in water pipes, short flashes of light, wind noises or exterior pressure
change such as rattling or vibration of windows or sonic booms, and
vehicular noise adjacent to the installation.
2.
The
alarm user shall be responsible for maintaining the system in good
repair to assure reliability of operation.
3.
The
alarm user shall also be responsible for seeing that the system is
not misused.
4.
All
systems installed after this date, and beginning November 16, 1975,
all systems heretofore installed, must have a standby power supply
for both the control panel and the phone lines. This secondary source
of power shall be so installed that if the main source of power fails
the system will not cause a false alarm.
[R.O. 2012 §240.060; CC 1988 §270.060; Ord. No. 340 §1, 9-16-1975]
A.
All false
alarms to which the Fire and Police Department respond shall result
in the following service charges to the alarm user: five dollars ($5.00)
for the second (2nd) such false alarm; fifteen dollars ($15.00) for
the third (3rd) such false alarm; and twenty-five dollars ($25.00)
for each such additional false alarm within any calendar year.
B.
Refusal
to pay any fee service charge or penalty charged by the City within
a period of thirty (30) days shall be considered a violation of this
Chapter.
[R.O. 2012 §240.070; CC 1988 §270.070; Ord. No. 340 §1, 9-16-1975]
The City shall not be liable for any defects in operation of
automatic dialing devices and signal line systems, for any failure
or neglect to respond appropriately upon receipt of any alarm from
such a source, nor for the failure or neglect of any person with a
license issued pursuant to this Chapter. In the event that the City
finds it necessary to disconnect an emergency alarm system, the City
shall incur no liability by such action.
