[Adopted 9-21-1992 by Ord. No. 601 (Ch. 11, Art. V, of the 1990 Code)]
It is the purpose of this Part 5 to encourage a reduction in
the frequency of false security alarms and to establish a service
fee to compensate for the inappropriate use of municipal resources
in response to false security alarms.
As used in this Part 5, the following terms shall have the meanings
indicated:
A system including any mechanism, equipment or device designed
to automatically transmit a signal, message or warning from private
or public premises, including telephone alarm systems designed to
operate automatically through the use of public telephone facilities
to the Augusta Police Headquarters or monitored by another private
or public entity which in turn calls the Augusta Police Department.
An alarm caused by malfunctioning of an alarm system, owner,
employee or resident error, inappropriate alarm equipment installation,
improperly monitored equipment or inappropriate use of alarm so as
to cause an emergency response by the Augusta police when in fact
no emergency exists.
A.
Any owner or owners of an alarm system whose system causes the transmittal
of a false security alarm more than three times per calendar year
shall pay a fee of $25 to the City of Augusta for each false security
alarm in excess of three, such alarms per calendar year. The City
shall notify the owner(s) of security alarms of this policy, including
the financial penalties, after the first false security alarm. Alarms
generated as a result of circumstances beyond the alarm owner's control
(e.g., power outage, weather conditions, motor vehicle accidents,
telephone transmission problems, etc.) shall not result in a service
fee nor shall they be counted in the three responses allowed per calendar
year commencing on the effective date of this Part 5.
B.
It shall be the sole responsibility of the alarm owner or owners
to ensure that they and/or their employees and/or other occupants
operating the alarm have received complete instructions in the correct
operation and use of the alarm system.
C.
For the first 30 days following an alarm installation, no charge
to the owner or owners will be made for false security alarms nor
shall any false security alarm during the first 30 days following
an alarm installation be counted toward the three permitted false
security alarms allowed during a calendar year.
D.
The responding police unit shall make a determination as to the cause
of the alarm and whether it shall be considered a chargeable false
security alarm.
E.
In the event an alarm owner or owners do not pay the fee provided
for above after receiving a bill for same, the Augusta Police Department
may disconnect the subject alarm and notify the alarm owner in writing
of such disconnection.
The City Manager will report to the City Council six months
from the effective date of this Part 5 as to its effectiveness in
reducing the frequency of false security alarms.
