[R.O. 2013 §8.3-21; Ord. No. 2.41 (Bill No. 1791) §1, 10-21-1999]
It shall be unlawful for any person, business or corporation
residing or doing business in the City of Arnold, and having on his/her
or its premises an alarm to permit or allow the transmission of a
false alarm if the alarm in question has transmitted three (3) or
more false alarms within a one-month period. It shall be unlawful
to install or use an automatic dialing device, in conjunction with
said alarm, which is programmed to dial the "911" telephone number
of the Department of Police for the City of Arnold, Missouri. It shall
be unlawful to access the number "911" for the purpose of making a
false alarm or complaint or reporting false information which could
result in the emergency response of any public agency.
[R.O. 2013 §8.3-22; Ord. No. 2.41 (Bill No. 1791) §2(1), 10-21-1999]
For the purposes of this Section, the following terms, phrases,
words and their derivations shall have the meaning given herein:
Any person, business or corporation who leases, contracts
for, buys or otherwise obtains and operates an alarm system for the
purpose of obtaining a response to the alarm from the City Police
Department or other public safety agency, and on whose premises an
alarm system is maintained. This will include audible alarms at residences
and businesses.
Any mechanical, electronic, or electrical device which is
designed to be activated manually or automatically upon the detection
of an unauthorized entry, intrusion, fire or other emergency in or
on any building, structure, residence, facility or premises through
the emission of a sound or transmission of a signal or message.
Any person owning, operating, in control of, or managing
the premises from which a false alarm is transmitted.
The activation of an alarm system to which the Arnold Police
Department or another public safety agency is summoned to respond
when no actual burglary, robbery, or other emergency exists. A false
alarm shall also mean an emergency alarm which is actuated by inadvertence,
negligence, mistake, equipment malfunction, error or any other unintentional
act. Intentionally activating an alarm for any purpose other than
to summon emergency assistance will be considered a false alarm.
The following shall not be considered false alarms:
Alarms caused by the testing or repair of telephone equipment
or lines by telephone company employees.
Alarms caused by electrical power outages.
Alarms caused by an act of God, such as adverse weather conditions,
earthquakes, floods, windstorms, thunder or lightening.
Alarms caused by an attempted illegal entry of which there
is physical or other evidence.
Alarms intentionally caused by the resident acting under a
sincere belief that a need exists to call the Police Department or
other public safety agency.
Vandalism resulting in physical damage to the premises.
Alarms promptly followed by a call to the Police Department
using established procedure, canceling the alarm prior to the arrival
of the Police Department or other public safety agency. This procedure
is used for bank alarms that terminate at the Police Department.
Alarms from banking institutions in which the alarm malfunction
occurs within the equipment located at the Police Department.
[R.O. 2013 §8.3-23; Ord. No. 2.41 (Bill No. 1791) §2(2), 10-21-1999]
A.
It
shall be the responsibility of the alarm subscriber to:
1.
Maintain and use the premises containing an alarm system in
a manner that ensures proper operation of the alarm system.
2.
Maintain the alarm system in a manner that ensures proper operation
of the alarm system.
3.
Not activate an alarm system for any reason other than the
occurrence of a burglary, robbery or bona fide emergency.
4.
Instruct all persons, who are authorized to place the system
or device in operation, of the appropriate method of operation.
[R.O. 2013 §8.3-24; Ord. No. 2.41 (Bill No. 1791) §3, 10-21-1999]
All existing emergency alarm systems that are installed and
operable on the effective date of this Article and are equipped with
any exterior sound-producing device, including, but not limited to,
gongs, whistles, buzzers, sirens, bells or horns, shall be equipped
with a timer which limits the operation of such exterior sound-producing
device to fifteen (15) minutes for residential alarm users and thirty
(30) minutes for commercial alarm users.
[R.O. 2013 §8.3-25; Ord. No. 2.41 (Bill No. 1791) §4, 10-21-1999]
No alarm subscriber shall install or use an automatic dialing
device, which is programmed to dial the Arnold Police Department,
unless the need to use such a device is medically necessary and such
need is verified by a licensed physician or other health care provider.
[R.O. 2013 §8.3-26; Ord. No. 2.41 (Bill No. 1791) §5, 10-21-1999]
A.
Upon
determination by the Arnold Police Department that a false alarm has
occurred, the Police Department shall send a notice to the alarm user
notifying the alarm user of the determination and the appropriate
penalty. The subscriber will be directed to pay the appropriate administrative
fee to the City of Arnold Municipal Court within ten (10) working
days. The fee is as follows for each monthly period:
|
First (1st) false alarm, warning letter
|
No fee
| |
|
Second (2nd) false alarm, warning letter
|
No fee
| |
|
Third (3rd) false alarm, warning letter
|
No fee
| |
|
Fourth (4th) false alarm
|
$15.00
| |
|
Fifth (5th)/subsequent false alarm
|
$35.00
|
B.
Willful
refusal to pay the fee within ten (10) working days of notice shall
constitute a violation of this Article. In any prosecution under this
Chapter, for violation of this Section, the City shall prove, in addition
to the willful refusal to pay, that the fee was properly imposed.
