§ 20-229. Responsibility for alarm activation, responsible party response, alarm malfunction, corrective action, and fines.

(a)

The responsibility for false alarms shall be borne by the responsible party for the premises at the time of the false alarm.

(b)

When responding to an alarm at which there are no individuals present on the premises, and there is evidence of a break in, attempted break in, tampering with the security alarm system, or circumstances which the officer reasonably believes requires the presence of the responsible party, the responsible party or authorized representative will be contacted and required to respond to the premises within 45 minutes, for the purposes of conducting a security check of the premises and resetting the alarm system. If the responsible party or authorized representative is not available after notification is attempted, or fails or refuses to respond to the premises as required herein, the responsible party shall be assessed a fine of $40.00, notwithstanding that it is later determined that the alarm activation was not a false alarm or alarm malfunction.

(c)

If the POD determines that the alarm was activated by severe weather conditions which includes but is not limited to hurricanes, tornadoes, or a direct lightning strike to the premises and the alarm system had a back-up power source as required by this chapter, the fine may be cancelled by the POD upon presentation by the responsible party of evidence of the same. If the alarm was activated as a result of an alarm malfunction that was not the result of human error, including but not limited to mechanical defects in sensors or other detection equipment, the fine may be cancelled by the POD upon showing that the reason for the alarm malfunction has been corrected or repaired by the alarm company or is scheduled to be so repaired within ten days of the date of the notice of false alarm. Such proof may include, but is not limited to, work orders showing the system has been repaired or scheduled to be repaired. If the alarm is scheduled to be repaired the fine will not be cancelled until proof of repair is provided to the POD.

(Code 1973, § 20-29; Code 1992, § 20-147(e); Ord. No. 154-G, § 2(d), 8-4-1994; Ord. No. 228-G, § 1(d), 4-25-1996; Ord. No. 871-G, § 1(e), 1-24-2008; Ord. No. 913-G, § 1(e), 1-8-2009; Ord. No. 150-H, § 5, 12-18-2014; Ord. No. 209-H, § 1, 12-17-2015)