§ 34-52. Response to alarms; corrective actions; reports and service fees for false alarms.

(a)

Report required. For each response by the police department or fire department to an alarm, the department will cause a report to be filed, classifying the alarm as one of the following:

(1)

False alarm or system test with no notification.

(2)

Valid alarm for cause designated.

(b)

Corrective action. Upon the reception of a third false alarm with in six months, the police department or the fire department shall issue a warning notice to the owner or lessee or management of the premises involved. The owner or lessee or manager shall file a written report with the police department or the fire department within five working days indicating any and all measures taken to reduce false alarms.

(c)

False alarms. There shall be a service fee charged for false alarms according to the following schedule:

(1)

First response (none in last six months), no fee.

(2)

Second response within six months, no fee.

(3)

Third response within six months, warning.

(4)

Fourth response within six months, $100.00.

(5)

Fifth response and up within six months, $250.00.

(d)

Valid excuse for false alarm. If, within ten days from the occurrence of a false alarm, the owner or lessee or manager can demonstrate to the satisfaction of the chief of the department which responded that the alarm system in question has actually been examined by a repair service authorized by the system manufacturer and either repaired, if the repaired malfunction was the case of the false alarm, or certified that the system is in good working order, then providing the false alarm was not caused by employee error, the false alarm shall not be considered a false alarm for the purpose of subsection (c) of this section, providing for the assessment of a service fee.

(e)

Authority to disconnect. Upon failure of an owner or lessee or manager of a premises to pay a fee specified within ten days, the chief of police or the fire chief shall be authorized to disconnect or order the disconnection of the alarm system, and it shall be unlawful to reconnect or fail to disconnect such alarm system unless and until appropriate action has been taken and such connection of an alarm system is authorized by the chief of police or the fire chief. No disconnection or deactivation shall be ordered or made as to any premises required by law to have an alarm system in operation. The owner or lessee or manager shall be responsible for all costs incurred in collecting the service fee, including attorney's fees.

(Code 1988, § 3.5-2)