9.10.060 Enforcement of provisions

9.10.060 Enforcement of provisions.

A. False Alarm Penalties – Failure to Register Penalty. Civil penalties for false alarms within a permit year and failing to register an alarm system may be assessed against an alarm user as follows:

First false alarm	No fine if the alarm user completes on-line alarm training
Second false alarm	$ 50.00
Third false alarm	$100.00
Fourth through seventh false alarm	$200.00 each
Eighth and over false alarm	Suspension
Failure to obtain an Alarm Permit	$ 100.00

B. Other Civil Penalty(ies). Unless otherwise specifically provided herein, violations of this chapter may be enforced through the assessment of civil penalty(ies) in the amount of $50.00 per violation, through the entirety of this chapter.

C. Cancellations. If cancellation of police response occurs, prior to the police arrival at the scene, the response is not considered a false alarm for the purpose of a civil penalty and no penalty will be assessed.

D. Civil Noncriminal Violation. A violation of any of the provisions of this chapter shall constitute a civil violation only and shall not constitute a misdemeanor crime or infraction.

E. Payment of Civil Penalty(ies). Civil penalty(ies) shall be paid within 30 days from the date of the invoice. Any invoice that remains unpaid for 30 days from the due date indicated on the invoice is considered delinquent and a charge of $5.00 will be added for every 30 days the account remains delinquent.

F. Notice to Alarm Users of False Alarms and Potential Suspension. The alarm administrator shall notify the alarm user after the first false alarm. The notice shall include:

1. Requirement to complete on-line training.

2. The amount of payment required for the civil penalty.

3. The fact that the police response will be suspended after eight false alarms in a 12-month period, (excluding duress, holdup, robbery and panic alarms).

4. A description of the appeals procedure available to the alarm user.

1. The failure of an alarm user to make payment of any civil penalty(ies) assessed under this chapter within 90 days from the date of the invoice may result in discontinuance of law enforcement response to alarm signals that may occur at the premises described in the alarm user permit until payment is received.

2. The alarm administrator shall notify the alarm user, the alarm installation company or monitoring company in writing 30 days before an alarm response is to be suspended. Suspension of alarm response does not apply to duress, robbery, holdup and panic alarms. The notice of suspension must also include the amount of the civil penalty amount for each false alarm and a description of the appeals procedure available to the alarm user and the alarm installation company or monitoring company.

H. Suspension of Law Enforcement Response – Excessive False Alarms. After an alarm site has accumulated eight false-alarm responses in a 12-month period, the alarm administrator shall notify the alarm user, the alarm installation company, or monitoring company in writing 30 days before an alarm response is to be suspended. Suspension of alarm response does not apply to duress, robbery, holdup and panic alarms. The notice of suspension must also include the amount of the civil penalty amount for each false alarm and a description of the appeals procedure available to the alarm user and the alarm installation company or monitoring company.

I. Reinstatement of Suspended Sites for Excessive False Alarms. A person whose alarm permit has been suspended may obtain reinstatement of the permit by the alarm administrator if the person submits to the alarm administrator:

1. A $20.00 reinstatement fee.

2. Sufficient articulation in writing, addressing proactive measures to be implemented, preventing false alarms in the future.

3. Certification from an alarm company, stating that the alarm system has been inspected and/or repaired only with cases where repetitive, obvious malfunctioning of the alarm system occurred.

J. Reinstatement of Response. The police department shall reinstate its response to an alarm site as soon as practical, after receiving notice of reinstatement from the alarm administrator.

K. Additional Suspension of Service. If an alarm permit is reinstated after suspension, the police department may again suspend the alarm permit if it is determined that three false alarms have occurred within 60 days after the reinstatement date. [Ord. 10-03 § 1; Res. 10-13 § 1; Ord. 18-07 § 1; Res. 18-22; Code 2004 Art. 10-4(f).]