Glenn County Municipal Code § 6.08 Burglar Alarm Systems

• 6.08.010 Definitions

• 6.08.020 Training

• 6.08.030 Outside Alarms

• 6.08.040 Notification-Relay

• 6.08.050 Service Fees

The following terms used in this chapter shall be defined as follows:

1. "Alarm Company" means any business operated for any consideration whatsoever engaged in the installation, alteration or servicing of an alarm system;

2. "Alarm System" means an assembly of equipment arranged to signal the presence of a possible hazard requiring urgent attention with such information being relayed to the Glenn County Sheriff's Department dispatch;

3. "Answering Service" means any company receiving an active alarm and forwarding that data to the Glenn County Sheriff's Department dispatch;

4. "Emergency" means the commission of a robbery, burglary, or other crime against the alarm user, or a fire in an alarmed location;

5. "Emergency Response" means the dispatch of Sheriff's Department personnel to a location in response to an alarm, or the response of an officer on patrol when he discovers an audible alarm not yet reported;

6. "False Alarms" means the activation of an alarm system which results in a response by the Glenn County Sheriff's Department where there is no physical evidence that the alarm was activated as a result of an emergency. The following categories shall not be false alarms:

   1. Alarms which occur within seven days of installation; and

   2. Alarms activated by extraordinary meteorological or atmospheric conditions.

7. "Outside Alarms" means any outside audible alarm;

8. "Subscriber" means a person, business or public entity contracting with an alarm company or owning an alarm system. (Ord. 1000 § 1, 1991)

1. Each alarm company, within seven days of activating an alarm system, shall clearly instruct the subscriber in the proper use and operation of the alarm system, with special instruction on those factors likely to produce false alarms. This training shall be documented by signature of the subscriber.

2. The alarm company shall also provide a copy of this chapter and the service fees resolution described below to the subscriber. (Ord. 1000 § 1, 1991)

Any outside burglar alarm installed after this chapter takes effect shall have an automatic shut-off or reset feature which deactivates the alarm within 20 minutes after it is first activated. (Ord. 1000 § 1, 1991)

Each alarm company, and/or answering service, shall provide the Glenn County Sheriff's Department dispatch on notification of an activated alarm the following information:

1. Alarm company name

2. Operator name or number

3. 800 call back number

4. Name of person or business where alarm activated

5. Address where alarm activated

6. Name of persons responsible to respond and their estimated time of arrival

If this information is not provided by the time the assigned units arrive at the location of the alarm, the assigned units will only check the ground level exterior, and if it appears secure, the unit will clear the call. (Ord. 1000 § 1, 1991)

1. Emergency response to false alarms shall be counted during a 180 consecutive calendar-day period, beginning fifteen days after this chapter takes effect. The emergency response is deemed complete upon dispatch for purposes of a false alarm described in this chapter.

2. There shall be no charge for emergency response to the first and second false alarms.

3. For emergency response to the third, and to each additional false alarm, the fee shall be as set by Resolution of the Glenn County Board of Supervisors.

4. When a service fee is levied against a subscriber, it shall be paid within fifteen days of receipt. If said fee is not paid in the prescribed time, the alarm company will be notified not to and shall not transfer any data from that subscriber to the Glenn County Sheriff's Department dispatch until the alarm company is authorized by the Glenn County Sheriff's Department to again do so. (Ord. 1000 § 1, 1991)

1. No person shall activate or cause to be activated any alarm system except in the case of an emergency or, after notification to the Sheriff’s Department, to test the system.

2. No person who accidentally activates or causes the activation of an alarm system shall fail to immediately report that circumstance to the Sheriff’s Department. (Ord. 1060 § 21, 1995.)

The provisions of this chapter are not intended, nor shall they be construed, to create a special relationship between the County of Glenn and any alarm company and/or subscriber so as to create a duty on the part of the Glenn County Sheriff's Department to respond to any alarm. The County shall not be civilly liable for any delays in dispatching the alarm or responding to an alarm nor failure to respond to any alarm. Neither shall this chapter be construed as a waiver of any immunity provided to governmental agencies for tort liability contained in the California Government Code or in any other provision of law. (Ord. 1000 § 1, 1991)