Kern County Municipal Code Ch. 8.20 Alarm Systems

A. "Alarm system" means any assembly of equipment and devices, including audible alarms and proprietor alarms, designed to signal the presence of robbery, or unauthorized intrusion into or onto a building, structure, facility of premises; the signals from which are calculated to solicit or could reasonably cause the solicitation of a response to the location of the alarm by law enforcement personnel of the county. The following devices shall not constitute alarm systems within the meaning of this subsection:

B. "Alarm user" means any person who has lawful possession and control of or who makes available for use by his agents, employees, representatives or family, any alarm system.

1. Devices which do not register alarms that are audible, visible, or perceptible outside the protected premises;

2. Alarms summoning medical aid;

3. Alarm devices affixed to motor vehicles.

C. "Audible alarm" means an alarm system which generates a sound audible outside the protected premises.

D. "County" means the county of Kern.

E. "False alarm" means an alarm signal calculated to solicit or which could reasonably cause the solicitation of a response to the location of the alarm by law enforcement personnel where there is not evidence of criminal activity. An alarm signal activated by violent conditions of nature or other extraordinary circumstances not subject to the control of the alarm user shall not constitute a false alarm. Signals from defective alarm systems shall be deemed to be within the control of the user.

F. "Person" means any natural person, partnership, corporation, or other legal entity.

(Ord. G-5768 § 3 (part), 1992)

The sheriff shall have the authority to prescribe any necessary rules and regulations to implement and enforce this chapter which are consistent therewith.

(Ord. G-5768 § 3 (part), 1992)

Upon an alarm user's fifth (5th) false alarm and upon each subsequent false alarm within any twelve (12) month period, the user shall be assessed a service fee set by separate ordinance. The sheriff shall mail or personally serve notice of the amount assessed. If the service fee is not paid within thirty (30) days after mailing or personal service of said notice, it shall be deemed delinquent. The service fee will be reviewed annually to insure that the sheriff's department is being reimbursed for the lost manpower and expenses caused by false alarms.

(Ord. G-5768 § 3 (part), 1992)

The information furnished and secured pursuant to this chapter shall be confidential in character, shall not be subject to public inspection, and shall be kept so that the contents thereof shall not be known except to persons charged with the administration of this chapter. It is hereby declared that the public interest served by not making the information public clearly outweighs the public interest that might be served by disclosure of the information.

(Ord. G-5768 § 3 (part), 1992)

No person shall use or cause the use of any electrical or mechanical device or attachment to any telephone that reproduces any taped or prerecorded message to report any police or fire emergency by utilization of the telephone truck lines of the county sheriff's department and/or fire department.

(Ord. G-5768 § 3 (part), 1992)

Any person who knowingly violates any of the provisions, terms, or conditions of Section 8.20.050 shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished by a fine not exceeding five hundred dollars (500.00) or by imprisonment in the county jail not exceeding six (6) months, or by both such fine and imprisonment; and each such person shall be deemed guilty of a separate offense for each day during any portion of which any of the provisions of said section shall be knowingly violated.

(Ord. G-5768 § 3 (part), 1992)

This chapter shall become effective on July 1, 1992.

(Ord. G-5768 § 3 (part), 1992)