§ 14.50

The Town Council hereby finds as follows:

(1)

The public is making increasing use of police alarms, and the Police are therefore being called to respond to such alarms with increasing frequency.

(2)

More than ninety (90) percent of the alarms received and responded to turn out to be false.

(3)

False alarms not only impose a financial burden on the Town, but also, by demanding fast Police response, cause substantial risk both to Police personnel and the public.

(4)

It is therefore necessary to regulate the use of police alarm systems in the Town and to establish residential and commercial annual alarm permits, service charges, and penalties to be assessed in the event of repeated false alarms.

(Ord. No. 2375, § I, 9-16-25)

The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this article, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:

Alarm permit. Documentation that a residential or commercial establishment has filed the appropriate form and paid applicable fees to the Town of Los Gatos to operate an alarm system at a specified location. Alarm permits are non-transferable.

Calendar year. January 1 through December 31 of the current year.

False alarm. Activation of a police alarm system, to which personnel of the Police Department respond, in circumstances where no Police emergency exists; provided, that such activation shall not be deemed a false alarm if the owner thereof establishes, by a preponderance of evidence, that the alarm was activated by matters entirely beyond the owner's control, including but not limited to acts of God or utility failures.

Notice. A written notice, given by personal service, or by the United States mail, postage prepaid, addressed to the person to be notified at the person's last known address. Service of such notice shall be effective upon the completion of personal service, or upon the placing of the notice into the custody of the United States Postal Service.

Owner. The person who owns or controls a police alarm system, including but not limited to a lessee, tenant, or other agent of the legal owner of the premises wherein the alarm system is installed, provided that such agent had actual control of and responsibility for the operation of the premises at the time of any false alarm.

Police alarm system. Any mechanical or electrical device which is designated or used for the detection or warning of unauthorized entry into a building, structure, or facility, or for alerting others of the commission of an unlawful act within a building, structure, or facility, or both, and which emits a sound or transmits a signal or message when activated. Police alarm systems include but are not limited to direct-dial telephone devices, audible alarms, and proprietor alarms. Devices which are not designated or used to register alarms perceptible from outside of the protected building, structure, or facility are excluded from this definition, as are auxiliary devices installed to protect the telephone system from damage or disruption by the use of an alarm system.

Police emergency. The unauthorized violent breaking and/or entering, damaging or burglary of a building, structure, vehicle, or other facility, or the commission of a violent act likely to produce immediate bodily harm, or an attempt or serious threat of any of the acts described herein.

Premises. Those buildings, structures, vehicles or other facilities protected by a police alarm system and shall not include smaller or discrete subdivisions within such buildings, structures or facilities.

(Ord. No. 2375, § I, 9-16-25)

Cross reference— Definitions and rules of construction generally, § 1-2.

Secs. 14.50.020—14.50.075. - Reserved.