Maywood Municipal Code Ch. 8 Alarm Systems

All words and phrases used in this chapter which are defined in the California Private Investigator and Adjuster Act (Business and Professions Code Section 7500, et seq.) shall have the same meaning as in said Act, and retain additional words and phrases used in this chapter are defined as follows:

(a) "Alarm systems" means any mechanical or electrical device in combination thereof which is designed for the detection of an unauthorized entry on or into any building, place or premises, or for alerting others of the commission of an unlawful act, or both, and which when actuated united a sound or transmits a signal or message. Alarm systems include, but are not limited to, direct-dial telephone devices, audible alarms, and proprietor alarms. Devices which are not designed or used to register alarms that are audible, visible, or perceptible outside of the protected building structure or facility are not included within this definition, nor are auxiliary devices installed by the telephone company to protect telephone company systems which might be damaged or destroyed by the use of an alarm system. The provisions of this article are not applicable to alarms affixed to automobile, boats, boat trailers, or recreational vehicles.

(b) "Audible alarm" means a device designed for the detection of unauthorized entry on premises which generates an audible sound on the premises when it is activated.

(c) "Communications section" means the Police Department facility used to receive emergency and general information from the public to be dispatched to the respective police units or other emergency equipment.

(d) "Day" means calendar day.

(e) "Direct-dial telephone device" (automatic dialing device) means any device which is interconnected to a voice-grade telephone line and is programmed to select a predetermined telephone number and transmits by prerecorded voice message or code signal an emergency response request.

(f) "False alarm" means an alarm signal, either silent or audible, necessitating response by the Police Department where an emergency situation for which the alarm system was designed or used does not exist except for activation of an alarm system due to abnormal natural conditions, such as fires, floods, earthquakes, high winds or similar disasters.

(g) "Person" means any individual, firm, corporation or other business or non business entity.

(h) "Police Alarm Board" mean the alarm-receiving center located in the Police Department communications section which receives, by direct communication, alarm and trouble signals from subscriber's alarm systems.

(i) "Police Chief" and "Police Department" means the "Police Chief" or designee, and the Police Department, respectively, of the City of Maywood.

(j) "Proprietor alarm" means any alarm which is not serviced by an alarm company operator and which the police do not normally respond to unless called by telephone after an alarm has indicated evidence requiring law enforcement response.

(k) "Subscriber" means any person who purchases, leases, contracts for, or otherwise obtains or uses an alarm system.

(§ 1, 00-468, eff. July 27, 2000)

(a) No alarm company operator or alarm agent (as defined in Business and Professions Code Section 7590 et seq.) nor their employees shall install, maintain, or repair any alarm system within the City unless the alarm company operator and/or alarm agent have obtained a business license and filed a copy of their State Identification Card with the City Clerk.

(b) The issuance of an alarm permit shall be in addition to any permit requirements which may be set forth in the National Electrical Code.

(c) The following information shall be included on the alarm permit application of a subscriber to an alarm on a form filed with the City Clerk:

(1) Name, address and phone number of the alarm company and/or alarm agent installing, maintaining, or repairing their alarm system;

(2) A description as to the type of alarm (such as, but not limited to silent, audible, direct dialer, or control office);

(3) Name, address and telephone number of person to be called pursuant to an alarm activation.

(d) Each subscriber shall give written notice whenever any change occurs in any information required under this section within twenty-four (24) hours after the change is effective.

(e) The following fees shall be paid by alarm users and subscribers prior to issuance of an alarm permit.

(1) Business alarm users and subscribers: Fifty and No/100ths ($50.00) Dollar, fee to be paid upon application, and annually thereafter before the anniversary date of the initial application.

(2) Residential alarm users and subscribers: Twenty-Five and No/100ths ($25.00) Dollar one (1) time fee to be paid upon application.

(3) Notwithstanding these provisions, any person who maintains an unregistered alarm system, business or residential after receiving a notice to register and fails to register the alarm system within fifteen (15) days thereafter, shall pay a fine as follows:

(A) For the first violation, a fine of Fifty and No/100ths ($50.00) Dollars shall be imposed.

(B) For the second violation, a fine of One Hundred and No/100ths ($100.00) Dollars shall be imposed.

(C) For the third and subsequent violation, a fine of One Hundred Fifty and No/100ths ($150.00) Dollars shall be imposed.

(§ 1, 00-468, eff. July 27, 2000, as amended by § 9, Ord. 03-492, eff. May 22, 2003)

(a) All new alarm systems shall meet or exceed the minimum standards for alarm system as established by this article. All existing alarm systems shall meet these standards within one year of the effective date of this ordinance. Unless the City Council modifies the requirement upon a showing of good cause.

(b) All alarm systems terminating at the Police Alarm Board shall include a device which will provide a minimum of thirty (30) seconds delay of the original transmission, and activate a signal immediately in such manner as to be perceptible to a person legitimately entering, leaving or occupying the premises. Alarm systems not currently equipped with such a delay device must comply with this regulations within ninety (90) days after the effective date of this ordinance.

This regulation shall not comply to alarm systems when activation is accomplished by a manually operated device or panic button.

(c) All alarm systems shall be supplied with an uninterrupted power supply in such a manner that the failure or interruption of the normal electric utility service will not activate the alarm system. Said power supply shall be capable of maintaining operation of the alarm system for a minimum of six (6) hours.

(d) All audible alarm systems shall include a device which will limit the duration of the audible sound to a period of fifteen (15) minutes at a residential location and thirty (30) minutes at a commercial location. Those alarm systems installed prior to the passing of this ordinance and not equipped with an automatic activator must comply with this requirement within ninety (90) days after the effective date of the ordinance codified by this chapter.

(§ 1, 00-468, eff. July 27, 2000)

(a) No person shall install any alarm system without the prior approval or conditional approval of the Chief of Police. The Chief of Police may establish such forms and procedures as are necessary to fulfill this obligation.

(b) Any person, firm, or corporation denied approval by the Chief of Police may appeal as provided in Section 4-8.12.

(§ 1, 00-468, eff. July 27, 2000)

(a) Any person who maintains or has an alarm connected to the Police Department Alarm Board and any person who maintains any alarm systems regulated by this chapter shall be subject to pay a fine for false alarms as follows:

(1) For the first two (2) false alarms in any calendar year, no fine shall be imposed;

(2) For the third false alarm in any calendar year, a fine of Forty-Five and No/100ths ($45.00) Dollars shall be imposed;

(3) For the fourth false alarm in any calendar year, a fine of Seventy-Five and No/100ths ($75.00) Dollars shall be imposed;

(4) For the fifth and each subsequent false alarm in any calendar year, a fine of One Hundred and No/100ths ($100.00) Dollars shall be imposed.

The amount of the fines imposed for false alarms may be amended by Resolution of the City Council as it deems appropriate.

(§ 1, 00-468, eff. July 27, 2000, as amended by § 10, Ord. 03-492, eff. May 22, 2003, and § 1, Ord. 06-519, eff. March 28, 2006)

A subscriber shall notify the Police Department prior to any service, test, repair, maintenance, alteration, or installation of an alarm system which might produce a false alarm. An alarm activated subsequent to notification shall not be counted as a false alarm for the purposes of Section 4-8.05.

(§ 1, 00-468, eff. July 27, 2000)

No alarm system shall exit a sound resembling an emergency vehicle siren or civil defense warning. The Chief of Police shall make the final determination regarding any question of the compliance of an audible alarm within this section.

(§ 1, 00-468, eff. July 27, 2000)

No person shall install, use, or maintain any alarm system which directly dials any telephone number in any office of the City of Maywood. All systems which directly dial telephone numbers in any office of the City of Maywood, and which are in existence prior to the effective date of the ordinance codified by this chapter, shall, within ninety (90) days of the effective date of the ordinance codified by this chapter, be eliminated or the system shall be reprogrammed by the owner or operator of said system to dial another number.

(§ 1, 00-468, eff. July 27, 2000)

Nothing in this article shall be construed to impose upon the City or any officer or employee of the City, any duty or any obligation of any kind to a subscriber or any other person.

(§ 1, 00-468, eff. July 27, 2000)

(a) The Chief of Police may discontinue response by police officers to an alarm at a location when any of the following conditions exist:

(1) When there are more than six (6) fines imposed against a specific location for false alarms, within a period of twelve months;

(2) When a fine for a false or unregistered alarm has been levied against an alarm location, and the party responsible for payment of the fine fails to pay said fine within fifteen (15) days following notification by City of the imposition of said fine.

(b) At least fifteen (15) days prior to discontinuance of response by police officers, the Chief of Police shall notify the subscriber by mail of the action. The subscriber may, within ten (10) days after mailing of such notice request a meeting with the Chief of Police to present material to rebut the basis of the discontinuance. The subscriber may appeal the decision of the Chief of Police pursuant to Section 4-8.12 of this chapter.

(c) Reinstatement will occur when the subscriber and/or the alarm operator and/or alarm agent have remedied the problem causing the false alarms or when a past-due prevention assessment has been paid.

(d) This chapter is not intended to prevent a police officer from responding to a person who calls and advises of a crime in progress or who is in need for police assistance.

(§ 1, 00-468, eff. July 27, 2000)

(a) Any person violating the provisions of this chapter, excluding Sections 4-8.02 (e) and 4-8.05 hereof, shall be guilty of an infraction punishable by a fine of One Hundred and No/100th ($100.00) Dollars.

(b) Any alarm installed or maintained in violation of this chapter is declared to be a public nuisance and may be abated as provided by law.

(§ 1, 00-468, eff. July 27, 2000)

(a) Whenever an appeal of the decision of the Chief of Police is provided in this chapter, the appeal shall be to the Chief Administrative Officer, in written form, and filed with the City Clerk within ten (10) days of the date of the notice of the Police Chief's decision.

(b) If the decision of the Chief of Police is upheld by the Chief Administrative Officer, the person seeking the approval may appeal that decision to the City Council within ten (10) days from the date of the notice of the Chief Administrative Officer's decision by filing a written appeal with the City Clerk. The decision of the City Council shall be final and conclusive in this matter.

(§ 1, 00-468, eff. July 27, 2000)