Moorpark Municipal Code Ch. 8.28 Alarm Systems

For the purposes of this chapter, unless otherwise apparent from the context, certain words and phrases used in this chapter are defined as follows:

"Alarm agent"

means a person employed by an alarm business, either directly or indirectly, whose duties include all or any of the following: selling, leasing, altering, installing, maintaining, moving, repairing, replacing, servicing, responding to, or monitoring an alarm system, or a person who manages or supervises a person employed by an alarm business to perform any of the duties described in this chapter.

"Alarm subscriber"

means the person who occupies real property on which an alarm system has been installed.

"Alarm system"

means any mechanical or electrical device or assembly of equipment and devices designed or used for the detection of an unauthorized entry into a residence, building or facility, or to signal the presence of a hazard requiring urgent attention and which, when activated, emits a sound, or transmits a signal or message, to an alarm business, to which the police are expected to respond. Alarm systems include, but are not limited to, direct dial alarms, silent alarms, audible alarms and proprietor alarms, but shall not include alarms affixed to automobiles.

"Audible alarm"

refers to a characteristic of an alarm system that generates an audible sound on or about the premises when it is activated, but does not refer to alarms affixed to automobiles.

"Direct dial alarm" or "silent alarm"

means a device which is connected to a telephone line and, upon activation of an alarm system, automatically transmits a message or signal indicating the need for emergency response.

"False alarm"

means an alarm activated by causes other than the commission or attempted commission of an unlawful act or a hazard requiring urgent attention which the alarm system is designated to detect necessitating response by the police for which an emergency situation does not exist. A determination as to whether an alarm was a false alarm or actual alarm shall be made by the chief of police. False alarm shall not include those alarms activated by extraordinary meteorological, atmospheric, or other conditions or means determined by the chief of police.

"Person"

means a natural person, firm, partnership, association or corporation but shall not include the city, county or other governmental agency.

"Proprietor alarm"

means an alarm which is not serviced by an alarm agent. This includes those alarms which are privately owned and operated.

(Ord. 161 § 2, 1993)

A. Subscriber Responsibility. It shall be the duty of the alarm subscriber to properly use the alarm system and to maintain it mechanically and technically to insure safe and responsible operation and minimize the number of false alarms. If the chief of police determines that the system lacks in quality, maintenance or servicing or is improperly operated by the alarm subscriber, the chief may require modifications be made to the system to comply with this chapter. The chief of police, from time to time, may establish minimum standards for the operation, maintenance and servicing of alarm systems.

B. Audible Alarm Systems. No person shall install or use an audible alarm which does not automatically terminate its operation within 15 minutes and which does not reset automatically within 30 minutes of being activated. There shall be no automatic reset on the bell or other audible device.

C. Direct Dial Alarms. No person shall install or use any device which, when activated, automatically dials a public telephone line of the city or of the police or fire department. Any automatic telephone dialing system shall dial to a private answering service, such as private alarm dispatch center run by an alarm agent.

D. Simulated Alarms. No person shall install or use any alarm system that emits a sound similar to that of an emergency vehicle, siren or civil defense warning system or activates for any purpose other than detecting an unauthorized entry into a building or facility protected by such alarm system or to signal the presence of a hazard requiring urgent attention.

(Ord. 161 § 2, 1993)

Every alarm agent shall carry on his or her person, at all times while engaged in the business of being an alarm agent, a valid alarm agent permit issued by the state and a business registration permit issued by the city and shall display these permits to any police officer upon request.

(Ord. 161 § 2, 1993)

A. Violation. Any violation of any provision of this chapter shall be punishable as a misdemeanor pursuant to Section 1.12.010 of this code.

B. Fees. Fees for false alarm responses shall be set by resolution of the city council. Fees shall be paid to the city by each alarm subscriber for false alarm responses by the police department, consistent with the fee schedule adopted by council resolution. The administrative services director shall cause to be issued a bill for the unpaid fees accrued. Such bill shall be due and payable within 30 days after the billing date.

C. Late Penalty. A penalty of 10% shall be added to any fee imposed pursuant to this chapter in the event the fee is not paid in the time and manner set forth in subsection B of this section.

D. Fees and Penalties Are Civil Debt. The amount of any fee and late penalty assessed pursuant to this chapter shall be deemed a debt to the city and an action may be commenced in the name of the city in any court of competent jurisdiction in the amount of the delinquent debt. Payment of any fee shall not prohibit criminal prosecution for the violation of any other provisions of this chapter.

(Ord. 161 § 2, 1993; Ord. 310 § 1, 2004)

Nothing in this chapter shall create or be constructed to create a duty upon the city or its police department to respond to any alarm, whether or not the alarm was false. An alarm, like any other request for service, may be responded to within the resources of the police department at the time of the alarm.

(Ord. 161 § 2, 1993)