San Fernando Municipal Code Div. 1 Generally

The city finds and determines that the regulation of alarm systems and the control of false alarms is necessary to promote the health, welfare and safety of the people in that some of the public are using alarm systems which either mechanically malfunction or are not operated properly by their users, causing an increase in false alarm reports thereby constituting a hazard to the safety of peace officers and the public in general.

(Code 1957, § 3A.1)

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 agent means a person employed by an alarm company operator whose duties include selling on premises, altering, installing, maintaining, moving, repairing, replacing, servicing, responding, or monitoring an alarm system; or a person who manages or supervises a person employed by an alarm company to perform any of the duties described in this article or any person in training for any of the duties described in this article.

Alarm company operator means any person who, for any consideration whatsoever, engages in business or accepts employment to install, maintain, alter, sell on premises, monitor, or service alarm systems or who responds to alarm systems except for any alarm agent. The term "alarm company operator" includes any entity that is retained by a licensed alarm company operator, a customer, or any other person or entity to monitor one or more alarm systems, whether or not the entity performs any other duties within the definition of an alarm company operator. The sections of this article, to the extent that they can be made applicable, shall be applicable to the duties and functions performed in monitoring alarm systems. A person licensed as an alarm company operator may not conduct any investigation except one that is incidental to personal injury or the theft, loss, embezzlement, misappropriation, or concealment of any property or any other thing enumerated in this definition, which the person has been hired or engaged to protect.

Alarm system means an assembly of equipment and devices arranged to signal the presence of a hazard requiring urgent attention and to which police are expected to respond.

Audible alarm means a device designed for the detection of the unauthorized entry on or attempted entry into a premises or structure or for alerting others of the commission of an unlawful act or both and which, when actuated, generates an audible sound beyond the business, premises or residential unit or dwelling protected by such device, and which device is not monitored by an alarm business.

False alarm means an activated alarm or alarm signal from any alarm system which is responded to by the police department but for which no emergency situation exists or where there is no evidence to indicate that there was an emergency situation as determined by the responding officer. The term "false alarm" does not include those alarms actuated by extraordinary meteorological, atmospheric, or other conditions or means as determined by the chief of police.

Fiscal year means the period from and including July 1 of any year to and including June 30 of the following year.

Proprietor alarm means an alarm which is not monitored or serviced by an alarm company operator.

Subscriber means a person contracting with an alarm company operator for the leasing, servicing or maintaining of an alarm system.

Visible means capable of being seen or perceived by the naked eye.

(Code 1957, § 3A.2)

Cross reference— Definitions generally, § 1-2.

A report shall be filed with the chief of police for each alarm transmitted to the police department, which shall contain the name, address and telephone number of the subscriber, in addition to whether or not the alarm was a false alarm.

(Code 1957, § 3A.8)

(a) Every person owning or maintaining an audible alarm shall post a notice containing the name and telephone number of the persons to be notified to render repairs or services during any hour of the day or night the burglar alarm is activated. Such notice shall be posted near the alarm in such a position as to be legible from the ground-level adjacent to the building. In addition to the posting requirements, the occupant of the premises upon which an audible alarm is installed shall notify the police department of the name and telephone number at which he may be reached at any time of the day or night.

(b) The owner of any audible alarm or subscriber to an alarm service shall be responsible for deactivating any alarm within one hour after notification or after reasonable efforts have been made to notify the owner or alarm company operator that such alarm has been activated and is ringing. The ringing of any alarm for a period in excess of one hour after such notification or efforts of notification have been made is to be considered a public nuisance making the owner/subscriber subject to prosecution.

(Code 1957, § 3A.9)

No person shall use or cause to be used any telephone device or telephone attachment that automatically selects any public telephone trunk line to report a burglary or emergency by prerecorded message.

(Code 1957, § 3A.10)

No person shall cause, allow or permit any alarm located in a motor vehicle to emit any audible sound in the city for a period more than 15 minutes. The police department may take such steps as are reasonably necessary to enter the vehicle, disconnect the alarm, and remove the vehicle for safekeeping. Any fees incurred as a result of false alarms shall be assessed to the registered owner of the vehicle.

(Code 1957, § 3A.11)

The owner or lessee of any alarm system which has caused any signal, message or alarm to be transmitted to the police department, either by direct telephone or other direct communication or by communication from an alarm agent or an alarm company operator or by a person responding to an audible alarm and which is proved to be a false alarm, shall pay a false alarm prevention fee established by resolution of the city council for the following:

(1) For false alarms in excess of three received in any fiscal year by the police department, the owner or lessee shall be assessed a fee for each such alarm.

(2) For false alarms in excess of six received in any fiscal year by the police department, the owner or lessee shall be assessed an increased fee for each such alarm.

(3) For each false alarm indicating a violation of Penal Code § 211 (robbery).

(4) For each false motor vehicle alarm emitting an audible sound for more than 15 minutes.

(Code 1957, § 3A.12)

Any person who fails to pay any fee required to be paid by this article within 60 days from the date of the bill or invoice shall pay a penalty of ten percent of the amount of the fee, in addition to the amount of the fee. Additional penalties at a rate of ten percent per month will be imposed thereafter until such time as payment has been received. Penalties shall not exceed the amount of the original fee imposed.

(Code 1957, § 3A.13; Ord. No. 1574, § 3, 8-21-2006; Ord. No. 1579, § 3, 8-6-2007)

The police department will not respond to any alarm at the location where the alarm has been installed if one or more of the following exist:

(1) Fees from past due accounts are not paid within 60 days after written notice has been given that such response will be discontinued. Such notice may be given if the fees are past due for 60 days or more after the date of the bill or invoice. Service response will be resumed after full payment has been received.

(2) More than eight false alarms have been received by the police department during any fiscal year. Response will be resumed after submission to and approval by the police department of an alarm plan to reduce the number of false alarms to less than three in any fiscal year.

(Code 1957, § 3A.14; Ord. No. 1574, § 3, 8-21-2006; Ord. No. 1579, § 3, 8-6-2007)