Scotts Valley Municipal Code Art. II Security Alarm Regulations

A. New Security Alarm Systems. It is unlawful for any person to install, permit to be installed, operate, or maintain any new security alarm system within any building or structure on or after October 1, 1987, unless the alarm system is properly registered pursuant to this chapter.

B. Existing Security Alarm Systems. It is unlawful for any person to operate or maintain any existing security alarm system within any building or structure, on or after April 1, 1988, unless the alarm system is properly registered pursuant to this chapter.

C. Preentry Security Alarm Systems. It is unlawful for any person to operate any preentry security alarm system within any building or structure, excluding residential dwellings or units, on or after October 1, 1987, in such a manner as may prompt a response from the police department.

D. Telephone Emergency Messages. It is unlawful for any person to use or cause to be used any electrical, mechanical, or electronic attachment or other device to any telephone or communication instrument which automatically reproduces any taped or otherwise recorded message to report a police emergency to the police department without the prior written consent of the chief of police.

E. Compliance with Standards and Regulations. It is unlawful for any person to install, operate, or maintain any security alarm system in violation of any of the standards and regulations provided for such systems as set forth in this chapter.

(Ord. 38.1 § 2(part), 1987; Ord. 38.2 § 1(part), 1988)

A. Each application for registration as required by this section shall be submitted by the subscriber or by an authorized agent of the subscriber to the chief of police.

B. All applications for registration shall be submitted on numbered forms provided by the police department and shall contain at least the following information:

1. The name and telephone number of each subscriber and of the person(s) who is principally responsible for the maintenance and operation of the security alarm system if such person is someone other than the subscriber;

2. The address to which all notices to the subscriber may be mailed; if more than one subscriber is listed, notice given by mail to one subscriber at the address listed for such subscriber shall be deemed to be notice given to each subscriber listed;

3. If the subscriber is a business organization, the name, address, and telephone number of the individual person or persons who are officers, agents, or employees of the subscriber and who are principally responsible for the maintenance and operation of the security alarm system on behalf of the subscriber;

4. The name, address, and telephone number of the business, property, or structure protected by the security alarm;

5. The names, addresses, and telephone numbers of three persons who can be contacted twenty-four hours per day in case of an alarm;

6. The name, address, and telephone number of the alarm business responsible for maintenance;

7. The type of alarm system;

8. The presence of any firearms, ammunition, guard dogs, explosives, flammable liquids, poisonous materials, or any other hazardous materials on the property to be protected by the security alarm system; and

9. Any other information relevant to alarm technology, a particular alarm installation, or a description of a particular premises deemed necessary by the chief of police.

C. Each application shall be signed by the subscriber. If the subscriber is a business organization, the application shall be signed by the president, the managing partner, or other senior executive official of the subscriber who is authorized by the subscriber to sign the application.

D. The application for registration shall be granted if the chief of police determines that the system will meet the standards set forth in this chapter and that the subscriber will comply with all the regulations set forth in this chapter.

E. Whenever any change occurs rendering the written information required by this section obsolete, the subscriber shall give written notice thereof to the police department within five days after such change occurs and shall provide current, correct information with respect to such change; provided, however, the subscriber shall forthwith give written notice to the police department whenever there is a change in the person(s) principally responsible for the maintenance and operation of the security alarm system. In addition, in the event a material change in the subscriber occurs within the meaning of subdivision 2 of subsection A of Section 5.26.060 of this article, the subscriber shall forthwith give the notice required by this subsection and shall submit a new application for registration, unless the security alarm system is deactivated or removed from the premises.

F. The registration of a security alarm system shall not constitute a representation, warranty, or guarantee on the part of the city that the alarm system will operate to the satisfaction of the city or the satisfaction of the subscriber, nor shall such registration relieve the subscriber of responsibility to comply with all the other provisions of this chapter, nor shall such registration relieve the subscriber of the responsibilities under this chapter in case of a failure to comply with such provisions.

G. Registration, once granted, shall continue in effect for one year or until terminated as provided in this article, whichever occurs first.

(Ord. 38.1 § 2(part), 1987)

An annual registration fee in an amount established by resolution of the council shall be due and payable upon an application for the registration of any security alarm system.

(Ord. 38.1 § 2(part), 1987)

A. A security alarm system registration shall terminate upon the occurrence of any of the following events:

1. The removal of the registered security alarm system from the address listed on the registration; or

2. A material change in the subscriber that occurs under any of the following circumstances:

a. If one individual is listed on the registration documents as the subscriber, when such person ceases to have the ownership interest, leasehold interest or authority of a subscriber, or

b. If a business organization is listed as the subscriber in the registration documents, when ten percent of the stock of said organization or ten percent of its ownership interest is transferred or otherwise changes hands.

B. Upon the termination of registration, the security alarm system shall immediately be deactivated or removed from the premises, or both; provided, however, the chief of police may permit a continued operation of the system upon a change in a subscriber if a new application for registration is filed within ten days.

C. If the registration for a particular security alarm system is terminated or expires, such system may not continue to be used, nor may its use be reinstituted until a new registration for the system has been granted.

(Ord. 38.1 § 2(part), 1987; Ord. 38.3 § 1, 1993)

A. All security alarm systems subject to registration shall be designed, manufactured, installed, operated and maintained so as to sufficiently minimize the occurrence of false alarms.

B. All audible security alarm systems subject to registration shall be equipped with a device which will automatically reset the audible alarm system within fifteen minutes after the alarm system is actuated.

C. No audible security alarm system subject to registration shall emit a sound similar to that of an emergency vehicle siren or a civil defense warning siren.

D. Existing security alarm systems subject to registration shall conform to the provisions of subsections A, B, and C of this section not later than April 1, 1988.

(Ord. 38.1 § 2(part), 1987)

A. Registered persons or their agents shall notify the police department prior to any service, test, repair, maintenance, adjustment, alteration or installation which might actuate a false alarm.

B. After any false alarm caused by a malfunction of the security alarm system, the subscriber, or if the subscriber is a business organization, the individual person or persons who are principally responsible for the maintenance and operation of the security alarm system, shall cause the alarm system to be repaired so as to eliminate the malfunction before reactivating the alarm. No person shall reactivate such alarm until such repairs are made.

C. Should any registered security alarm system actuate more than the number of false alarms allowed in any calendar month, as established by resolution of the council, the city shall charge the registered person the amount prescribed in the security alarm system fee schedule established by resolution of the council.

D. False alarms occurring during the first thirty days of operation of a registered, newly installed security alarm system shall not be counted for the purposes of subsection C of this section.

E. If any security alarm system activates, the subscriber (or if the subscriber is a business organization, the individual(s) principally responsible for maintenance and operation of the security alarm system) shall respond to the scene within thirty minutes.

F. Alarms caused by earthquakes, storms, power outages or other factors beyond the control of the subscriber, as determined by the police department, shall not be counted for the purposes of subsection C of this section.

(Ord. 38.1 § 2(part), 1987; Ord. 38.3 § 2, 1993)