Sebastopol Municipal Code Ch. 3.42 Recovery of Costs Incurred for Responses to Excessive False Alarms

“Alarm system” means any device, including a system of such devices, which is designed or used for the detection of criminal activity, fire, or related conditions potentially hazardous to the public safety and welfare, which terminates in the City’s Police Department or some other location, or when activated is audible beyond the property line of the premises in which it is installed. Alarm devices installed in motor vehicles are specifically exempted from the definition of alarm system for the purposes of this chapter.

Emergency. An “emergency” is an occasion which reasonably calls for a response by the Police Department or Fire Department. A response due to failure of the alarm system or to personnel error is not an emergency. Any person who contends that the Chief has erroneously determined that an emergency did not exist shall, upon written request to the Chief of Police for a hearing made within 10 days from the date of written notice of a false alert, be given a hearing with respect to such request. The request shall set forth why (1) an emergency did exist or (2) the false alarm resulted from an act of God, flooding, or other violent natural condition. The Chief of Police shall, within 10 days after the hearing, give written notice of his decision. This decision may be appealed to the City Manager, whose decision shall be final.

“False alarm” means an alarm signal necessitating response by the Police Department or the Fire Department when an emergency does not exist. The Chief of Police or his designee shall determine whether an emergency did exist. Such determination shall be final unless a hearing is requested pursuant to the definition of “emergency” in this section.

“Fire Chief” means the Fire Chief of the City, or his or her authorized representative.

“Police Chief” means the Police Chief of the City, or his or her authorized representative.

The City Council finds that there are approximately 200 false alarms per year in the City of Sebastopol, resulting in a serious drain on Police Department resources. Based on this, excessive false alarms shall constitute a public nuisance.

The City Council shall establish rules and fees for police response to excessive false alarms by resolution.