Sonora Municipal Code § 8.24 Alarm Systems

The city council finds that the regulation of the sale and installation of alarm systems and the control of false alarms is necessary to promote the health, welfare and safety of the people. The sale and installation of substandard alarm equipment and false alarms arising therefrom constitute a hazard to the safety of peace officers and the public in general. False burglary, robbery and theft alarms enhance the dangers of vehicle collisions en route to burglary, robbery and theft alarms, and substantially increase peace officer man hour costs and divert police resources from regularly assigned duties.

(Ord. 664 § 1 (part), 1991.)

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

"Alarm agent" means any person who is employed, either directly or indirectly, by an alarm business whose duties include any of the following: selling, maintaining, leasing, servicing, repairing, removing, or installing on any building, place or premises, any alarm system.

"Alarm business" means any person, partnership, corporation or other entity that sells, leases, maintains, installs, services, repairs, replaces, alters, removes, moves, or monitors a police or fire alarm system in or on any building, place or premises within the City of Sonora.

"Alarm Company Act" shall refer to Section 7590-7599 of the Business and Professions Code regulating the alarm business in California.

"Alarm system" means an assembly of equipment and devices which is designed or used for the detection of an unauthorized entry, or attempted unauthorized entry on premises or for alerting others of the commission of an unlawful act, or both, and emits a sound, light, or transmits a signal or message.

"Alarm user" means any person whose business, place or premises has an alarm system, regardless if it is monitored by a central monitoring system.

"Automatic calling device" means any device used in conjunction with an alarm system which generates a telephone message for the purposes of eliciting an emergency response from the police.

"Central monitoring system" means a system that automatically receives, records, maintains, and supervises alarm signals at a central location by observers or operators who are required, upon receipt of an alarm signal, to notify the police.

"Audible alarm" means an alarm which is not serviced by an alarm business.

"Proprietor alarm" means an alarm which is not serviced by an alarm business.

"Silent alarm" means a device designated for the detection of unauthorized entry and transmits a signal by wire or radio wave to a central station.

"False alarm" means the activation of an alarm system through mechanical failure, malfunction, improper installation, or the negligence of the owner or lessee of an alarm system or of his employees or agents. Such terminology does not include alarms caused by natural violent conditions, telephone line malfunction, or other causes which are beyond the control of the owner or lessee of the alarm system.

(Ord. 664 § 1 (part), 1991.)

This chapter is enacted pursuant to Section 7592.8 of the Business and Professions Code of the state. The purpose of this chapter is to establish rules and regulations concerning the use of alarms in residential and commercial locations in the city to enhance the effectiveness of such devices, and to minimize responses by city personnel to false alarms caused by the improper use or abuse of such systems.

Nothing in this chapter should be construed to limit or discourage legitimate use of theft, burglary, robbery or other alarms. Such use is in the public's interest and promotes public health and safety. Furthermore, nothing in this chapter shall prohibit the sounding of any signal necessary for the conduct of an authorized fire drill.

(Ord. 664 § 2 (part), 1991.)

A. It is unlawful for any person required to register as an "alarm company operator," pursuant to the Alarm Company Act, to engage in business as an alarm business within the city without first filing a copy of their state identification card.

B. All alarm businesses operating within the city must possess a valid city business license. A copy of the business license shall be presented to the police department at the time of registration.

(Ord. 664 § 3 (part), 1991.)

Every person engaged in the business of selling, repairing, servicing, altering, replacing, removing or installing an alarm system shall carry on his person, at all times while so engaged, a valid alarm agent permit issued by the state and shall display such permit to any police or fire officer upon request. It is unlawful for any person required to register as an alarm agent, pursuant to the Alarm Company Act, to act as an alarm agent within the city without first registering his name and filing a copy of his state identification card with the chief of police.

(Ord. 664 § 4 (part), 1991.)

A. All alarm systems, devices or components thereof, installed within the city shall be substantially equivalent to, or exceed, the applicable Underwriters Laboratory, Inc. alarm testing standards.

B. The applicant shall have the burden of establishing that the non-Underwriters Laboratory, Inc. alarm system, device or component is substantially equivalent to or exceeds, the applicable Underwriters Laboratory, Inc. alarm testing standards.

C. The chief of police may require the applicant to present documentation and certification from a qualified authority to make the above exception determination.

(Ord. 664 § 5 (part), 1991.)

A. Prohibited Sound. No alarm system shall be installed or used which emits a sound which is similar to that of an emergency vehicle siren or a civil defense warning system.

B. Automatic Deactivation. Every audible alarm system shall be equipped with a device which will automatically deactivate the exterior sounding device not more than fifteen minutes after the alarm has been activated. If the audible system will not shut off after fifteen minutes, and/or a responsible party cannot be located to shut it off within fifteen minutes of activation, the police department may call an alarm service company to shut off the alarm. The alarm user will be billed and shall pay for any expense incurred.

C. Notification. A user shall cause the police department to be notified prior to any service, test, repair, maintenance, alteration, or installation of an alarm system which might produce a false alarm.

D. Repairs. After three false alarms caused by a malfunction of an alarm system, or unknown cause, the user or agent shall cause the alarm system to be repaired and certification of the repair shall be presented to the police department.

E. Power Supply. Alarm systems installed in the city shall be equipped with a power supply in such a manner that the failure or interruption of normal utility electricity will not activate the alarm system. The power supply must be capable of at least forty-eight hours of operation.

F. Automated Calling Devices Prohibited. No alarm system shall utilize an automatic calling device which places a call to any emergency or business police telephone number.

(Ord. 664 § 6 (part), 1991.)

All electrical alarm systems shall be installed and maintained in accordance with applicable requirements of law and uniform codes.

(Ord. 664 § 7 (part), 1991.)

No alarm user or alarm business shall give, signal, transmit, or cause or permit to be given, signaled or transmitted a false alarm.

(Ord. 664 § 8 (part), 1991.)

For purposes of this section, the penalty assessment period shall be defined as bi- annual. (every six months beginning in July and January).

A. Alarms within the first ten days of operation of a new system or of a substantially modified system will not be counted as false alarms.

B. There are no penalties assessed for the first three false alarm activations per alarm system during the bi-annual assessment periods.

C. The third false alarm activation shall result in notification by the police department of the required provisions of this chapter and outline expected remedial action.

D. Upon the fourth and subsequent false alarm, the alarm business or permittee shall be required to pay a fee specifically set forth and specified by Resolution 4-2-90-C of the city council pursuant to Administrative Policy Number 4 of the city.

(Ord. 664 § 9 (part), 1991.)

A. Any person aggrieved by any fee or other result of this chapter shall have the right to appeal the matter to the chief of police.

1. A statement setting forth fully grounds of such appeal shall be filed with the city within fifteen days.

2. An informal meeting between the appellant and the chief of police or his designee shall be set within twenty days from the filing of the appeal.

3. Notice of the decision of the chief of police shall be served upon the appellant, personally, or by certified mail, within ten days after the meeting.

B. Any person aggrieved by the decision of the chief of police with reference to any matter covered by this chapter, shall have the right to appeal to the city administrator.

1. A statement setting forth fully grounds of such appeal shall be filed with the city within fifteen days after notice of the decision of the chief of police.

2. An informal meeting between the appellant and the city administrator or his designee shall be set within twenty days from the filing of this appeal.

3. Notice of the decision of the city administrator shall be served upon the appellant, personally, or by certified mail, within ten days after the meeting.

C. The decision of the city administrator may be appealed to the city council.

1. A statement setting forth fully grounds of such appeal, shall be filed with the city clerk within fifteen days after notice of the decision of the city administrator has been served.

2. The city council shall set a time and place for hearing on the appeal and the city clerk shall promptly give written notice of such hearing to the appellant.

D. The decision and order of the city council on such appeal shall be final and conclusive.

(Ord. 664 § 10 (part), 1991.)