Truckee Municipal Code Ch. 9.02 Alarm Devices and Systems

The purpose of this Chapter is to encourage the proper and effective use of alarm devices and alarm systems by setting forth regulations governing the installation, maintenance and use of various alarm devices and alarm systems within the Town of Truckee.

For the purpose of this Chapter, certain words and phrases shall be construed herein as set forth in this section unless it is apparent from the context that a different meaning is intended.

(a) ALARM COMPANY OPERATION means any person, business, or other entity operating for any consideration which engages in the installation, maintenance, alteration or servicing of alarm systems or which responds to such alarm systems.

(b) ALARM SYSTEM means an assembly of equipment and devices arranged to signal the presence of a hazard requiring urgent attention.

(c) DIRECT DIAL TELEPHONE DEVICE means any device, including tape dialers, which will automatically dial a telephone number maintained by the Town's Police Department.

(d) FALSE ALARM shall mean any activation of an alarm system by failure, malfunction, accidental tripping, misoperation, misuse or negligent maintenance by the misoperation, misuse or negligent maintenance by the owner or lessee of the alarm system or his employee or agent or any other activation of an alarm system that results in a response by the Town's Police Department where an emergency situation does not exist, except excusable alarms caused by severe weather conditions, telephone line problems, or any factor over which the user, alarm company and Town's Police Department lack control.

(e) LOCAL ALARM SYSTEM shall mean any audible alarm system that can be heard from the exterior of any structure.

(f) USER shall mean any person, business or other entity which owns or is entitled to possession of any premises on which an alarm system has been installed.

(g) SUPPLIER OF EMERGENCY SERVICES shall mean any governmental agency supplying law enforcement, fire, medical or other emergency services, including, but not limited, the Town's Police Department.

The provisions of this Article shall be administered and enforced by the Chief of Police. The Chief is authorized to make inspections of alarm systems and of the premises upon which said systems are located, and to make and enforce such rules and regulations as are necessary to implement the provisions of this Article.

The user of an alarm device or alarm system shall be responsible for the proper installation, maintenance and use of said device or system in order to insure that it does not produce any false alarms.

The Chief is authorized to implement such procedures and practices as may reasonably be necessary to reduce false alarms in the Town. This may include a "No Response" policy on the part of the Town's Police Department to alarms at locations which have repeated instances of false alarms. Copies of the rules and regulations adopted pursuant to this Article shall be on file for public inspection in the Chief of Police.

It is unlawful to operate an audible alarm system which does not shut off within a maximum time of fifteen (15) minutes from the time of activation. This may be accomplished with either an automatic cut-off or by manual operation. If the alarm system has an automatic cut-off with a re-arming phase, the re-arming phase must be able to distinguish between an open and closed circuit, and, if the circuit is broken, the system will not re-arm.

Each alarm company operator shall provide accurate and complete instructions to the alarm system user in the proper use and operation of said system. Specific emphasis shall be placed on the avoidance of false alarms. All businesses which sell alarm systems, but which are not alarm company operators as defined in this Article, are similarly responsible for instructing the buyer of the alarm system in the proper use of said system.

Each alarm user shall have the address of the location of the alarm, whether business or residence, clearly identifiable from the road on which it is located. The numbers on the posted address shall not be less than three (3") inches in height and in block style. Alarms without properly posted and clearly identifiable addresses will not be responded to until compliance with this section is achieved.

Every audible alarm system shall have a sign or notice posted on or near the audible device with the name and telephone number of the person or company responsible for providing the maintenance of the system. The notice shall be posted in such a position as to be readable from ground level outside and adjacent to the building. All silent alarm systems shall have a notice on the premises which provides the same information.

Upon notification by the Town's Police Department, the person or company who is the alarm user, or representative of same, shall properly proceed within at least thirty (30) minutes to the location of the alarm activation and render necessary service. This service shall include, when necessary, the opening of the premises so that it may be searched.

Any alarm system which, when activated, causes an alarm to be sent by self-dialing, pre-recorded voice notification units, are hereby prohibited from dialing any telephone number maintained by the Town's Police Department. The Police Department will not respond to calls placed by such devices.

It shall be unlawful for any alarm system to terminate directly at the Police Department, whether or not said alarm system signal is transmitted by pre-recorded dialing devices; telephone lines, radio waves or other means, unless specifically authorized, in writing, by the Chief. Alarm systems which terminate directly at the Police Department will normally include only those alarms originating at a tax supported facility.

(a) Any user of an alarm device or alarm system which produces the following false alarms within the following periods, shall pay a fee to the Town of Truckee as and for reimbursement of police expenses incurred as a result of responding to the false alarms:

1. For three (3) or more false alarms within a 60-day period, the user shall pay a fee of $35.00.

2. For a fourth false alarm within a 90-day period, the user shall pay a fee of $70.00.

3. When five (5) or more false alarms are received within a 180-day period, the Town's Police Department will cease responding to alarm activations at the alarm location for a period of 180 days or until the Department receives satisfactory written evidence from a licensed alarm company that the cause of the false alarms has been determined, the problem has been corrected, and that the users of the alarm system have been trained in its proper use.

(a) Violation of the provisions of this Chapter shall be an infraction and upon conviction thereof there shall be a mandatory fine imposed as follows:

1. For a first violation, a fine of One Hundred ($100.00) Dollars.

2. For a second violation of the same subsection within a twelve (12) month period, a fine of Two Hundred ($200.00) Dollars.

3. For a third or subsequent violation of the same subsection within a twelve (12) month period, a fine of Five Hundred ($500.00) Dollars. (Authority: Government Code Section 25132)

(b) The Chief of Police shall be designated as the alarm systems and devices enforcement officer and shall be responsible for the enforcement of this Chapter. The enforcement officer may deputize one or more employees of the Department to carry out the duties of the enforcement officer.

(ORD 94-05 03-03-94)