Yorba Linda Municipal Code Ch. 8.12 Alarm Systems

Note: Editor's note—Ord. 2013-996, adopted Dec. 3, 2013, repealed the former Ch. 8.12, §§ 8.12.010—8.12.050, and enacted a new Ch. 8.12 as set out herein. The former Ch. 8.12 pertained to similar subject matter and derived from Prior Code, §§ 25-1—25-4, and Ord. 92-708, §§ 1, 2, 1992.

For the purposes of this chapter, the following phrases used in this chapter are defined as follows:

"Alarm subscriber"

means any person who purchases, leases, contracts for, or otherwise obtains an alarm system.

"Alarm system"

means any device which when activated, emits a sound beyond the business premises or residential unit or dwelling protected by such device or transmits a signal or message to another location when activated, designed or used for:

The detection of an unauthorized entry on premises or for alerting others of the commission of an unlawful act within, a building structure, facility; and

Which creates a response from the Orange County Sheriff's Department.

"Calendar year"

means the period from and including January 1st of any year to and including December 31st of the same year.

"False alarm"

means an activated alarm or alarm signal from any alarm system which is responded to by the Orange County Sheriff's 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. "False alarm" shall not include those alarms actuated by extraordinary meteorological, atmospheric, or other conditions or means as determined by the Orange County Sheriff-Coroner or his or her designee.

"Intentional false alarm"

means any situation where a person knowingly triggers an alarm system where it is known that no emergency situation exists.

"Person"

means any individual, partnership, corporation or other entity.

(Ord. 2013-996, § 2, 12-3-2013)

In addition to any fines or penalties established by law, the Orange County Sheriff's Department shall collect costs, on behalf of the City, from any alarm subscriber whose alarm system signals a third and subsequent false alarm that is responded to by the Orange County Sheriff's Department in the same calendar year. As used in this article, "costs" means the cost of the Orange County Sheriff's Department in responding to the third and each subsequent false alarm at the same residence or business in the same calendar year, which costs shall be determined by the City Council by resolution. The Orange County Sheriff's Department is authorized to collect such costs on behalf of the City.

(Ord. 2013-996, § 2, 12-3-2013)

No person shall intentionally initiate a false alarm except for purposes of testing an alarm system and then only after having given the Orange County Sheriff's Department prior notice thereof. Any person who violates this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be required to pay the costs of the Orange County Sheriff's Department in responding to an intentional false alarm, which costs shall be determined by the City Council by resolution. The Orange County Sheriff's Department is authorized to collect such costs on behalf of the City.

(Ord. 2013-996, § 2, 12-3-2013)

The charge provided for by Section 8.12.020 to prevent false alarms and to defray the City's costs incurred in responding to false alarms may be appealed to the City Manager or designee of the City Manager ("Hearing Officer"). Upon such appeal, the charges shall be waived by the Hearing Officer if the appellant can prove either mitigating circumstances or that a good faith effort has been made to remedy this situation.

(Ord. 2013-996, § 2, 12-3-2013)