§ 5-30.06. Alarm monitoring procedures and verified response.

(a)

Verified response status. Any alarm system monitored by an alarm business that has in excess of two (2) false alarms in a calendar year shall automatically be placed on verified response status for the balance of that calendar year. When the alarm system has been placed on verified response status, it shall be subject to verification, as further set forth herein, prior to the police department being notified by the alarm business. In the event an alarm system is on verified response status and the alarm business cannot verify the alarm, the police department may broadcast the alarm call as a new information item and police officers may respond, subject to workload, to any such calls that occur between the hours 6:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m.

(b)

Verification methods and procedures. Alarm businesses shall attempt to verify alarms from alarm systems on verified response status using the following methods. If not immediately verified as criminal activity, two (2) attempts by the alarm business shall be made to verify the validity of the alarm prior to contacting the police department. Attempt to verify must be made by using two (2) of the following methods:

(1)

Exterior activation of alarm sensors;

(2)

Interior activation of alarm sensors;

(3)

Audio sensors placed throughout the premises;

(4)

Motion detectors to monitor movement inside the premises;

(5)

Visual observation through video feed to the monitoring center;

(6)

Telephonic verification by alarm business contacting alarm user to determine if there is an accidental activation. Passwords shall be utilized to confirm the identity of the alarm user;

(7)

Private guard response to alarm site, as directed by the alarm business . (It should be noted that the police department does not recommend a private guard response, however alarm businesses, may, at their discretion, utilize this procedure as an option).

(c)

Time periods not subject to verified response. Between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m., mandatory verification for alarm systems on verified response status will not apply.

(d)

Additional alarms and locations not subject to verified response. The following shall not be subject to verified response:

(1)

Robbery, intruder, duress, panic or emergency alarm system activation (e.g., fire);

(2)

Requests for emergency assistance from local mobile sources;

(3)

Audible alarm systems not monitored by an alarm company;

(4)

Vehicle alarms;

(5)

Pawnshops, secondhand dealers, gun shops, or any location that handles firearms;

(6)

Other locations as determined by the Chief of Police.

(e)

Alarm business, central station and answering service procedures.

(1)

At the time that a police response to an alarm site is requested, central stations or other answering services shall provide the Police Department Dispatcher with all of the following information:

(i)

A toll-free telephone number for contacting the central station dispatchers,

(ii)

The time, date, and location of the alarm,

(iii)

The name, address and telephone number of the alarm user or his or her designee,

(iv)

The cause of the alarm.

(2)

The alarm business shall initiate contact to the alarm user within twenty-four (24) hours via mail, fax, telephone or other electronic means whenever a police response request has been made to the alarm user's residence or business.

(3)

When an alarm business has requested a police response, police dispatch shall be promptly advised if the alarm business has knowledge that the alarm user or another responder is also on the way to the alarm system location.

(4)

The alarm business shall immediately notify police dispatch of the cancellation of the request for a police response to an alarm system location.

(§ 1, Ord. 697, eff. March 1, 1989, as amended by § 1, Ord. 1073, eff. May 16, 2005)