4.32.010 Definitions
As used in this ordinance, unless the context otherwise requires:
A. Agent means a natural person, other than a burglar alarm salesperson, who is designated by the principal to be responsible for the premises protected by an alarm system during the principal’s absence or unavailability. The term “agent” does not include any person who receives any salary, fee, bonus or other valuable consideration for performing the duties of an agent unless such person is a bona fide employee of the principal having substantial duties paramount and not directly related to his/her capacity as agent.
B. Alarm system means a device or system of interconnected devices, including hardware and related appurtenances, designed to give warning of activities indicative of felony or criminal conduct.
C. Annunciator means that part of an alarm system, other than an automatic dialer, which communicates the fact that the system has been triggered.
D. Audible annunciator means an annunciator which gives alarm by means of a bell, siren, buzzer or similar sound producing device mounted at some location other than wholly within a building; or which, when activated, is clearly audible at a distance of fifty (50) feet or more outside of any building in which it is mounted.
E. Automatic dialer means a device which is programmed to select a telephone number and deliver a warning message or signal over standard telephone lines using telephone voice communication equipment.
F. Chief means the Chief of Police of the City of Ashland, or a police officer under the Police Chief’s jurisdiction designated by the Police Chief to exercise any power or duty conferred under this chapter.
G. Department means the City of Ashland Police Department.
H. City of Ashland telephone line means a telephone line which rings or terminates on the premises of the City of Ashland.
I. False alarm means any activation of an alarm system upon or following which communication is made to the Department that an alarm has been triggered, except alarms resulting from one of the following causes:
1. Criminal activity or unauthorized entry;
2. Earthquake causing structural damage to the protected premises;
3. Hurricane winds causing structural damage to the protected premises;
4. Flooding of the protected premises due to overflow of natural drainage;
5. A lightning bolt causing physical damage to the protected premises;
6. Fire causing structural damage to the protected premises verified by the fire department;
7. Telephone line malfunction verified in writing to the Department by at least a first line telephone company supervisor within seven (7) days of the occurrence; or
8. Electrical service interruption verified in writing to the Department by the local power company manager within seven (7) days of the occurrence.
If the alarm, when communicated to the Department before an officer is dispatched to investigate, is clearly identified to the Department as resulting from authorized entry, authorized system test, or other noncriminal cause, it shall not be considered a false alarm. If police units, responding to an alarm and checking the protected premises according to standard Department operating procedure, do not discover any evidence of unauthorized entry or criminal activity, there shall be a rebuttable presumption that the alarm is false. Entries in the Police Department “Daily Bulletin” shall be prima facie evidence of the facts stated therein with regard to alarms and responses.
J. On-premises annunciator means an annunciator which is designed to give warning only to a person or persons on the protected premises, and which is neither an “audible” or “remote” annunciator as those terms are defined in this section.
K. Principal means the person, firm or corporation whose premises are protected by an alarm system. In the event that a building having more than one tenant is protected by a single alarm system, the term “principal” means the building owner.
L. Protected premises mean all of that contiguous area, including buildings, protected by a single alarm system and under common ownership and use.
M. Remote annunciator means an annunciator located at a terminal on the premises of an alarm company, or other location not a part of the protected premises.
N. Sensor means that part of an alarm system which is designed to detect the happenings of some event or existence of some condition indicative of criminal activity or unauthorized entry.
O. Visual annunciator means an annunciator installed entirely on the protected premises and which gives inaudible warning by means of a flashing light or other visible signal.
P. Fiscal year means July 1 through June 30. (Ord. 2533, amended, 1989; Ord. 2401 § 1, amended, 1986)