Whenever an alarm is activated in the County and the Police Department does respond, a police officer on the scene of the activated alarm shall inspect the premises and shall determine whether the police response was in fact necessary or whether the alarm was a false alarm
“Twelve month calculation period” means the twelve (12) month period of time, commencing with the date of registration issuance, or for non-registered alarm systems, the date of the first false alarm response, that shall be used for calculating violations.
Excessive False Alarm Responses Prohibited; Penalties.
It shall be unlawful for any alarm user in the County to allow an excessive number of false alarm responses to occur at a protected premise for which they are responsible. It is hereby found and determined that false alarm responses to a protected premise in excess of two (2) in a twelve (12) month calculation period are deemed to be an excessive number and shall be a violation of this chapter. When involving apartment complexes, a protected premise shall be determined on a "per unit" basis. The first twelve (12) month period shall commence on the date of original registration issuance. Subsequent twelve (12) month periods shall be established successively.
A false alarm response fee shall be assessed against the alarm user for false alarm responses in excess of two (2) in a twelve (12) month calculation period, in accordance with the following false alarm response fee schedule:
| False Alarm | Fee | False Alarm | Fee | ||||||||||
| 1-2 | $0 | 11 | $700 | ||||||||||
| 3 | $100 | 12 | $800 | ||||||||||
| 4 | $150 | 13 | $900 | ||||||||||
| 5 | $200 | 14 | $1000 | ||||||||||
| 6 | $250 | 15 | $1100 | ||||||||||
| 7 | $300 | 16 | $1200 | ||||||||||
| 8 | $400 | 17 | $1300 | ||||||||||
| 9 | $500 | 18 | $1400 | ||||||||||
| 10 | $600 | 19+ | $1500/each |
False alarm responses to an Unpermitted alarm locations will be subject to a fee of $50.
The failure of an alarm user to make payment of any fee imposed under this section within sixty (60) days from the date of receipt may result in the Suspension of the alarm user registration and a discontinuance of police response to alarms that may occur at the protected premises described in the alarm user's registration until such time that payment is received.
False alarm shall not include police response to an alarm signal that is canceled by the alarm user or his agent prior to the arrival of police personnel at the alarm location.
Appeals:
The alarm user may, within ten (10) business days of the receipt of the false alarm notification make a written request for a review by the Chief of Police or his designee of the determination that an alarm was false. The request shall include the following information:
1. Alarm user name;
2. Alarm user registration number;
3. Address at which the alarm is installed;
4. Date of false alarm that is being contested; and
5. The facts upon which the request for review of the false alarm determination is made.
The Chief of Police or his designee shall consider the circumstances of the contested false alarm determination and provide a written response to the alarm user.