HomeMy WebLinkAboutCc1306 1306
AN ORDINANCE REGULATING RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL ALARM
SYSTEMS AND IMPOSING A SYSTEM OF FINES FOR IMPROPER AND
UNNECESSARY EMERGENCY AND MEDICAL RESPONSES TO FALSE
ALARMS AND MALFUNCTIONS.
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF OAK PARK HEIGHTS, WASHINGTON
COUNTY, MINNESOTA, DOES ORDAIN:
1306. Alarm Svstems for Police, Fire, and Emen2=cv Response..
1306.010 Purpose.
The purpose of this Ordinance is to encourage security, fire or medical
alarm users and alarm businesses (including, but not limited to, sales,
installation, and /or monitoring) to maintain the operational reliability and
the proper use of alarm systems so as to limit unnecessary police, fire, and
emergency medical responses to false alarms and alarm malfunctions.
This Ordinance governs burglary, robbery, intrusion, fire, and medical
emergency false alarms, provides for service fees for excessive false
alarms, and provides for issuance of citations in lieu of assessing such
service fees.
1306.020 Definitions.
A. "Alarm Site" means a single premise or location, or a multi - tenant
location, served by an alarm system or systems.
B. "Alarm System" means any mechanical, electrical, or radio
controlled device or system which is designed to emit, transmit, or
relay a signal or message and which, when activated, is intended to
summon, or that would reasonably be expected to summon, police,
fire or emergency medical services. Alarm system does not
include:
(1) An alarm installed on a vehicle, unless the vehicle is
permanently located at a site: or
(2) An alarm designed to alert only inhabitants of a premise,
and which does not constitute a local alarm.
C. "False Alarm" means that activation of an alarm system signal of
message which elicits notification to and /or response by the Oak
Park Heights Police Department when there is no evidence of a
crime, fire, medical emergency, or other activity which warrants a
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call for immediate police, fire fighting, or emergency medical
assistance. This may include, but is not limited to, an alarm
discovered by a police officer or firefighter before notification or
an alarm from a monitor or from a local alarm system that is not
monitored.
D. "Fire or Emergency Medical Alarm" means a system or portion of
a combination system consisting of components and circuits
arranged to monitor and annunciate the status of fire or medical
emergency or supervisory signal initiating devices which are
intended to summon fire or emergency medical services of the Oak
Park Heights Police Department, the Bayport Fire Department or
Lakeview Hospital Ambulance Service.
E. "Intrusion Alarm" means a robbery, burglary, panic, or other alarm
intended to summon the police, which is designated either to be
initiated purposely by a person or by an alarm system that responds
to a stimulus characteristic of unauthorized intrusion.
F. "Local Alarm" means an alarm system that emits a signal at an
alarm site that is audible or visible from the exterior of the
structure.
G. "Warning Notice" means a notification provided to the owner or
person in charge of an alarm site by the Oak Park Heights Police
Department for alarms due to system malfunction or when no
reason can be determined for the false alarm. The warning notice
will require the alarm system be inspected and /or serviced within
five (5) working days with written documentation submitted to the
Oak Park Heights Police Department that the system is in working
order.
1306.030 Intrusion Alarm Svstems.
A. Each time the Oak Park Heights Police Department responds to a
false intrusion alarm due to system malfunction or when no reason
can be determined for such false alarm, the Oak Park Heights
Police Department shall issue false alarm warning notice.
B. A service fee for excessive false intrusion alarms shall be charged
as follows:
(1) No service fee shall be charged for the first three (3) false
alarms occurring within a twelve (12) month period,
calculated from the date of the first such alarm;
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(2) Each false alarm in excess of three (3) and up to and
including six (6) within a twelve (12) month period shall
result in a service fee of $50.00 per false alarm.
(3) Each false alarm in excess of six (6) within a twelve (12)
month period shall result in a service fee of $100.00 per
false alarm.
C. No service fee shall be assessed if the false alarm is:
(1) Caused by an electrical storm, tornado, or other act of God
when there is clear evidence of physical damage to the
alarm system;
(2) Caused by the intermittent disruption of telephone circuits
beyond the control of the alarm site owner;
(3) Caused by electrical power disruption or failure in excess
of two (2) hours beyond the control of the alarm site owner;
(4) At a location where the Oak Park Heights Police
Department has installed the Varda or other similar alarms.
D. All false alarm service fees are due and payable within thirty (30)
days from date of invoice. In the event that false alarm service
fees are not paid as required by this Ordinance, the Oak Park
Heights Police Department may refer the matter to the City
Attorney for appropriate legal action, including but not limited to,
certifying same for collection against the real property taxes as
with other unpaid municipal services.
E. A person commits an offense in violation of this Ordinance if such
a person suffers or permits false alarms in excess of three (3)
within a twelve (12) month period, each false alarm constituting a
separate violation.
1306.040 Fire or Emen2=cv Medical Alarm Svstems.
A. Each time the Oak Park Heights Police Department and /or the
Bayport Fire Department responds to a false alarm due to system
malfunction or when no reason can be determined for such false
alarm, the Oak Park Heights Police Department or the Bayport Fire
Department shall issue a warning notice.
B. A service fee for excessive false alarms shall be charged as
follows:
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(1) No service fee shall be charged for the first three (3) false
alarms occurring within a twelve (12) month period,
calculated from the date of the first such alarm.
(2) Each false alarm in excess of three (3) and up to and
including six (6) within twelve (12) month period shall
result in a service fee of $100.00 per false alarm.
(3) Each false alarm in excess of six (6) within a twelve (12)
month period shall result in a service fee of $200.00 per
false alarm.
C. No service fee shall be assessed if the false alarm is:
(1) Caused by an electrical storm, tornado, or other act of God
where there is clear evidence of damage to the alarm
system;
(2) Caused by the intermittent disruption of telephone circuits
beyond the control of the alarm site owner;
(3) Caused by electrical power disruption or failure in excess
of two (2) hours beyond the control of the alarm site owner.
D. All false alarm service fees are due and payable within thirty (30)
days from date of invoice. In the event that false alarm service
fees are not paid as required by this Ordinance, the Oak Park
Heights Police Department may refer the matter to the City
Attorney for appropriate legal action, including but not limited to,
certifying same for collection against the real property taxes as
with other unpaid municipal services.
E. A person commits an offense in violation of this Ordinance if such
a person suffers or permits false alarms in excess of three (3)
within twelve (12) month period, each such false alarm
constituting a separate violation.
1306.050 Citv Permit
All persons installing alarm systems for fire, police, or medical emergency
within any residential or commercial structure within the City of Oak Park
Heights shall obtain a permit therefor at the offices of the City Clerk for
the City of Oak Park Heights. Such permit shall be without fee and shall
be on a form prescribed by the City Attorney.
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