1332-17 Fire and Security Alarms Amended

Browse Search

OR BK 9652 PG 2142 2 of 3 Enforcement Officer means any authorized member of the City of Zephyrhills Police or Fire Departments. Key holder means any person authorized by the alarm user to enter or provide access to the alarm user's premises for the purpose of enabling the fire department or the police department to determine the validity of an alarm. Panic Alarm means any mechanical, electrical or radio controlled device which is personally activated by the alarm user and which indicates that a clear and present danger is presently confronting the alarm user. SECTION 3. Alarm System Requirements. 1. All existing alarm systems and those installed subsequent to the effective date of this Ordinance shall meet the following requirements: (a) If a security alarm system is designed to produce an audible alarm, it shall be equipped with an automatic reset function that deactivated any such audible alarm within fifteen(15)minutes of activation. (b) The system shall have a back up power supply that will prevent activation in the event of a power failure or outage. 2. Each alarm user shall be responsible for ensuring that the alarm monitoring company has current contact information for the alarm user and each key holder. SECTION 4. Response to Alarms; Determination of Validity. 1. Upon responding to any alarm activated in the City, the responding members of the Police and/or Fire Departments shall make a complete inspection of the building or premises where the alarm has been activated to determine the validity of the alarm. 2. If the responding member determines the alarm to be false, the member shall notify the Department Chief and complete a false alarm report. 3. Alarm users shall respond to each activated alarm at their premises within thirty (30) minutes of notification. SECTION 5. Fines Established by Resolution. Fines and penalties for false fire and security alarms shall be established by resolution of the City Council. SECTION 6. Notification Procedure, Appeal, Lien, Suit. Upon determining that a false alarm has occurred, the Police or Fire Department shall issue to the alarm user a Notice of Violation which specifies the number of false alarms and the fine imposed. The alarm user shall have thirty (30) days from the date of the issued Notice of Violation, to forward an "Affidavit of Service/Repair" to the authority having jurisdiction. Failure to submit the affidavit within the thirty (30) day period shall result in an assessment outlined within Resolution No. 746-17 for failure to take corrective action. The alarm user shall have ten (10) days from the receipt of said notification within which to pay the fine or request in writing a hearing to contest the same before the City Manager or his designee. Failure to request said hearing within said time shall constitute a waiver of the alarm user's right to contest the fine,and thirty(30)days thereafter the amount of the fine shall become a lien against the alarm user's interest in the premises which may be collected by the City by civil suit for said amount or by foreclosure.