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CHAPTER 3

ALARM SYSTEMS

 

§3-1.  Definitions
For the purpose of this chapter, certain words and phrases shall be defined as herein set forth:

                Alarm system means any mechanical or electrical device that is arranged, designed, or used to signal the occurrence in the City of Grand Island of a burglary, robbery, other criminal offense, fire emergency, or medical emergency requiring urgent attention, and to which law enforcement, fire, or emergency medical personnel are expected to respond. Alarm systems include those through which Public Safety personnel are notified directly of such signals through automatic recording devices or are notified indirectly by way of third persons who monitor the alarm systems and who report such signals to Public Safety personnel. Alarm systems also include those designed to register a signal which is so audible, visible, or in other ways perceptible outside a protected building, structure, or facility as to notify persons in the neighborhood beyond the zoning lot where the signal is located, who may in turn notify the Public Safety personnel of the signal. Alarm systems do not include those affixed to automobiles. Further, alarm systems do not include auxiliary devices installed by telephone companies to protect telephone equipment or systems which might be damaged or disrupted by the use of an alarm system.

                False alarm is any signal created by an alarm system (including but not limited to alarm signals initiated by human error) which signal directly or indirectly notifies Public Safety personnel of the occurrence of a burglary, robbery, other criminal offense, fire emergency or medical emergency when no such emergency exists and when law enforcement, fire, or emergency medical personnel are not needed to respond to a burglary, robbery, other criminal offense, fire emergency, or medical emergency.

                Subscriber is any person, firm, corporation, partnership, or entity who or which purchases, leases, contracts for, or obtains an alarm system.

                Vendor is any person, firm, corporation, partnership, or entity associated with an alarm business or company, either indirectly or directly, whose duties include but are not limited to any of the following: selling, replacing, moving, repairing, maintaining, or installing an alarm system on or in any structure, building, or facility.

 

§3-2.  Duties of Subscriber and of Vendor
                (1)  Duties of Subscriber.  It shall be the responsibility of each subscriber to see that the standards of installation and maintenance set forth in this chapter are adhered to.

                (2)  Duties of Vendor.  It shall be the responsibility of any vendor causing installation of or maintaining an alarm system to cause such installation or maintenance to conform to the requirements of the Fire Code and the Electric Code applicable in the City of Grand Island, Nebraska.

                (3)  Duties of Subscriber and Vendor.  Each alarm system shall be utilized only for the purposes of summoning the Public Safety personnel for emergency and/or life hazard situations. Without the prior express consent of the Communications Division of the Emergency Management Department, systems shall not be tested so as to transmit a signal to Public Safety personnel when an emergency or life hazard situation does not exist. It shall be the responsibility of each subscriber and also each vendor not to make such tests.

Amended by Ordinance No. 9037, effective 04-12-2006

 

§3-3.  Standards Required For Alarm Systems
                (1)  Notification.  Each subscriber must provide to the City of Grand Island on a form provided by the Communications Division of the Emergency Management Department the name, address, and telephone number of the subscriber and of the vendor, if any, with whom the subscriber has contracted for maintenance of the alarm system. Each subscriber shall also provide the City with the names, addresses, and phone numbers of those persons (not less than two) who can be contacted 24 hours a day and seven days a week to turn off or deactivate an alarm system. It shall be the obligation of the subscriber to keep this information current and correct through supplementary notifications filed from time to time on the same form.

                (2)  Designated Telephone Lines.  No person shall use or cause to be used an alarm system or device of any kind that automatically dials or calls any telephone line of the offices of the City of Grand Island or any department or division thereof except such telephone line or lines as may be designed by the Communications Division of the Emergency Management Department of the City for the specific purpose of receiving signals from alarm systems.

                (3)  Automatic Dialing or Calling Devices.  Alarm systems that automatically dial or call a telephone line designated by the Communications Division of the Emergency Management Department shall comply with the following requirements:

                (A)  Total length of the recorded message being transmitted to the Communications Division of the Emergency Management Department (including repetition of message) shall not exceed 30 seconds duration.

                (B)  The recorded message transmitted shall be repeated not less than two nor more than three times.

                (C)  The recorded message being transmitted shall incorporate language specifically identifying the message as a "recording" with the balance of the message identifying by street number and street name the location of the emergency and the nature of the event which caused the alarm system to activate. If the location of the event signaled by the alarm system is in a multi-family building or a multi-unit office or commercial building, the message shall also identify by number and by floor the particular dwelling unit, office unit, or commercial unit in which the event occurred.

                (D)  The recorded message being transmitted to the department shall be appropriate for the purpose for which the alarm system was installed, and the message in its entirety shall be intelligible and spoken in the English language.

                (E)  The City of Grand Island's cost of providing monitoring and telephone lines designated for alarm systems that use automatic dialing or calling devices, including any re-occurring fees charged, shall be paid in advance each year to this City by the subscribers. The fee shall be in accordance with the City of Grand Island Fee Schedule. If payment is not received within thirty days after billing, the system must be disconnected immediately in the manner described in §3-5(3).

                (4)  Digital Alarm Systems.  Subscribers to alarm systems that automatically transmit digital data via common telephone line to a receiving unit located at the Communications Center shall pay a digital alarm system monitoring fee, in advance, in accordance with the City of Grand Island Fee Schedule.

                (5)  Supervised (Dedicated line) Alarm Systems.  Subscribers that automatically transmit alarm conditions via dedicated telephone line to a receiving unit at the Communications Center shall pay a supervised (dedicated line) alarm system monitoring fee, in advance, in accordance with the City of Grand Island Fee Schedule.

                (6)  Video (Live) Alarm Systems.  Subscribers that transmit continuous video to a receiving unit at the Communications Center for the purpose of monitoring a premise shall pay a video (live) alarm system monitoring fee, in advance, in accordance with the City of Grand Island Fee Schedule.

Amended by Ordinance No. 9037, effective 04-12-2006

 

§3-4.  Standards For Future Alarm Systems
                Systems installed shall comply with the following standards as to installation and maintenance (and, in addition, shall also comply with the standards set forth in §3-3):

        (1)  Alarm systems must incorporate a device that allows an adequate delay before the time at which activation of the system would directly or indirectly signal Public Safety personnel, or signal other parties who in turn might be expected to notify Public Safety personnel. This delay is to permit the subscriber to stop a false alarm from being transmitted.

        (2)  The alarm system shall incorporate a device that limits any exterior signal to a period of time not to exceed fifteen minutes in duration. At the expiration of the maximum time permitted, the alarm system shall automatically cease to emit a signal.

Amended by Ordinance No. 9037, effective 04-12-2006

 

§3-5.  Excessive False Alarms
                If any alarm system produces three false alarms in any twelve consecutive months, written notice of that fact shall be given by certified mail or delivery to the subscriber, or other appropriate party listed in the notification required in §3-3(1) at the addresses listed in the most recent such notification for that alarm system. Thereafter, the Communications Division of the Emergency Management Department shall have the power to require the subscriber to comply with any one or combination of the requirements set forth below as would minimize, such false alarms in the future:

        (1)  The subscriber may be charged a fee in accordance with the City of Grand Island Fee Schedule. Such charges shall continue for each excessive false alarm until six consecutive months have elapsed during which no false alarms have been registered, and must be paid within 15 days after notice thereof is given in the same manner as provided by this section for notice of excessive false alarms.

        (2)  The subscriber may be required to cause the alarm system to comply immediately with the applicable standards referred to in §3-4.

        (3)  The subscriber may be required to disconnect the alarm system immediately in such fashion that signals are not emitted so as to notify Public Safety personnel directly or indirectly through automatic telephone recording devices or to register a signal which is so audible, visible, or in other ways perceptible outside a protected building, structure, or facility as to notify persons in the neighborhood who may in turn notify Public Safety personnel of the signal.

Amended by Ordinance No. 9037, effective 04-12-2006

 

§3-6.  No Liability on Part of the City
                Nothing in this chapter nor the existence of any other fact(s) shall be construed to require a response by Public Safety personnel to an address or location registering an alarm. The City shall neither assume nor bear any liability for its failure to respond to such an alarm signal.

 

§3-7.  Penalty
                Any person in violation of §3-2 shall be deemed to have committed a misdemeanor.

Amended by Ordinance No. 9037, effective 04-12-2006