§ 2.5-1. Definitions.

(a)

The term "alarm business" means any business operated by a person which engages in the activity of altering, installing, leasing, maintaining, repairing, replacing, selling, servicing, or responding to a burglar, holdup, or fire alarm system, or which causes any of these activities to take place.

(b)

The term "alarm system" means any device arranged to signal by direct connection to the police department the presence of a hazard requiring urgent attention and to which the police or the fire department are expected to respond. The term alarm system also includes local alarms and automatic dialing devices.

(c)

The term "alarm user" means any person on whose premises an alarm system is maintained within the city which is connected to the Boonville Police Department. If an alarm system not connected to the police department, however, employs an audible signal emitting sounds or a flashing light or beacon designed to signal persons outside the premises, such system shall be within the definition of alarm system and shall be subject to this chapter. A user is also one who maintains an automatic dialing device.

(d)

The term "annunciator" means the instrumentation on an alarm console at the receiving terminal of a signal line which through both visual and audible signals shows when an alarm device at a particular location has been activated or it may also indicate line trouble.

(e)

The term "automatic dialing device" refers to an alarm system which automatically sends over regular telephone lines to the police department telephones, by direct connection or otherwise, a prerecorded voice message or coded signal indicating the existence of the emergency situation to which the police department or fire department are expected to respond.

(f)

The word "city" means the City of Boonville, Missouri.

(g)

The term "direct connection" means an alarm system which has the capability of transmitting system signals to an annunciator located at the city's police department.

(h)

The term "false alarm" means the activation of an alarm system through mechanical failure, malfunction, improper installation, the negligence of the owner or lessee of an alarm system or of his employees or agents or other cause not representing an emergency situation. Such terminology does not include, as determined by the city, for example, alarms caused by hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, other violent conditions, or phone company circuit faults.

(i)

The term "local alarm system" refers to a signaling system which when activated causes an audible and/or visual signaling device to be activated in or on the premises within which the system is installed.

(j)

The term "person" means any person, firm, partnership, association, corporation, company, or organization of any kind.

(k)

The term "police chief" means the chief of the police department of the city, or his designated representative.

(l)

The term "contractor" means the person authorized by the City of Boonville by separate agreement to provide the annunciator in the city's police department.

(m)

The term "emergency alarm" means a valid emergency situation at the alarm user's premise which activates the alarm received at the city's police department.

(Ord. No. 2571, Art. I, § 1, 8-16-82; Ord. No. 2671, § 1, 4-16-84)