§ 3-2. Definitions.

The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this chapter, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:

Activate or activation means setting off or triggering an alarm system, whether intentionally or unintentionally, rather than placing an alarm system in a state of readiness, as upon the completion of installation or when arming the alarm system.

Act of God means an unusual, extraordinary, sudden and unexpected manifestation of the forces of nature, causing collateral damage, which cannot be prevented by reasonable care, skill or foresight.

Agent means an individual designated by a publicly traded corporation to act on behalf of the corporation under this chapter. An agent shall be a bona fide resident of Arizona and a citizen or legal resident of the United States.

Alarm agent means any person, whether an employee, independent contractor, or otherwise, who acts on behalf of an alarm business and installs or services any alarm system on any premises. An alarm agent does not include a person who buys, installs and services an alarm system only on the person's own premises, or the premises of the person's employer.

Alarm business means a business, all or a part of which sells, leases, installs, services and/or monitors any alarm system on any premises within the city except as follows: an alarm business does not include a business or entity that owns, operates, services, monitors or responds to alarm systems only in premises owned, operated or affiliated with that business or entity. An alarm business includes a monitoring agency and authorized alarm agents.

Alarm school means an alarm user awareness class or alternate alarm systems training approved by public safety personnel.

Alarm system means any mechanical, electrical or other device, including but not limited to those used to detect smoke, fire, hazardous materials, or unauthorized entry into a premises, or to alert others of a fire, medical or other emergency, or commission of an unlawful act against a person or within a premises, and which may emit an audible alarm or transmit a signal when activated. Alarm systems include silent, panic, holdup, duress, robbery, burglary, automatic dialing device, and audible alarm systems.

Alarm user means any person who purchases, leases, contracts for, or otherwise obtains for use an alarm system and who is responsible for the premises where an alarm system is located.

Audible alarm means a device designed to generate an audible sound when an alarm system has been activated.

Automatic dialing device means any electrical, electronic, mechanical, or other device capable of being programmed to send a prerecorded voice message or other signal when activated, over a telephone line or other communication system to notify or cause to be notified, public safety personnel. Automatic dialing devices include direct dialing devices.

Certified Systems Installer (C-SI) means a person holding a certificate from an institution recognized by the director.

Certified Electronic Systems Technician (C-EST) means a person holding a certificate from an institution recognized by the director.

City representative means an employee of the city, or an independent contractor acting on its behalf, who is responsible for the administration and/or enforcement of this chapter.

Common cause means a reason that an alarm system generates a series of false alarms, all of which occur in a seventy-two (72) hour period, which could not be reasonably corrected before subsequent activations within the seventy-two (72) hour period.

Controlling person means:

(a)

A sole proprietor;

(b)

All general partners of an applicant or licensee, if the applicant or licensee is a partnership;

(c)

All officers, if the applicant or licensee is not a publicly traded corporation;

(d)

An agent of a publicly traded corporation, and

(e)

All on-site managers of an applicant or licensee who direct the daily operation of the applicant or licensee, whether or not an on-site manager has any ownership interest in the applicant or licensee.

Director means the director whose responsibilities include licensing and revenue functions, or the director's designee.

False alarm means an activation of an alarm system that results in a public safety personnel dispatch to premises where the alarm system is activated, with no evidence, at the premises, of a crime or emergency, as emergency is determined by public safety personnel.

Fire department means the city fire department.

Monitored alarm system means an alarm system that transmits signals to an alarm business or monitoring agency to alert public safety personnel.

Monitoring agency means any person or organization that is legally or contractually responsible for monitoring one (1) or more alarm systems located in the city.

Permit holder means an alarm user holding a valid alarm user permit.

Police means the city police department.

Premises means the land, building, facility and/or area intended to be protected by an alarm system.

Public safety personnel means a city representative who is a member of the police or fire department.

Reciprocal alarm business license ordinance means an ordinance adopted by a jurisdiction with which the city has agreed in writing to share licensing requirements for alarm businesses and alarm agents.

Responsible representative means a person to be notified when an alarm system is activated, as designated by an alarm user.

Service charge means a charge assessed against an alarm user for false alarms.

Waiver certificate means a certificate presented at the successful completion of alarm school entitling the holder to a limited waiver of a service charge.

Verify or verification means to attempt by an alarm company to contact the premises and/or alarm user by telephone and/or other electronic means, to determine whether an alarm system activation is a false alarm.

(Ord. No. 3796, § 1, 6-3-08)