§ 5.5-32. Definitions.
Except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning, the following words, terms and phrases shall have the meanings ascribed to them for the purpose of interpreting and administering this article:
Alarm company means a person or company that engages in selling, leasing, installing, servicing or monitoring security alarm systems and is subject to state, county and/or municipal licensing requirements including but not limited to a contractor as defined in F.S. § 553.793(1)(a).
Alarm coordinator means a person or persons designated by the Winter Haven Police Chief to administer the provisions of this article and other efforts to reduce security alarm system false alarms.
Alarm signal means a detectable audible or visual signal generated by a security alarm system to summon law enforcement assistance.
Alarm system means any single device or equipment assembly designed to signal the occurrence of an illegal or unauthorized entry into a building or onto real property or other activity requiring immediate law enforcement attention. Alarm system may include both low voltage and wireless alarms as more particularly defined in F.S. § 553.793(1)(b) and (c). Motor vehicle or boat alarms; fire alarms; domestic violence alarms; 911 or E911 emergency phone calls or alarms designed to elicit a medical response are excluded from the provisions of this chapter.
Alarm user means any person; corporation; partnership; proprietorship; governmental, educational or other entity that owns, leases or operates a security alarm system or the property upon which a security alarm system is maintained and used for the protection of the premises.
Automatic dial protection device means an automatic telephone dialing alarm system, or any similar such system, which when activated automatically sends a recorded message or code signal to the city police department to indicate law enforcement response is needed.
Calendar month means a time period as depicted by a common calendar (e.g. January, February, etc.).
Cancellation means the post dispatch request to terminate a police response to a signaled alarm. Cancellation occurs when an alarm company or alarm user notifies the city police department that there is not an existing situation requiring police response at the signaled alarm site.
City means the City of Winter Haven or its designated agent.
False alarm means a mechanical or electronic failure, malfunction, improper installation or user negligence caused alarm signal that has occurred when no emergency condition that would require the immediate attention of law enforcement is found to exist. A signaled alarm is considered false when upon inspection of the premises by the city police department, there is no evidence discovered to indicate that an unauthorized entry, robbery or other such crime was attempted or committed to have caused a properly functioning alarm system to activate. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a false alarm shall not include any alarm signal activation that can be reasonably deemed to have been caused by unusually violent conditions of nature or other extraordinary circumstances beyond the control of the alarm user. Additionally, an alarm signal activated during a system testing procedure shall not be considered false, provided the alarm user first notifies and receives the permission of the alarm company or the company's designee to test the system, and the city police department is informed of the authorized testing in advance of such occurring.
Local alarm means an alarm company or user installed alarm system that emits an exterior on-site audible or visible signal and is not monitored by a remote alarm monitoring facility.
Runaway alarm means an alarm system that produces repeated alarm signals for no apparent reason or cause of action by a human.
SIA Control Panel Standard CP-01 means the current and from time to time updated American National Standard Institute (ANSI) standard for security alarm system control panel design and related features, inclusive of arming and disarming devices to reduce false alarms. Security alarm system control panels built to this standard and tested by a nationally recognized testing organization are marked: "Design evaluated in accordance with SIA CP-01 Control Panel Standard Features for False Alarm Reduction."
Verify means the attempt made by the alarm monitoring company or its representative to contact the alarm site or user by telephone or other electronic means, but not necessarily in person, to confirm the validity of the alarm before law enforcement dispatch is requested. For the purpose of verification by telephone, if a first attempt at reaching the alarm user fails, the making of a second call to a different telephone number for the alarm user is minimally expected to properly authenticate the alarm signal before law enforcement dispatch is requested unnecessarily.
(Ord. No. O-08-27, § 1, 6-23-08; Ord. No. O-15-31 , § 1, 12-28-15)