§ 28-118. Definitions.

(1)

Alarm administrator means the representative designated by the sheriff to administer this article and control and maintain records involving false alarms.

(2)

Alarm businesses are businesses that sell, install, maintain, repair and/or monitor alarm systems.

(3)

Alarm business registration/approved business means authorization granted by the sheriff to an alarm business to operate a business that sells, installs, repairs and/or monitors alarm systems.

(4)

Alarm initiating device means a device that is designed to detect security breaches, including, but not limited to, holdups, burglaries, trespasses, robberies, intrusions or panic alerts, and automatically or manually notify an alarm business of the security breach and/or emit an audible alarm.

(5)

Alarm registration means authorization granted by the sheriff to an alarm user to operate an alarm system.

(6)

Alarm site means a single fixed premises or location, or a multi-tenant location, served by an alarm system or systems. Each unit, if served by a separate alarm system in a multi-unit building or complex, shall be considered a separate alarm site.

(7)

Alarm system means any mechanical, electrical, or radio controlled device or system designed to emit, transmit or relay a signal or message to summon law enforcement about a possible crime or other public safety concern including, but not limited to, local alarms. It may be triggered by a mechanism responding to a stimulus characteristic of unauthorized intrusion or activated intentionally by a person. Alarm systems installed after the effective date of this article must meet the minimum requirements of the American National Standard Institute (ANSI) and the Underwriters Laboratory (UL). "Alarm system" does not include:

(a)

An alarm installed on a vehicle, unless the vehicle is permanently located at a site; or

(b)

An alarm designed to alert only the inhabitants of an alarm site, and which does not constitute a local alarm.

(8)

Alarm user includes, but is not limited to, any person, corporation, governmental entity, private or public facility or any other entity that has contracted with an alarm business for monitoring, repairing, installing, or maintaining an alarm system, or that owns or operates an alarm system that is not monitored, maintained, or repaired under contract.

(9)

BASA/FASA is a certification mandated to burglar alarm system agents and fire alarm systems agents by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulations.

(10)

Excessive false alarms shall mean all false security alarms in excess of twelve (12) within a twelve-month period.

(11)

False security alarm(s) (false alarm(s)), as used herein, means the activation of an alarm system signal or message eliciting notification to and/or response by the sheriff when there is no evidence of a crime, emergency or other activity that warrants a call for immediate law enforcement assistance. This may include, but is not limited to, an alarm discovered by a deputy before notification from a monitor or from a local alarm that is not monitored.

It is a rebuttable presumption that an alarm is false if responding sheriff's personnel do not discover any evidence of intrusion or other criminal activity after following normal sheriff's office operating procedures in investigating the incident. An alarm is not false if the alarm user proves that:

(a)

An individual activated the alarm based upon a reasonable belief that an emergency requiring a law enforcement response existed; or

(b)

The alarm system was activated by severe weather conditions, such as hurricanes, tornados or resulted from a direct lightening strike, telephone line trouble, or external power failure in excess of four (4) hours.

(12)

Intrusion means unauthorized access of premises, including, but not limited to, robbery, burglary, or other criminal activity.

(13)

Local alarm means an alarm system that emits a signal at an alarm site that is audible or visible from the exterior of the structure.

(14)

Nonresidential premises shall mean any building, structure, enclosed area or combination thereof, used for commercial, nonprofit, or nonresidential purposes and served by an alarm system.

(15)

Notice of Completion means a document from the alarm business describing the alarm system (e.g., features, operating instructions, service) and verifying the system was thoroughly explained and demonstrated to the alarm user upon completion of installation.

(16)

Owner shall mean any person or legal entity who owns the alarm site in which an alarm system is installed or the person or persons who lease, operate, occupy or manage the alarm site if such person or persons are responsible for the installation, maintenance or continued use of such alarm system.

(17)

Preventive maintenance shall include all service, equipment and repair work needed to ensure the alarm system is properly maintained to prevent false alarms.

(18)

Registration fee is a fee required to be paid by an alarm business and payable to the Orange County Board of County Commissioners, upon registration of their business as required herein.

(19)

Reinstatement fee is the fee required to be paid by an alarm user and payable to the Orange County Board of County Commissioners when the alarm administrator has rescinded an order of discontinued service as provided for herein.

(20)

Report of service/repair means appropriate documentation in a format acceptable to the alarm administrator, or designee, that verifies proper repairs or maintenance have been performed on the alarm system by a qualified alarm technician.

(21)

Residential premises shall mean any building, structure or combination thereof, serving as a dwelling unit (e.g., single-family house, apartment complex).

(22)

Responder means an individual capable of reaching the alarm site within thirty (30) minutes of being contacted by the sheriff's office, who is authorized to act as an agent of the alarm user to assist law enforcement at the alarm site.

(23)

Service fees means the assessment of monetary charges payable to the Orange County Board of County Commissioners, authorized pursuant to this article, to defray the expenses of responding to false alarms by the sheriff's office.

(24)

False alarm warning notice means a notification provided by the sheriff's office to the owner or alarm user that a false alarm occurred at the alarm site.

(Ord. No. 2012-16 , § 2, 9-18-12)