§ 28-120. False alarm warning notice; service fee.

(1)

The sheriff's office shall issue a false alarm warning notice after responding to a false alarm.

(2)

A service fee for false alarms shall be established by resolution of the board of county commissioners.

(3)

Each false alarm in excess of twelve (12) within a twelve-month period may result in an order of discontinued service pursuant to section 28-123.

(4)

No service fee shall be charged for the first three (3) false alarms occurring within a twelve-month period, calculated from the date of the first such alarm. Additionally, no service fee shall be assessed if the sheriff's office subsequently determines the false alarm was:

(a)

Caused by severe weather such as hurricanes, tornados, or a direct lightning strike when there is clear evidence of physical damage to, or interference with, the alarm system;

(b)

Caused by the intermittent disruption of telephone circuits beyond the control of the alarm site owner;

(c)

Caused by electrical power disruption or failure in excess of four (4) hours beyond the control of the alarm site owner;

(d)

At a location where the sheriff's office has installed an alarm as part of an ongoing criminal investigation.

(5)

The alarm administrator may waive a service fee for a false alarm if the owner or alarm user has the alarm system inspected and/or serviced within fifteen (15) working days of the false alarm and provides written documentation within thirty (30) calendar days to the sheriff's office certifying that the system malfunctioned and is now in working order.

(6)

The alarm administrator may only waive a service fee once within a twelve-month period as provided for in section 28-120(5). The service fee shall not be waived if the owner, alarm user or responder fails to timely respond to the alarm site when requested by the sheriff's office.

(7)

All false alarm service fees are due and payable within thirty (30) calendar days from date of invoice. If the false alarm service fees are not paid as required by this article, late service fees may be assessed and/or the matter may be referred to a collection agency or the county attorney's office for appropriate legal action.

(Ord. No. 2012-16 , § 2, 9-18-12)