ORD 207 ORDINANCE NO. 207
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF RANCHO
PALOS VE RDE S CONCERNING BURGLAR
ALARMS AND AMENDING THE RANCHO PALOS
VERDES MUNICIPAL CODE
11/ Chapter 9.04
BURGLAR ALARMS
Sections:
9.04.010 Definitions.
9.04.020 Direct dial telephone device.
9.04.030 Audible alarm requirement.
9.04.040 Prohibitions.
9.04.050 Requirement for alarm permit.
9.04.060 Application for permit.
9.04.070 Suspension and revocation of permits.
9.04.080 Notice of appeal.
9.04.090 False alarm fees.
9.04.100 Possession of system.
9.04.110 Limitations on liability.
9.04.120 Exemptions.
9.04.101 Definitions. As used in this chapter, the words hereinafter
defined are used as so defined unless it is apparent from the context that
a different meaning in intended.
A. "Administrative Analyst" shall mean the person to whom the City
Manager assigns the duties to enforce this chapter.
B. "Alarm owner" means the person who uses or makes available any
alarm system for use by his or her agents, employees, representatives or
family.
C. "Alarm system" means any mechanical or electrical device which is
designed or used for the detection of fire, intrusion into a building,
structure or facility, and for alerting persons of such an event within a
building, structure, or facility by means of a local audible alarm or trans-
mission of a signal or message. Alarm systems include, but are not limited
to, direct dial tone devices, audible alarms, and proprietor alarms. De-
vices which are not designed or used to evoke a police or fire response or
that are not intended to be audible, visible, or perceptible outside of the
protected building, structure, or facility are not included within this de-
finition.
D. "Appellant" means a person who files an appeal pursuant to this
chapter.
E. "Applicant" means a person who files an application for a permit as
provided for in this chapter.
F. "Audible alarm" means a device designed for the detection of a fire
or of an intrusion which generates an audible sound on the premises when it
is activated.
G. "City" means the City of Rancho Palos Verdes.
H. "Day" means a calendar day.
I. "Direct dial device" means a device which is connected to a tele-
phone line and upon activation of an alarm system automatically dials a
predetermined telephone number and transmits a message or signal indicat-
ing a need for emergency response.
J. "False alarm" means an alarm signal which the alarm owner cannot
prove was activated by the commission or attempted commission of an unlaw-
ful act which the alarm system is designed to detect. An alarm signal ac-
tivated by violent conditions of nature shall not constitute a false alarm.
K. "Person" means an individual, firm, corporation, association, part-
nership, individual, organization, or company.
L. "Proprietor alarm" means an alarm which is not regularly serviced
by an alarm business.
9.04.020 Direct dial telephone device. No person shall install or use
any alarm system which is equipped with a direct dial device which automa-
tically dials any telephone number in any office of the Sheriff or Fire
Department.
9.04.030 Audible alarm requirement. For every audible alarm, the
alarm owner thereof shall, in a location clearly visible from outside the
premises , post the names and telephone numbers of persons to be notified to
render repairs or service during any hour of the day or night during which
the audible alarm is operated. An audible alarm shall automatically termi-
nate within fifteen minutes of its being activated.
9.04.040 Prohibitions. No person shall install or use an alarm system
which, upon activation, emits a sound similar to sirens in use for emergen-
cy vehicles or civil defense purposes.
9.04.050 Requirement for alarm permit. In the event that an alarm
system not licensed hereunder sustains a false alarm, the alarm owner shall
not operate or use the alarm system after receiving notice from the Admini-
strative Analyst to cease operation of the alarm system. The alarm system
shall not again be operated or used until the alarm owner obtains a permit
from the City.
9.04.060 Application for permit. Application for an alarm permit
shall be filed with the Administrative Analyst on forms provided by the
City, and the applicant shall, at the time of application, pay a fee of
fifty dollars, or such other amount as is established by resolution of the
City Council. The application shall be signed and verified by the owner or
lessee of the alarm system for which the permit is requested, and the ap-
plication shall contain such information as may be required by the City
Manager.
703CP/ORD3.1-4 -2- Ordinance No. 207
9.04.070 Suspension and revocation of permits. An alarm permit may be
suspended by the Administrative Analyst if, after investigation, the Admin-
istrative Analyst determines that the permittee has violated any provision
of this chapter, has violated any rules or regulations promulgated by the
City pursuant to authority granted by this chapter or has failed to pay any
false alarm fees imposed pursuant to Section 9.04.090 of this Chapter. The
Administrative Analyst shall send to the permittee, by registered or cer-
tified mail, return receipt requested, notice of the suspension of the per-
mit specifying the reason the permit will be revoked and indicating that
the permittee has the right to appeal the determination to suspend the per-
mit to the City Manager. The notice shall also state that the failure of
the permittee to appeal the suspension within fifteen days of the mailing
of the notice shall result in automatic revocation of the permit upon the
expiration of said fifteen-day period.
9.04.080 Notice of apppeal.
A. If an alarm owner is aggrieved by any action of the Administrative
Analyst pursuant to the provisions of Sections 9.04.050, 9.04.070, and
9.04.090 the permit holder may appeal to the City Manager by filing with
the City Manager a Notice of Appeal setting forth the facts and circumstan-
ces regarding the appeal. A Notice of Appeal shall be filed not later than
fifteen days after service of the notice provided for in Sections 9.04.050,
9.04.070, and 9.04.090.
B. The City Manager, or his duly authorized representative, shall
within fifteen days of the date on which the appeal is filed, hold a hear-
ing, consider all relevant evidence produced by the permittee, the Admini-
strative Services Officer and any other interested party, make findings,
and determine the merits of the appeal. The City Manager may affirm, over-
rule, or modify the decision of the Administrative Analyst, and the deci-
sion of the City Manager or his duly authorized representative shall be
final.
9.04.090 False Alarm Fees. Every person owning an alarm system for
which an alarm permit has been issued shall pay the following fees for each
false alarm occurring at the premises where said alarm system is located:
A. Fifty dollars ($50) for the first false alarm.
B. One hundred dollars ($100) for the second false alarm.
C. One hundred fifty dollars ($150) for each subsequent false alarm.
The fee shall be reduced to fifty dollars ($50) and the incremental
schedule recommence if no false alarm is sustained for a period of twelve
months.
The fee shall be paid within fifteen (15) days following receipt of
notice that the alarm system sustained a false alarm, unless within said
period the alarm owner files an appeal pursuant to Section 9.04.080.
9.04.100 Possession of system. It is unlawful for a person to operate
or use an alarm system after an alarm permit for an alarm system at the
same premises has been revoked.
703CP/ORD3.1-4 -3- Ordinance No. 207
9.04.110 Limitations on liability. The City is under no obligation or
duty to any permittee or any other person by reason of any provision of
this chapter or the exercise of any privilege by any permittee under this
chapter, including by not limited to any defects in a police or fire alarm
system, any delay in transmission of an alarm message to any emergency unit
or damage caused by delay in responding to any alarm by any City officer,
employee, or agent.
9.04.120 Exemptions. The provisions of this chapter are not applica-
ble to audible alarms affixed to motor vehicles or to a public telephone
utility whose only duty to furnish telephone service pursuant to tariffs on
file with the California Public Utilities Commission.
PASSED, APPROVED, and ADOPTED June 4, 1986
ijg-\\P ..(\/3''/‘''-'C---"--------
MAYOR
ATTEST:
CITY CLERK
ATE OF CALIFORNIA
1 )
COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES ) ss
CITY OF RANCHO PALOS VE RDE S )
I , JO PURCELL, City Clerk of the City of Rancho Palos Verdes do hereby cer-
tify that the whole number of members of the City Council of said City is
five; that the foregoing ordinance, being Ordinance No. 207, passed first
reading on May 20, 1986, was duly and regularly adopted by the City Council
of said City at a regular meeting thereof held on June 4, 1986, and that
the same was passed and adopted by the following roll call vote:
AYES: RYAN, BACHARACH, McTAGGART & MAYOR PRO TEM HUGHES
NOES: NONE
ABSENT: HINCHLIFFE
ABSTAIN: NONE
Alf ?or
III
1!4
I ,.
CITY CLERK
TY OF RANCHO PALOS VERDE S
703CP/ORD3.1-4 -4- Ordinance No. 207
. . 7%;4D
ORDINANCE/RESOLUTION NO. 207 FILET/ 10049
SUBJECT: CONCERNING BURGLAR ALARMS AND AMENDING THE RANCHO PALOS VERDES
MUNICIPAL CODE.
INTRODUCED: ADOPTED: 6/4/86 POSTED/PUBLISHED
ORDINANCE DISTRIBUTION: RESOLUTION DISTRIBUTION:
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P. 0. Box 2490 COUNTY ASSESSOR
P.V.P. , CA 90274 500 Hall of Administration
Los Angeles, CA 90012
___■•REGISTRAR
5557 'Ferguson Drive LEAGUE OF CALIFORNIA CITIES
Los Angeles, CA 90022 702 Hilton Center
ATTN: Margaret Miller Los Angeles, CA 90017
•
Election Administration
.� L.A. COUNTY DEPT. of PUBLIC WORKS
RECORDER
..�. ATTN: City Services
227 N. Broadway 1540 Alcaiar Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012 Los Angeles, CA 90033
SCHOOL ____SPCA
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HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION Los Angeles, CA 90016
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POSTED AT THE FOLLOWING:
L .A. COUNTY FIRE STATION MIRALESTE STATION
U. S. POST OFFICE 28649 SOUTH WESTERN AVE.