8.15.010 Definitions.
As used in this chapter, the following words and phrases shall have the following meanings.
“Activation” means the point in time when a Subscriber has connected an alarm system to a responding agent and the alarm system is operational, or is operational in the sense that the alarm system is capable of emitting a sound.
“Alarm system” means any device or any equipment designed and used to provide a warning of an emergency such as trespass, robbery, burglary, threat to personal safety (panic alarm), or fire which when actuated emits a sound, or transmits a signal or message to the Police Department or other responding agent.
“Audible alarm” means an audible sound generated by an alarm system at the premises that the alarm system is used to protect.
“Automatic dialing device” means any device or any equipment which automatically transmits over regular voice grade telephone lines, by direct connection or otherwise, a prerecorded voice message or coded signal indicating the existence of an emergency situation or situations which the alarm system is designed to detect.
“False Alarm” means a sound emitted or a signal or message transmitted by an alarm system, which is intended to initiate a response by police or fire personnel or both to a non-existent emergency situation reported by the alarm system; provided, however, that activation of an alarm system due to abnormalities such as earthquakes, high winds, electrical power failures, and other similar conditions beyond the control of the Subscriber shall not be considered a false alarm.
“False Alarm Response” means Police Department or Fire Department response to an alarm dispatch request where, in the opinion of the responding police or fire personnel, no evidence of a criminal offense, attempted criminal offense, fire, or other emergency is present that can be reasonably attributed to have caused the alarm activation.
(a) A False Alarm Response may be deemed to have occurred when any police or fire personnel or both proceed toward, and regardless of whether or not they actually arrive at, the premises protected by an alarm system as a result of the activation of that alarm system.
(b) A False Alarm Response is also deemed to have occurred when the responding police or fire personnel are unable to determine if evidence of a criminal offense, attempted criminal offense, fire, or other emergency is present because the alarm site is inaccessible due to being located:
(i) Within a locked structure, such as an apartment building or business complex with a common entry; or
(ii) Behind a locked gate and no person is present to provide access to the responding police or fire personnel; or
(iii) Contains a dog and no person is present to remove the dog so the officer or employee can inspect the site; or
(iv) Contains any type of “protective/reactive” device or contrivance.
“Fire Department” means the Fire Department for the City of Pullman.
“Malicious False Alarm” means the intentional activation of an alarm by a person knowing that an emergency does not actually exist, the intentional destruction by a person of alarm equipment that causes a false alarm, the act of discharging fire extinguishers or any other intentional act that sets off an alarm system when the person or persons doing so knew or should have known that an emergency does not actually exist.
“Person” means and includes natural persons of either sex, firms, partnerships, corporations, and all associations of natural persons, or other entities.
“Police Department” means the Police Department for the City of Pullman.
“Police or fire personnel” means any person employed by the City of Pullman as either a fire person or a police person or any person or persons acting under the direction of, or at the request of, the Police or Fire Departments.
“Responding agent” means any agency, governmental or nongovernmental, or person to which an alarm system or automatic dialing device has been connected by a Subscriber.
“Subscriber” means any person who owns, leases, contracts for the use of, or otherwise uses an alarm system whether or not such system is connected to the Police Department or other responding agent. (Ord. 22-15 §1, 2022; Ord. 97-4 §1, 1997; Ord. 87-28 §5, 1987; Ord. 81-29 §1, 1981; Ord. 81-28 §1, 1981).