§ 2.5-26. Response to false fire alarms; issuance of courtesy warnings and citations.

(a)

Whenever an alarm system is activated within the city limits, thereby requiring a response to the premises, the fire official on the scene shall inspect the premises, investigate the cause for the alarm, and determine whether or not the response was in fact required.

(b)

If the fire official determines the fire alarm to have been false, the fire official shall prepare a false fire alarm report and written notice shall be issued to the fire alarm user certified by mail or hand delivery.

(c)

Also, if the fire department determines a fire alarm to have been false, the fire official may, if a safety threat exists, require the fire alarm user to obtain written certification from a licensed alarm company that the company has inspected the system and that any defects of design, installation or operations of the alarm system, which are identifiable as the cause of the false alarm, have been corrected.

(d)

The issuance of a courtesy letter of warning to the alarm user is not intended to create any rights of the alarm user. The issuance of a letter of warning is merely a courtesy offered by the fire department to induce the alarm user to make corrective actions to prevent future false fire alarms.

(e)

The fire official shall have the right to inspect any alarm system upon request, to determine whether the alarm system is in proper working order and in compliance with this article.

(f)

If the fire official shall have the right to inspect any alarm system upon request, to determine whether the alarm system is in proper working order and in compliance with this article.

(g)

If fire officials respond to the same premises more than once during any 24-hour period, only one (1) false alarm shall be charged against the user, unless evidence exists that the alarm user is purposely harassing the fire department with false fire alarm calls; in such circumstance each false fire alarm call is a separate violation of this article.

(Ord. of 4-21-98, Art. II, § 5)