9.16.020 Definitions.
The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this chapter, shall have the meanings ascribed to them, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
A. “Alarm administrator” means a person or persons designated by the police chief to administer, control, and review false alarm reduction efforts and administer the provisions of this chapter.
B. “Alarm detective” means a person or persons designated by the chief of police to hear and decide internal reviews related to service fees, fines and registration suspensions pursuant to this chapter.
C. “Alarm company” means a person and/or a company engaged in selling, leasing, installing, servicing or monitoring alarm systems.
D. “Alarm permit” means a permit issued by the city allowing the operation of an alarm system within the city.
E. “Alarm signal” means a detectable signal, audible or visual, generated by an alarm system, intended to summon a law enforcement response.
F. “Alarm system” means any single device or assembly of equipment designed to signal the occurrence of an illegal or unauthorized entry, or other illegal activity requiring immediate attention, by emitting or transmitting an alarm signal which is intended to summon a law enforcement response. This term does not include motor vehicle or boat alarms, fire alarms, an alarm system designed solely to alert the occupants of a building or residence which will not emit a signal either audible or visible from outside the building or residence, or alarms designed to elicit a medical response.
G. “Alarm user” means any person, corporation, partnership, proprietorship, governmental or educational entity or any other entity owning, leasing or operating an alarm system, or on whose premises an alarm system is maintained for the protection of such premises.
H. “Alarm user awareness class” means a class conducted for the purpose of educating alarm users about the responsible use, operation, and maintenance of alarm systems and the problems created by false alarms.
I. “Automatic dial protection device” means an automatic dialing device or an automatic telephone dialing alarm system that includes any system which, upon being activated, automatically initiates to the Bellevue police department a recorded message or code signal indicating a need for law enforcement response.
J. “Cancellation” means the process by which an alarm dispatch request response is terminated when the Bellevue police department is notified that there is not an existing situation at the alarm site requiring police response. If cancellation occurs prior to police arriving at the scene, this is not a false alarm and no civil penalty will be assessed.
K. “City” means the city of Bellevue, Washington, or its agent.
L. False Alarm.
1. A false alarm requires the following:
a. The activation of an alarm system through mechanical or electronic failure; malfunction; improper installation; negligence of the alarm user, his/her employees or agents that either directly or through a third party/object summons law enforcement personnel; and
b. Upon inspection by the Bellevue police department, evidence indicates that no unauthorized entry, burglary, or other such crime was committed or attempted in or on the premises which would have activated a properly functioning alarm system.
2. A false alarm shall not include:
a. An alarm which can reasonably be determined to have been caused or activated by conditions of nature;
b. Other extraordinary circumstances not reasonably subject to control by the alarm user;
c. Law enforcement response was canceled by the user’s alarm company before law enforcement personnel arrive at the alarm location; or
d. Intentional activation of an alarm system because of the reasonable, but mistaken, belief that a crime is being or about to be committed.
M. “Hearing examiner” means the Bellevue hearing examiner and the office thereof established pursuant to Chapter 3.68 BCC.
N. “Runaway alarm” means an alarm system that produces repeated alarm signals that do not appear to be caused by separate human action or that produces three separate false alarm signals within a 24-hour period.
O. “Verify” means an attempt by the monitoring company, through telephone verification, or its representative, to determine whether an alarm signal is valid before requesting law enforcement dispatch, in an attempt to avoid an unnecessary alarm dispatch request. Telephone verification means, at a minimum, that a second call be made to a different number if the first attempt fails to reach an alarm user who can properly identify themselves to determine whether an alarm signal is valid before requesting law enforcement dispatch.
P. “Violator” means any alarm user or alarm company that violates any provisions under this chapter including but not limited to any alarm user on whose property a false alarm occurs. (Ord. 6301 § 1, 2016; Ord. 6214 § 2, 2014.)