Amending Code New Chapter 12 Entitled Alarm Systems

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• SUBSTITUTE BILL NO. 54-86 ORDINANCE NO. -7 (e 4S- g-q, AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE SOUTH BEND MUNICIPAL CODE BY ADDING A NEW CHAPTER 12, ENTITLED ALARM SYSTEMS STATEMENT OF PURPOSE AND INTENT: The South Bend Police Department and the South Bend Fire Department respond to alarms installed in private residences and businesses. These alarms are designed to alert the property owners and security forces to the existence of an emergency security problem, whether it be burglary, robbery, or fire. A substantial proportion of these alarms, upon investigation, are found to be false alarms. The number of false alarms is increasing as more citizens seek greater physical security for their homes and businesses. False alarms present an increased economic burden on the police and fire departments and place our law enforcement and fire fighting forces in situations of increased danger due to the potential of traffic accidents involved in responding rapidly to the alarm, excessive response time to other calls for service when officers are involved in responding to a false alarm, reduction of crime suppression control while responding to false alarms, and danger to police officers and firefighters after several responses to a location of frequent false alarms. The Council therefore finds it in the best interest of the public health, safety and welfare of the City to institute a charge for response to false alarms in an amount reasonably related to the cost of the response to that false alarm. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE SOUTH BEND COMMON COUNCIL, AS FOLLOWS : SECTION I. The South Bend Municipal Code is amended to add a new Chapter 12, entitled Alarm Systems, to read as follows : Chapter 12 . Alarm Systems . Article 1. False Alarm Fees . Section 12-1 . Definitions . The following terms when used in this chapter shall have the following meanings : (a) "Alarm system" means any mechanism, equipment or device which is designed or used for the detection of an unauthorized entry into a building, structure, facility or enclosed area or for alerting others to the commission of an unlawful act or a fire within a building, structure, facility or enclosed area, or both, and which emits a sound or transmits a signal or message when activated; this definition shall include local alarm systems. (b) "Alarm user" means any natural person, firm, association, partnership, limited partnership, sole proprietorship or corporation, which is in control of any building, structure, or facility wherein an alarm