ORDINANCE NO. 1583
AN ORDINANCE PROVIDING FOR THE LICENSING AND REGULATION OF THE INSTALLERS OR MAINTAINERS OF POLICE ALARM SYSTEMS AND PROVIDING FOR COMPENSATION FOR EXCESS ALARMS FROM POLICE ALARM SYSTEMS.
WHEREAS, while it is advantageous to law enforcement to have police alarm systems within the City of Grand Junction, false alarms generating police response produce results as follows:
(1) A high dollar cost and consequent waste of resources in response to such alarms;
(2) Congestion of telephone communications into the police department;
(3) Congestion of radio communications between the department and patrol cars;
(4) Unnecessary danger to police officers and citizens from possible traffic accidents brought about by fast response to false alarms;
(5) Adverse psychological effect on police officers, who, after responding repeatedly to false alarms, may slow their response time because of such generated complacency and may not be fully alert if and when they find themselves in a genuine alarm situation; and, conversely, if alarms become more accurate, it is likely police would respond with renewed enthusiasm;
(6) Delay and deprivation of police services to people with genuine problems when officers are occupied with false alarms; and
WHEREAS, false alarms have reached a sufficient level that some attempt to prevent them is required; and
WHEREAS, identification and minimal control of installers or maintainers of alarm systems seems wise;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GRAND JUNCTION, COLORADO:
That Chapter 22 of the Code of Ordinances of the City be amended by adding thereto an Article III which shall read as follows:
ARTICLE III
Police Alarm Systems
SECTION 1.
A. Installers or Maintainers:
Section 22-45. License Required.
It shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to install or maintain police alarm systems in the City of Grand Junction without first having obtained a license so to do.
Nothing in this Section shall be construed to apply to persons, firms or corporations that sell but neither install nor maintain alarm systems, or to individuals who either purchase and install their own systems or design and install their own systems.
Section 22-46. Issuance of License and Fee.
Such license shall be issued by the City Clerk after approval of the applicant and his employees, if any, by the Chief of Police, and upon payment of Seventy-five ($75.00) Dollars for the first issuance of such license and a payment of Twenty-five ($25.00) Dollars annually thereafter. Each such license shall expire on December 31st.
Section 22-47. Investigation.
Such information as may be required by the Chief of Police shall be furnished by all persons who will be doing installations or maintenance work as may be required by him to enable a background investigation to determine the fitness of the applicant for a license to install or maintain police alarm systems. Applicants will be fingerprinted and photographed in conjunction with such investigation. Identification cards shall be issued by the City.
The permit shall be denied by the Chief of Police if:
(1) The character or reputation of the applicant is determined to be inimical to the safety or general welfare of the community;
(2) The applicant, his employee or agent has knowingly made any false, misleading or fraudulent statement of a material fact in the application for an permit, or in any report or record required to be filed with any City agency; or
(3) That the applicant has had a similar type permit previously revoked for good cause within the past year unless the applicant can show a material change in circumstances since the date of revocation.
Approved identification cards shall be carried at all times by persons licensed hereunder and such cards will be shown on demand.
Section 22-48. Agents of Non-Resident Companies.
The Chief of Police may approve identification cards for use in Grand Junction by agents of companies based elsewhere without background identification upon payment of the license fee.
Section 22-49. Bond Requirement.
No license required hereunder shall be issued until the applicant files with the City Clerk a surety bond or other surety guarantee in the amount of not less than Ten Thousand ($10,000.00) Dollars conditioned for the faithful and honest conduct of the business and individuals under the license. Such bond shall run in favor of the City of Grand Junction and citizens thereof who are served by the licensee, his agents and employees.
Section 22-50. Direct Dial Systems.
No installer may code a direct dial alarm system to any telephone without the express permission of the person to whose telephone it is to be coded.
Section 22-51. Audible Alarm Requirements.
Every person maintaining an audible alarm shall post a notice containing the names and telephone numbers of the persons to be notified to render repairs or service and secure the premises during any hour of the day or night that the burglar alarm is actuated. Such notice shall be posted near the alarm in such a position as to be legible from the ground outside the building where the alarm system is located.
Such requirement shall not apply to audible automobile alarms.
Section 22-52. Appeal.
Appeals from decisions of the Chief of Police or the City Clerk shall be taken to the City Manager.
B. Alarms:
Section 22-60. Definition.
An alarm means a signal from a system requiring the dispatch of a police officer.
Section 22-61. User Fee for Alarms.
Any person, firm or corporation using an alarm system shall pay to the City of Grand Junction $15.00 for response to a place of business or home by members of its police department occasioned by an alarm from the system where such alarm exceeds the following:
(a) One alarm in any 30-day period; or
(b) two alarms in any 90-day period; or
(c) three alarms in any 180-day period; or
(d) four alarms in any 360-day period;
provided, however, that any alarm caused by criminal activity shall not be considered an alarm under this Section and provided further than any alarm occurring within fifteen (15) days after the installation of the system shall also not be considered.
Section 22-62. Collection Method.
The recovery of any sums owing hereunder may be made through an action at law in addition to other remedies which may be available to the City.
SECTION 2. PENALTY FOR VIOLATIONS.
Any person violating any provision of this Ordinance shall be subject to a fine not exceeding Three Hundred ($300.00) Dollars and/or a jail sentence not to exceed ninety (90) days.
SECTION 3. SEVERABILITY.
If any part or parts of this Article are for any reason held to be invalid, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this Article. The City Council hereby declares that it would have passed the Ordinance enacting this Article and each Section, sub-section, sentence, clause and phrase thereof, irrespective of the fact that any one or more Sections, sub-sections, sentences, clauses or phrases might be declared invalid.
SECTION 4. EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS ORDINANCE.
The effective date of this ordinance shall be January 1, 1976.
PASSED and ADOPTED this 22nd day of October, 1975.
Lawrence L. Kozisek
____________________
President of the Council
Attest:
Neva B. Lockhart
____________________
City Clerk
I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing ordinance, being Ordinance No. 1583, was introduced, read, and ordered published by the City Council of the City of Grand Junction, Colorado, at a regular meeting of said body held on the 17th day of September, 1975, and that the same was published in The Daily Sentinel, a newspaper published and in general circulation in said City, at least ten days before its final passage.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the official seal of said City this 23rd day of September, 1975.
Neva B. Lockhart
____________________
Neva B. Lockhart
City Clerk
Published: September 21, 1975
Published: October 25, 1975
Effective: January 1, 1976