A. “Alarm dispatch request.” means a notification to the police department that an alarm system, either manual or automatic, has been activated at a particular premises.

B. “Alarm installation company” means a person in the business of selling, providing, maintaining, servicing, repairing, altering, replacing, moving or installing an alarm system in a premises. This definition shall also include individuals or firms that install and service the alarm systems that will be used in their private or proprietary facilities. This does not include persons doing installation or repair work where such work is performed without compensation of any kind.

C. “Alarm response manager” means the individual designated by the alarm monitoring company who will manage alarm system related issues and act as the point of contact for the chief of police. The appointed individual must be knowledgeable of the general provisions of the ordinance, as well as have the knowledge and authority to deal with false alarm issues and respond to requests from the chief of police.

D. “Alarm system” means any mechanical or electrical device which is designed or used for the detection of any unauthorized entry into a building, structure or facility, or upon land or for alerting others of the commission of an unlawful act within a building, structure or facility, or upon land; and which emits a sound or transmits a signal or message when activated. Alarm systems include, but are not limited to, automatic telephone dialing devices, telephone lines or other lines used solely to report emergency circumstances from a mechanical or electrical device directly from the premises to the police dispatch or alarm monitoring company, audible alarms and proprietor alarms.

E. “Alarm system monitoring company” means any person, either located within or outside the city, that engages in the business, practice, or profession of monitoring alarm systems within the city, and which reports any activation of such alarm systems to the city, directly or indirectly, its departments, divisions, officials, agents, or employees including, but not limited to, the police department and/or police dispatch.

F. “Alarm user” means a person having or maintaining an alarm system on real property owned or controlled by such user. “Alarm user” does not include an alarm business or alarm system monitoring company.

G. “Alarm user permit” means the annual permit required under Section 5.08.030 of this code.

H. “Audible alarm” means a device designed for the detection of unauthorized entry on premises which generates an audible sound on the premises when it is activated.

I. “Automatic telephone dialing device” means a device which is interconnected to a telephone line and is programmed to select a predetermined telephone number and transmit by voice message or digital signal an emergency message indicating a need for emergency response.

J. “Chief of police” means the chief of the Bakersfield police department or designee.

K. “City” means city of Bakersfield.

L. “Duress alarm” means a silent alarm system signal generated by the entry of a designated code into the alarm system to signal that the alarm user is being forced to turn off the system and requires police response.

M. “False alarm” means an alarm system that emits a light or sound or transmits a signal or message resulting in a response by the police department when the situation does not require such response. False alarms caused as a result of power failure, power surges, or acts of nature which are not the fault of the alarm user or alarm business shall not be considered to be a false alarm.

N. “Holdup alarm” means a silent alarm signal generated by the manual activation of a device intended to signal a robbery in progress or immediately after it has occurred.

O. “One plus duress alarm” means the manual activation of a silent alarm signal by entering a code at the mechanism from which the alarm system is turned on (armed) and off (disarmed) regularly activated by adding one to the last digit of the normal arm/disarm code.

P. “Panic alarm” means an audible alarm system signal generated by the manual activation of a device intended to signal a life threatening or emergency situation requiring police response.

Q. “Person” means any individual, sole proprietorship, partnership, company, corporation, limited liability company, business or other form of association or entity.

R. “Premises” means any residential, commercial or industrial land and/or buildings located within the city (excluding land or buildings owned, rented or leased by the federal, state or local government) except school districts.

S. “Proprietor alarm” means an alarm system which is not serviced by an alarm monitoring company or alarm installation company.

T. “Responder” means an individual capable of reaching and having access to the premises, the code to the alarm system, and the authority to approve repairs to the alarm system. (Ord. 4649 § 1, 2011)