§ 14-19. Definitions.

The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this article, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:

Alarm administrator means a person designated by the chief of police to administer, control and review false alarm reduction efforts and administer the provisions of this article.

Alarm installation company means a person in the business of selling, providing, maintaining, servicing, repairing, altering, replacing, moving or installing alarm systems in an alarm site.

Alarm notification means a notification intended to summon the police or fire department, which is designed to be initiated purposely by a person or by an alarm system that responds to a stimulus characteristic of unauthorized intrusion or fire.

Alarm permit means authorization granted by the alarm administrator to an alarm user to operate an alarm system.

Alarm site means a single premises or location (one street address) served by an alarm system.

Alarm system means any assembly of equipment or devices arranged to signal the presence of a hazard requiring urgent attention and to which police or fire department personnel are expected to respond. The term "alarm system" includes the terms "automatic holdup alarm system," "burglar alarm system," "holdup alarm system," "manual holdup alarm system" and "fire alarm system" and also includes any audible sirens that can be heard by a person off the alarm site.

Alarm unit means a unit established to register, track, bill, analyze and coordinate all activities associated with alarm systems, users and companies.

Alarm unit coordinator means a coordinator assigned to oversee the alarm unit.

Alarm user means the owner, agent or person in control of the property on which an alarm system is maintained.

Automatic alarm notification means an alarm notification sent over telephone lines, by direct connection or otherwise, a prerecorded voice message or coded signal indicating the existence of the emergency situation that the alarm system was/is designed to detect.

Automatic dialer means any electrical, electronic, mechanical or other device capable of being programmed to send a prerecorded voice message, when activated, over a telephone line, radio or other communication system, to a law enforcement, public safety or emergency services agency requesting dispatch.

Automatic holdup alarm system means an alarm system in which the signal transmission is initiated by the action of a robber.

Building means any structure or enclosure intended for use as a habitation or for some purpose of trade, manufacture, ornament or use.

Burglar alarm system.

(1)

The term "burglar alarm system" means a device or system that transmits a signal intended to summon police of a municipality in response to a burglary. The term "burglar alarm" includes an alarm that emits an audible signal on the exterior of a structure.

(2)

The term "burglar alarm system" does not include an alarm installed on a vehicle, unless the vehicle is used for a habitation at a permanent site, or an alarm designed to alert only the inhabitants within the premises.

Central station means an office to which remote and supervisory signaling devices are connected, where operators supervise the circuits and relay alarm notifications to the municipality for the purpose of summoning law enforcement to the alarm site.

Disconnect means to render an alarm disabled so as to prevent any direct or indirect notification to the police department by a silent or local alarm.

Emergency services means police, fire and emergency medical services.

Expired permit means an invalid permit due to an expiration of the term of the permit period defined herein.

False alarm includes an alarm resulting from operator error, improper installation or maintenance, activation by animals or other internal or external initiators. See False alarm notification.

False alarm notification means a direct or indirect alarm notification to the police, fire or emergency medical services when responding personnel find no evidence of actual or attempted robbery, burglary, personal hostage, fire, medical or any other emergency at the alarm site.

Holdup alarm system means an alarm system signaling a robbery or attempted robbery.

Local alarm means an alarm system that emits a signal at an alarm site that is audible or visible from the exterior of a structure.

Manual holdup alarm system means any alarm system in which the signal transmission is initiated by a direct action of the person attacked or by an observer of the attack.

Monitored system means an alarm system, which a signal is sent to a central station to activate emergency services.

Panic alarm means an alarm system signal generated by the manual activation of a device intended to signal a life threatening or emergency situation requiring law enforcement response.

Permit holder means any person to whom an alarm system permit is issued.

Person means an individual, corporation, partnership, association, organization or similar entity.

Relaying intermediary means any person who reports the activation of an alarm to the police department for compensation.

(Code 1990, ch. 5, § 8(A); Ord. No. 2005-11-15-32, 12-6-2005; Ord. No. 2010-07-20-11, 7-20-2010; Ord. No. 2010-12-07-20, 12-7-2010)

State law reference

Definitions, V.T.C.A., Local Government Code § 214.191.