§ 25-66. Service fee.

(a)

Except as provided in subsections (b), (c) and (d), the holder of an alarm permit shall pay a service fee of fifty dollars ($50.00) for the fourth and fifth false burglary alarm notification emitted from such alarm system in the preceding 12-month period, seventy-five dollars ($75.00) for the sixth and seventh false burglary alarm notification emitted in the preceding 12-month period, and one hundred dollars ($100.00) for each false burglary alarm notification emitted in excess of seven (7) in the preceding 12-month period; two hundred dollars ($200.00) for the second false robbery or false manually activated emergency assistance alarm notification emitted from such alarm system in the preceding 12-month period, three hundred dollars ($300.00) for the third false robbery or false manually activated emergency assistance alarm notification emitted from such alarm system in the preceding 12-month period, four hundred dollars ($400.00) for the fourth false robbery or false manually activated emergency assistance alarm notification emitted from such alarm system in the preceding 12-month period, five hundred dollars ($500.00) for the fifth and each subsequent false robbery or false manually activated emergency assistance alarm notification emitted from such alarm system in the preceding 12-month period; one hundred twenty-five dollars ($125.00) for the second, third, and fourth false fire, smoke, or heat alarm notifications emitted from such alarm system within the preceding 12-month period, two hundred fifty dollars ($250.00) for the fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, and tenth emitted in the preceding 12-month period, and five hundred dollars ($500.00) for each emitted in excess of ten (10) in the preceding 12-month period. Where, however, prior to the arrival of fire department personnel, a false fire, smoke, or heat alarm notification is cancelled, the holder of an alarm permit shall pay, instead, a service fee of fifty dollars ($50.00) for the second, third, and fourth false fire, smoke, or heat alarm notifications emitted from such alarm system within the preceding 12-month period, one hundred twenty-five dollars ($125.00) for the fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, and tenth emitted in the preceding 12-month period, and two hundred fifty dollars ($250.00) for each emitted in excess of ten (10) in the preceding 12-month period.

(b)

If a person notifies the chief and applies for an alarm permit before a new alarm system is put into service, no service fee will be assessed during the first sixty (60) days after the system is put into service, and alarm notifications during that period will not be counted in determining when a service fee will be assessed.

(c)

If the responding police officer or firefighter determines that an alarm notification was caused by unauthorized entry, attempted unauthorized entry, robbery, attempted robbery, an attempt to take a person hostage, or fire-related causes that notification will not be counted in determining when a service fee will be assessed.

(d)

If the total number of burglar alarm calls received by the police dispatcher's office exceeds .65 percent of the total number of permitted burglar alarm systems during any twenty-four-hour period, those burglar alarm notifications will not be counted by the alarm unit as a false alarm notification for any alarm permit holder (residential or commercial) in the city.

(e)

A person owing a service fee for a false alarm notification shall pay a collection fee of thirty (30) percent of any amount that is more than sixty (60) days past due, where the collection is by an attorney or private vendor who has entered into a contract for the purpose of doing so.

(Ord. No. 76472, § 1, 9-10-92; Ord. No. 86614, § 2, 9-11-97; Ord. No. 87450, § 4, 2-26-98; Ord. No. 2006-09-07-1000, § 4, 9-7-06; Ord. No. 2006-09-07-1008, § 4, 9-7-06; Ord. No. 2008-09-11-0777F, § 3, 9-11-08; Ord. No. 2009-09-17-0731K, § 5, 9-17-09; Ord. No. 2012-12-13-1007, § 1, 12-13-12)