6.40.040 Definitions.
For the purpose of this chapter, certain words and phrases used herein are defined as follows:
A. "Alarm agent" means any person who is employed by an alarm business, either directly or indirectly, whose duties include any of the following: selling, maintaining, leasing, servicing, repairing, altering, replacing, moving or installing on any building, structure or facility, an alarm system within the city. Exemption: the provisions of this subsection do not include a person who engages in the manufacture or sale of an alarm system from a fixed location and who neither visits the location where the alarm system is to be installed, nor designs the scheme for the physical location and installation of the alarm system in a specific location.
B. "Alarm business" means any business which is engaged in selling, leasing, maintaining, servicing, repairing, altering, replacing, moving or installing any alarm system in or on any building, place or premises.
C. "Alarm system" means:
1. Any device designed for the protection of any unauthorized entry on or into any building, place or premises, or for alerting others of the commission of an unlawful act, or both, or
2. Any device designed for fire detection by heat or products of combustion, and/or sprinkler flow alarm, which has been installed in accordance with the fire department rules and regulations for private fire alarms;
Either of which emits a sound or transmits a signal or message, or both.
D. "Alarm user" means any person, firm, corporation, or other entity for whose benefit the alarm system is being used.
E. "Audible alarm" means that type of alarm system which, when activated, emits an audible sound.
F. "False alarm" means an alarm signal necessitating response by the Petaluma police department where an emergency situation does not exist.
G. "Fire department" means the fire department of Petaluma, and "fire chief’ means the chief of such department or his authorized representative.
H. "Notice" means written notice, given by personal service upon the addressee, or given by United States mail, postage prepaid, addressed to the person to be notified at his last known address. Service of such notice shall be effective upon the completion of personal service, or upon the placing of the same in the custody of the United States Postal Service.
I. "Owner," "lessee," or "subscriber" means any member of the public who subscribes to the service of any person, firm or corporation engaged in the business of selling and installing alarm systems within the city.
J. "Permittee" means any person, business, corporation or other entity who shall be granted a permit as provided in this chapter, and his agents and representatives.
K. "Police department" means the police department of Petaluma, and "chief of police" means the chief of such department or his authorized representative.
L. "Reporting telephones" means any intrusion detection device which, when activated, causes mechanically, electronically, or by any other automatic means, intrastate dialing of any telephone number and then transmits a prerecorded message.
M. "Silent alarm" means that type of alarm system which, when activated, sounds a bell or buzzer or turns on a light at a predesignated place other than the location where the alarm has been installed.
(Ord. 1813 NCS § 1 (part), 1990.)