Chapter 38: Alarm Systems and False Alarms

The purpose of this chapter is to assess a civil penalty for false alarms in Tiffin received by the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office or Fire Department which require a Deputy to report to the scene or a response from the Fire Department to the scene. False alarms expose the public to danger as well as increasing the costs on the City and Fire Departments to respond to those alarms.

1. “Alarm system” means any assembly of equipment, mechanical or electrical, and including all forms of audible exterior and interior alarms arranged to signal the occurrence of an illegal entry, fire emergency and/or medical or other activity, requiring urgent attention, and to which Deputies, firefighters and EMS technicians are expected to respond. The term “alarm system” shall not include personal medical alert devices.

2. “False alarm” means a false alarm is any alarm that is activated on purpose or by accident or by system malfunction when there is no intrusion, fire, smoke or medical emergency. The City shall have the full authority to determine those situations and/or circumstances that may constitute a false alarm, but which are not defined below.

A. Error or Mistake. Any action by any person owning or operating any dwelling, building or place, or any action by an agent or employee of said person which results in the activation of an alarm system when no emergency exists.

B. Malfunction. Any unintentional activation of any alarm system caused by mechanical malfunction, flaw in the design, installation or maintenance of the system.

C. Intentional Misuse. Any intentional activation of an alarm system when no burglary, hold-up, fire or other emergency exists or is in progress.

3. “Owner” means any person, firm, corporation, or entity who owns the premise in which an alarm system is installed or the person who leases, operates, occupies or manages the premises within the City.

1. All residential or business property in which an alarm system has been or will be installed shall register the location of the residential or business property with the City. Said registration form shall include the following information:

A. Address where the alarm system is located.

B. The name, address and telephone numbers of two persons who can be contacted by the City regarding the alarm system.

C. The name, address and telephone numbers of the person responsible for servicing the alarm system.

D. The central station responsible for monitoring the alarm system if different from the person listed in paragraph C above.

2. Multiple Use Buildings. Businesses, condominiums, apartment lessees and other occupied spaces inside a building such as a mall or business suite shall register their alarm systems with the City. A property manager will not be held liable for the false alarms of a tenant or occupant unless the false alarm occurs as a result of an action of the property manager or its agents.

1. No alarm system shall be activated by error, mistake, intentional misuse, or malfunction in any dwelling, building or place when no emergency exists.

2. No person shall knowingly or intentionally activate any alarm system when no emergency situation exists.

1. A violation of this chapter will subject the person to an assessment of a service charge and/or a municipal infraction as set out in Chapter 3 of Tiffin’s Municipal Code.

2. Notification. Upon receipt of a false alarm, the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office or Fire Department or the designee of either department shall mail notice to the owner of the alarm system as shown by the records of the City that the owner has 30 days from the date of mailing upon which to pay the required amount as calculated in subsection 3 of this section.

3. Service Charge for False Alarms. A service charge shall be made in accordance with the schedule as approved by Resolution of the City Council. Such amount shall be paid to the City Clerk within 30 days of notification of a false alarm. In the event the owner fails to pay the service charge as demanded, the City may file an action with the District Court seeking such payment.