§ 70-27. 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. The term "alarm administrator" means an employee of the Cobb County Police Department (CCPD) designated to administer, control and review false alarm reduction efforts and to administer the provisions of this article. The county may choose one or more designee(s) to assist the alarm administrator in his or her duties.

Alarm company. The term "alarm company" means an individual, company, and/or other entity engaged in selling, leasing, installing, servicing or monitoring alarm systems for profit; such individual, company, and/or entity shall be licensed in compliance with city, county and state laws.

Alarm registration. The term "alarm registration" means a registration containing a unique number issued by the county or its designee allowing the operation of an alarm system. The purpose of the alarm registration is to allow an accounting of alarm signals to which the CCPD is requested to respond

Alarm signal. The term "alarm signal" means a detectable signal, audible or visual, generated by an alarm system, to which CCPD is requested to respond.

Alarm system. The term "alarm system" means any single device or assembly of equipment and devices, including a local alarm, that is designed to signal the occurrence of an illegal or unauthorized entry or other activity requiring immediate attention and to which CCPD is requested to respond. Motor vehicle or boat alarms, fire alarms, or alarms designed to elicit a medical response are not considered to be alarm systems under this article.

Alarm user. The term "alarm user" means any individual, sole proprietorship, partnership, company, corporation, governmental, educational, nonprofit, or any other entity or institution owning, leasing or operating an alarm system, or on whose premises an alarm system is maintained for the protection of such premises.

Alarm user awareness class. The term "alarm user awareness class" means a class conducted for the purpose of educating alarm users about the responsible use, operation, and maintenance of alarm systems and the problems created by false alarms.

Automatic dial protection device. The term "automatic dial protection device" means an automatic dialing device or an automatic telephone dialing alarm system and shall include any system which, upon being activated, automatically initiates to the emergency communications center a recorded message or code signal indicating a need for CCPD response.

Calendar year. The term "calendar year" means the period between January 1 and December 31. At the beginning of each calendar year, the false alarm count will be set at zero for all active alarm registrations, except for registrations that are in nonresponse status.

Cancellation. The term "cancellation" means notice from an alarm company (designated by the alarm user) to the emergency communications center to terminate a CCPD response to an alarm dispatch request prior to the officer's arrival at the alarm location. Cancelled alarms are not countable as false alarms.

Civil fines. The term "civil fines" means fines to be assessed against the alarm user per the established civil fine schedule set forth herein or as otherwise established by the board of commissioners.

Emergency communications center. The term "emergency communications center" means the Cobb County Department of Public Safety's Emergency Communications (911) Center.

False alarm. The term "false alarm" means the activation of an alarm system to summon CCPD personnel which occurs as a result of mechanical or electronic failure, malfunction, improper installation, or the negligence of the alarm user or his employees or agents, unless the CCPD response was cancelled by the alarm company before CCPD personnel arrive at the alarm location. An alarm is false when, upon determination by the responding officer, no unauthorized entry, robbery, or other crime was committed or attempted in or on the premises which would have activated a properly functioning alarm system. Excessive false alarms will subject the alarm user to the assessment of civil fines.

Local alarm. The term "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 and is not monitored by a remote monitoring facility, whether installed by an alarm company or user. Local alarms are subject to registration requirements and the assessment of civil fines.

Nonresponse status. The term "nonresponse status" is an alarm registration status under which the CCPD will no longer respond to the alarm user's registered location based solely on an alarm signal.

Priority alarm. The term "priority alarm" means the signal of an alarm system to summon CCPD personnel which occurs as a result of a robbery-in-progress alarm, panic alarm, an unidentified person on the premises, or verification by the alarm company or alarm user that the alarm signal was the result of criminal activity. The emergency communications center will dispatch on all priority alarms regardless of alarm registration status.

Registration year. The term "registration year" means a 12-month period beginning on the day and month on which an alarm registration is issued.

Runaway alarm. The term "runaway alarm" means an alarm system that produces repeated alarm signals that do not appear to be caused by human activity. The CCPD, at its discretion, may discontinue police responses to alarm signals from a runaway alarm.

SIA Control Panel Standard CP-01. The term "SIA Control Panel Standard CP-01" means the American National Standard Institute (ANSI) approved Security Industry Association (SIA) CP-01 Control Panel Standard, as may be updated from time to time, that details recommended design features for security system control panels and their associated arming and disarming devices to reduce false alarms. Control panels built and tested to this standard by a nationally recognized testing organization are to be marked to state: "Design evaluated in accordance with SIA CP-01 Control Panel Standard Features for False Alarm Reduction."

Verify. The term "verify" means an action on the part of the alarm company providing monitoring services, prior to requesting CCPD dispatch, to determine whether an alarm signal is valid and caused by criminal activity.

(Amd. of 2-26-08, eff. 1-1-09; Amd. of 2-23-10; Amd. of 2-24-15)