ORDINANCE NO.


An ordinance to establish a charge for false emergency alarms which were not caused by a violent act of nature.

WHEREAS, the extensive use of automatic emergency alarm systems has resulted in an increasing number of false fire alarms, and;

WHEREAS, such alarms reduce the resources of the Fire Department during their response to these false alarms, and;

WHEREAS, adequate maintenance of such emergency alarm systems can reduce the number of such alarms, and;

WHEREAS, the Fire Department performs a number of emergency services, and needs to be available to respond to actual emergencies,

NOW, THEREFORE, BE ITORDAINED BY THE BOARD OF MAYOR AND ALDERMEN OF THE *****, TENNESSEE, THAT:

Section 1. Definitions:

(a) False emergency alarm - Any signal actuated by an emergency alarm to which the Fire Department responds which is not the result of fire or other actual emergency and not caused by a violent act of nature.

(2) Owner and/or operator - A person or persons who resides in or operates a business in which an emergency alarm is connected.

Section 2. The following schedule of notice, warnings, penalties, and costs shall be assessed to the owners and/or operators of emergency alarm systems for false emergency alarms transmitted to the fire department within any year.

First false alarm - Verbal notification by a Fire Department Officer.

Second false alarm - Notice letter informing the owner or operator of the alarm system
of the provisions of this ordinance.

Third false alarm - Warning letter and notice to insure that the alarm system is in proper working order. Once the third false emergency alarm has been received the fire chief shall send, by certified mail, a notice to the owner and/or operator that further false emergency alarms will result in the imposition of a penalty and or costs of providing such service.

Fourth false alarm - A fine of $25.00 shall be imposed.

Fifth and more - A fine of $25.00 for each false alarm and the actual costs of such response by the fire department including the costs of equipment, fuel, personnel, administration, and other such factors as determined by the fire chief.