CHAPTER 11 - ALARMS
ARTICLE I - Response to Alarms (5-18-91)
11-1 Utilization of Services Authorized (Amended 4-28-01)
Any member may utilize the services of the Hemlock Farms Community Association, Department of Public Safety, for the purpose of responding to burglar, fire, panic and any other type of alarm in compliance with this Article.
11-2 Agreement
The property owner-member shall indemnify and hold harmless the HFCA, its agents and employees, for all claims of damage due to reasonable acts performed in good faith in response to the alarm signal being received and responded to. This shall include, but not be limited to, forcefully gaining access to a residence that has sounded or transmitted a panic or other serious alarm condition that, in the opinion of the HFCA employee or agent, necessitates immediate action to resolve the alarm condition.
11-3 Registration Required
All property owners-members shall register their alarm system with HFCA. Registration shall be completed on a form approved by the Board of Directors. Property owners-members who do not have their alarm system registered with HFCA shall pay a higher response fee than that charged to members-owners whom have their alarm registered with HFCA.
11-4 Response Fees (Amended 4-28-01)
The Board of Directors shall set reasonable fees for the response, by the Department of Public Safety personnel, to alarm conditions.
11-5 Certain Devices Prohibited
Alarms which, upon activation, continue sounding until electrical power is interrupted, are strictly
prohibited. All alarms must reset within fifteen minutes.
ARTICLE II - Fees for False Alarms
11-6 Definitions (Amended 4-28-01)
For the purpose of this Article, the Following definitions shall apply:
ALARM DEVICE - Any device which, when activated by a criminal act, fire or other emergency calling for a response, transmits a signal to a monitoring facility, or produces an audible or visible signal.
ALARM USER - The owner or occupant of any premises on which an alarm device is used.
FALSE ALARM - Any activation of an alarm device to which the Public Safety Department responds and which is not caused by a criminal act, fire or other emergency except an activation caused by malfunction of any public utility’s equipment or lines. A series of such activations attributable to the same cause and occurring under circumstances beyond the control of the responsible alarm user shall be deemed a single false alarm.
11-7 Fees Established; Waivers (Amended 4-28-01)
A. When the HFCA determines that the Public Safety Department has responded to a false alarm, a fee shall be imposed upon the alarm user for such false alarms according to a schedule of fees established by the HFCA Board of Directors.
B. Fees for false alarms may be waived by the Community Manager upon recommendation of the Public Safety Director under the following conditions:
1. When the cause for such alarm is determined to be malfunction of any public utility’s equipment or lines.
2. When a series of false alarms is attributable to the same cause and occurring under circumstances beyond the control of the alarm user, such series shall be charged as if a single alarm, provided that the alarm user takes corrective action expeditiously upon being notified by the HFCA.
11-8 Fee
The fee for responding to false alarms shall be fifteen dollars ($15) for members with registered alarms, and twenty-five ($25) for members with unregistered alarms.
The fee for responding to a prohibited alarm system shall be fifty dollars ($50) for the first response, one-hundred dollars ($100) for the second response, and one-hundred and fifty ($150) for the third and subsequent response.
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