HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009-OR-06 (Rescinded)Ls~ rr~e~.
ORDINANCE NO. CO
ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING SERVICE CHARGES FOR FALSE ALARMS
REPORTED TO JEFFERSONVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT
AND/OR JEFFERSONVILLE FIRE DEPARTMENT
WHEREAS, the City of Jeffersonville typically responds to burglar and fire alarms when
notified by alarm companies; and
WHEREAS, many persons who are the owners of property where burglar and fire alarms
are installed negligent and careless regarding the use of those alarms; and
WHEREAS, continuous false alarms lower the efficiency and prepared ness of the
officers of the Jeffersonville Police Department and/ or the firemen of the Jeffersonville Fire
Department, thereby causing persons with actual alarms or emergencies to be disadvantaged; and
WHEREAS, experience has indicated that when persons are assessed penalties for
reporting false alarms that the number of false alarms decrease dramatically.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COMMON COUNCIL OF
THE CITY OF JEFFERSONVILLE that not person, corporation, business, private and/or not
for profit hospital, residential facility or other entity shall report a false alarm to the City of
Jeffersonville Police Department and/or the City of Jeffersonville Fire Department.
"False alarm" means an alarm signal or recorded message indicating, in the case of a burglar
alarm, an attempted or unauthorized intrusion into a structure or the attempted commission of a
crime, or indicating, in the case of a fire alarm, the presence of fire or excessive smoke or heat,
when it fact no evidence exists upon inspection of the premises upon response to such alarm that,
in the case of a burglar alarm, that unauthorized intrusion or crime was attempted or committed
in or about the structure, or in the case of fire alarm, that no evidence exists of fire, excessive
smoke, or heat.
Persons who report false alarms to the City of Jeffersonville Police Department and/or
the City of Jeffersonville Fire Department shall be fined as follows during any calendar year:
(1) One false alarm shall be allowed at no penalty to the property owner.
(2) The second false alarm shall result in a $50.00 fine.
(3) The 3rd false alarm shall result in a $75.00 fine.
(4) The 4rh and all other subsequent false alarms shall result in a $150.00 fine
Any company reporting an alarm as the agent for an alarm holder shall be jointly and
severally liable for the payment of fines as outlined above.
For the Fire Department, The Deputy Chief of the Jeffersonville Fire Department shall be
in charge of tracking all reported false alarms to the Jeffersonville Fire Department.
The Chief of Police shall designate an individual to be in charge of tracking all reported
false alarms reported to the Jeffersonville Police Department.
That upon the report of a false alarm the designated person above shall send notice to the
offending property owner of the fine owed by the property owner in accordance to the above
schedule of fines.
The property owner shall have 14 days in which to pay the fine.
Failure to pay the assessed fine shall result in the matter being filed in the Jeffersonville
City Court. The property owner would then be subject to court costs in addition to the
appropriate fine above.
All fines collected in violation of this ordinance and in response to false alarms
responded to by the Jeffersonville Fire Department shall be paid directly to the Jeffersonville
Fire Department Non-reverting Fund; and all fines collected, in violation of this ordinance, by
the Jeffersonville Police Department shall be paid directly to the Jeffersonville Police
Department Vehicle Fund.
This Ordinance shall become effective thirty days after its passage upon it last reading.
Passed and adopted by the Common Council of the City of Jeffersonville, Clark County,
Indiana, on the
day of , 200_
Thomas Galligan, Mayor
Attest:
Peggy Wilder, City Clerk Treasurer
Presented by me as Clerk Treasurer of the City of Jeffersonville this day of
200
This Ordinance approved and signed by me this day of , 200
Thomas Galligan, Mayor