Ordinance No. 29

False Alarms

SECTION 1:

The user of any private alarm system which upon activation elicits a response from the Fire Department, shall be subject to the following answering fee for each alarm in the calendar year.  The fee will be assessed if it is determined that the alarm was discharged falsely, accidentally, or by negligence, including the lack of maintenance.

SECTION 2: Fee schedule

               First two false alarms – No charge.

               Third and fourth false alarms -       $300.00

               Fifth and subsequent false alarms - $500.00

SECTION 3:

The fees above mentioned shall not be imposed in the event of any evidence of forcible entry.  Said fee will not be enforced if it can be determined that the alarm was activated by weather conditions, fire, or other acts of God. 

SECTION 4:

If the possessor of the alarm shows to the satisfaction of the Fire Chief, as appropriate, that a false alarm was not the result of negligence, improper maintenance or other sufficient cause beyond the reasonable control of the possessor of the alarm, such fee may be waived and the response not counted in computing the fee established by the ordinance.

SECTION 5: 

The fee established by this ordinance is imposed whether the Outagamie County Communication Center or the Greenville Fire Department receive notification of the alarm by direct connection or through other intermediary means.

SECTION 6:

Those subject to fees for false alarms shall be notified, in writing, of such fees by the Town of Greenville and paid within thirty days of the receipt of the fee notification.  In the event fees remain unpaid, said fees may be collected as a special tax assessed against the property of the owner.