§ 8-111. 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 agent means any person who is employed by an alarm business, either directly or indirectly, whose duties include any of the following: selling, leasing, servicing, repairing, altering, replacing, monitoring or installing on or in any building, structure, or facility any alarm system. Exemptions: The provisions of this definition do not include a person who engages in the manufacture or sale of an alarm system from a fixed location and who neither visits the location where the alarm system is to be installed, nor designs the scheme for physical location and installation of the alarm system in a specific location.

Alarm business means the business by an individual, partnership, corporation or other entity of selling, leasing, maintaining, monitoring, servicing, repairing, altering, replacing, or installing any alarm system or causing to be sold, leased, maintained, serviced, repaired, altered, replaced, monitored or installed any alarm system in or on any building, structure or facility. The provisions of this definition do not apply to a business in which no employee or owner performs the duties of an alarm agent.

Alarm system means any mechanical or electrical device which is designed or used for the detection of an unauthorized entry into a building, structure or facility, or both, and which emits a sound or transmits a signal or message when actuated. Each alarm system may have one or more detection devices but not more than one transmitting device.

Appellant means a person who perfects an appeal pursuant to this article.

Applicant means a person who files an application for a new or renewal permit as provided in this article.

Audible alarm means a device designed for the detection of unauthorized entry on premises which generates an audible sound on the premises when it is actuated.

Burglary alarm system means any device which is designed or used for detection of intrusion into a building, structure or facility, which detection causes a local audible alarm or the transmission of a related signal or message, which is used to evoke a sheriff's department response.

Day means a calendar day.

Direct dial telephone device means any device, including tape dialers, which will automatically dial a telephone number maintained by the sheriff's department.

Emergency alarm system means any device which is designed or used to alert, either directly or indirectly, personnel of the sheriff's department to any emergency situation.

False alarm means an alarm signal activated through inadvertence, negligence or for reasons not of an emergency nature, or when activated due to malfunction of any segment of the alarm system and to which personnel of the sheriff's department respond.

Local alarm system means any audible alarm system that can be heard from the exterior of any structure.

Permittee means any person, firm, partnership, association or corporation who or which shall be granted a permit, as provided in this article, or his or its agents and representatives.

Proprietor alarm system means any alarm system which is owned and maintained by the person, firm or corporation or other entity who exercises ownership, dominion or control over the property which is protected by such alarm system.

Responsible for an alarm system means an alarm business which leases, maintains or monitors an alarm system pursuant to an agreement supported by lawful consideration. If these services are divided between two or more alarm businesses, such businesses shall be jointly and severally liable to the county to perform any duty or pay any fee imposed in this article.

Robbery alarm system means any device designed or used for the purpose of alerting personnel of the sheriff's department, either directly or indirectly, to the commission of a crime involving potential death or serious injury at a particular location.

Sheriff means the sheriff of the county.

Subscriber means a person contracting with an alarm business for the leasing, servicing, maintaining or monitoring of an alarm system.

(Code 1983, § 9.5-51)

Cross reference

Definitions generally, § 1-2.