A. "Alarm system" means an assembly of equipment and devices arranged to signal the presence of a hazard requiring urgent attention and to which police are expected to respond. Fire alarm systems and alarm systems which specifically monitor temperature, humidity and any other condition not directly related to the detection of an unauthorized intrusion into a premises or an attempted robbery at a premises are specifically excluded from the provisions of this chapter.

B. "Alarm agent" means a person employed by an alarm business whose duties include selling on premises, altering, installing, maintaining, moving, repairing, replacing, servicing, responding, causing others to respond to an alarm system, or a person who manages or supervises a person employed by an alarm company to perform any of the duties described herein. (New construction personnel not in the employ of an alarm business may be involved under contracts or subcontracts in the use or installation of alarm systems. Such persons are not required to obtain identification cards as alarm businesses.)

C. "Alarm company operator" means any person, business, or other entity operating for any consideration which engages in the installation, normal maintenance, alteration, monitoring, selling on premises, or servicing of alarm systems or who respond to alarm systems except for any alarm agent. Alarm company operator does not include a business which merely sells from a fixed location or manufactures alarm systems unless the business services, installs, sells on premises, monitors, or responds to alarm systems at the protected premises.

D. "False alarm" means the activation of an alarm system through mechanical failure, malfunction, improper installation or the negligence of the owner or lessee of an alarm system or their employees or agents. This does not include alarms caused by earthquake, windstorm, or other violent conditions.

E. "Subscriber" means any person, business or entity owning or entitled to possession of any premises on which an alarm system has been installed.

F. "Dialer" refers to an alarm system which automatically sends over regular telephone lines, by direct connection or otherwise, a prerecorded voice message or coded signal indicating the existence of the emergency situation that the alarm is designed to detect.

G. "Direct connect" means an alarm system which has the capability of transmitting system signals to and receiving them at the police communications center.

H. "Police Chief" means the Chief of Police of the City of Berkeley.

I. "Police" or "Police Department" means the publicly supported Police Department of the City of Berkeley.

J. "Telephone company" means the utility that furnishes telephone services to the City. (Ord. 5560-NS § 1, 1983: Ord. 5377-NS § 2, 1981)