For the purposes of this article, the following words and phrases shall have the meaning respectively ascribed to them by this section:
(1) “Alarm company” means any person, retail establishment, organization, answering service, central station or modified central station that installs, connects, or monitors burglary, robbery, or other alarm security systems for profit or other consideration. Such companies must be licensed in accordance with Business and Professions Code Section 7590 et seq.
(2) “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 for alerting others of the commission of an unlawful act within a building, structure, or facility, or both; and which emits a sound or transmits a signal or message when actuated and which is likely to result in a response by the Police Department. The following devices shall not constitute an alarm system within the meaning of this section:
(A) Alarm devices affixed to motor vehicles;
(B) Alarm devices installed on a temporary basis by the police department.
(3) “Answering service” means a telephone answering service that continuously receives emergency signals from alarm systems, and immediately relays messages based on such signals by live voice to the Yolo County communications center or the Woodland police department.
(4) “Appellant” means a person who perfects an appeal pursuant to this article.
(5) “Applicant” means a person who files an application for a new, or renewal, permit as provided by this article.
(6) “Automatic dialing device” means an alarm system which automatically sends over the regular telephone lines, by direct connection or otherwise, a prerecorded voice message indicating the existence of an emergency situation that the alarm system is designed to detect.
(7) “Central station” means an office to which alarm systems are connected, where operators supervise the circuits, and where guards and/or service persons are continuously present to investigate signals.
(8) “City” means the city of Woodland, California.
(9) “City council” means the city council of the city of Woodland.
(10) “Direct line” means a telephone line leading directly from a central station to the communications center of the Woodland police department or Yolo County communications center, used only to report emergency signals on a person-to-person basis.
(11) “Emergency” means the commission or attempted commission of a robbery or burglary, or other imminent felony.
(12) Excessive false alarms. The term “excessive false alarms” is defined in the city resolution pertaining to alarm systems.
(13) “False alarm” means the activation of an alarm system which precipitates a response by the Woodland police department, when the activation results from a cause other than an emergency or other situation for which the alarm system was intended. False alarms do not include alarms resulting from violent acts of nature, i.e. earthquakes, gale force winds, or tornadoes.
(14) “Notice” means written notice, given by personal service upon the addressee, or given by United States mail, postage prepaid, addressed to the person to be notified at his last known address. Service of such notice shall be effective upon the completion of personal service, or upon the placing of the same in the custody of the United States Postal Service.
(15) “Panic alarm” means any electrical or mechanical device designed to enable an individual, twenty-four hours a day, to instantly alert others of the existence of an emergency by the sounding of an audible alarm or transmitting a signal or message when activated.
(16) “Permittee” means the person to whom an alarm system permit has been issued.
(17) “Person” means and includes natural persons without regard to number or gender, and any partnership, corporation and any other type of legal entity.
(18) “Police chief” means the chief of police of the city of Woodland, California, or his representatives or designees.
(19) “Silent system” means any device or system designed to operate night or day to instantly transmit a silent signal to alert others of an actual armed robbery or holdup in progress.
(20) “Siren” means any audible noise similar to that which must be sounded by an authorized emergency vehicle under the conditions set forth in Section 21055 of the Vehicle Code.
(21) “Subscriber” means any person who purchases, leases, contracts for or otherwise obtains an alarm system or contracts for the servicing or maintenance of an alarm system from an alarm company or answering service.
(22) “User” means the owner or occupier of property on which an alarm system, or silent system, is installed and operating. (Ord. No. 1188, § 2 (part).)