In this Article, unless the context otherwise requires:

Act of God means an unusual, extraordinary, sudden and unexpected manifestation of the forces of nature, the adverse effects of which cannot be prevented by reasonable human care, skill or foresight. Such events include tornadoes, floods, earthquakes, and other similarly violent conditions.

Alarm or alarm system means any mechanical or electrical device that is used to detect smoke, fire, hazardous materials or an unauthorized entry into a building or other facility, or to alert other persons of the occurrence of a fire or a medical emergency or the commission of an unlawful act against a person or within a building or other facility, and that may be designed to emit an audible alarm or transmit a signal or message when activated. Alarm or alarm system includes, but is not limited to, silent, panic, holdup, robbery, duress, burglary, check welfare, and proprietor alarms. Alarm or alarm system shall not include telephone call diverters and systems that are designed to report environmental and other occurrences and that are not designed to alert, or cause other persons to alert, public safety personnel.

Alarm agent means any person, whether an employee, independent contractor or otherwise, who acts on behalf of an alarm business and leases, rents, maintains, services, repairs, or installs alarm systems, other than alarm systems located on the person’s own property or the property of the person’s employer.

Alarm business means any person that, either by oneself or through a third party, engages in the business of providing alarm monitoring services or the business of selling, leasing, renting, maintaining, repairing or installing alarm systems, devices or services.

Alarm subscriber means any person who leases, rents or purchases any monitored alarm system, device or service from an alarm business or who leases or rents an audible alarm system or device, or who contracts with an alarm business for alarm monitoring, repair or maintenance services.

Audible alarm means a device designed for the detection of smoke, fire, hazardous materials, or an unauthorized entry on premises and which, when activated, generates an audible sound on the premises.

Automatic dialer means any electrical, electronic, mechanical or other device capable of being programmed to send a prerecorded voice message, when activated or if self-activated, over a telephone line, radio or other communication system, to the Police or Fire Department.

Common cause means a common technical difficulty or malfunction which causes an alarm system to generate a series of false alarms, all of which occur within a seventy-two hour period. The series of false alarms shall be counted as one false alarm only if the cause of the series of false alarms is repaired before it generates additional false alarms, documentation of the repair is provided to the Director of the Police Department, and during the thirty-day period following the repair, the alarm system generates no additional false alarms from the documented cause.

Controlling person means all current officers, managers and directors, and any person who is a stockholder, member, general or limited partner or owner, or who holds more than ten percent of the ownership, management rights, control or claim to the profits of the alarm business. Controlling person does not include current officers, directors or shareholders of stock in any corporation that is traded on a national stock exchange.

Control panel means the device that receives signals from any detection device and may activate the audible sounding device and/or the communicator to report the alarm.

Enhanced call verification means a monitoring procedure requiring the alarm business make a minimum of two telephone calls in an attempt to contact a responsible party prior to making an alarm dispatch request. The two calls must be made to different telephone numbers.

False alarm means, for all alarms except fire alarms, any activation of an alarm which results in a Police response to the premises on which the alarm system is located, unless the alarm is caused by or the result of a criminal act, unauthorized entry, or attempted unauthorized entry. False alarm means, for fire alarms, any activations of an alarm, which is caused by an equipment malfunction, and which results in a fire response to the premises on which the alarm system is located.

Fire alarm means any mechanical or electrical device that is used in a building or other facility to detect smoke, fire, or hazardous materials, or to alert other persons of the occurrence of a fire or medical emergency. Fire alarm also means any automatic sprinkler water flow alarm and any automatic extinguishing system alarm. A fire alarm may be designed to emit an audible alarm or to transmit a signal or message when activated.

Licensing authority means the Phoenix City Clerk, the Phoenix Police Department, or the Phoenix Fire Department, as applicable, who has the authority to issue licenses pursuant to this Article or the reciprocal alarm licensing ordinance of another City or town.

Monitored alarm means a device designed for the detection of an unauthorized entry in premises and which when activated generates an inaudible signal to a monitoring station. A monitored alarm may also generate an audible sound on the premises.

Primary alarm business license means a license issued by the licensing authority of a City or town that has adopted the reciprocal alarm licensing ordinance to an alarm business that has its headquarters, main office, corporate office or designated branch of the alarm business located within this State. In the event that an alarm business has its headquarters, main office, corporate office or designated branch in a City or town that does not require the licensing of alarm businesses, the alarm business may apply for a primary alarm business license from any City or town in this state that has adopted the reciprocal licensing ordinance.

Proprietor alarm means any alarm or alarm system which is owned by the alarm subscriber and which is not monitored, maintained, or repaired under contract by an alarm business.

Robbery, holdup or panic alarm means a device designed for the detection of a robbery, holdup or the commission of an unlawful act within the premises protected by an alarm system, and which may be intentionally activated by a person, generates an inaudible signal to the monitoring station and may or may not generate an audible sound at the premises.

Reciprocal alarm business license means a license issued by the licensing authority of a City or town that has adopted the reciprocal alarm licensing ordinance, and in which that alarm business conducts business. This license shall be issued only to an alarm business that has a valid primary alarm business license from a similar licensing authority within this State that has adopted the reciprocal alarm licensing ordinance.

Reciprocal alarm licensing ordinance means an ordinance that is substantially the same in its material terms to the reciprocal alarm licensing provisions codified in this Article and that is intended by the adopting jurisdiction to be recognized as being reciprocal with alarm licensing ordinances adopted by other cities and towns in this state. Minor or non-material variations that are enacted in a particular City or town to accommodate local conditions or needs shall not affect the reciprocal nature of the ordinance.

Responsible party means an individual on record with the alarm business, to be contacted in the event of an alarm, has access to the alarm location, and can arm and disarm the system.

Vision obscuring device or alarm system means a device or alarm system that emits or produces real or simulated smoke, fog, vapor or any like substance that obscures vision for the purpose of preventing or deterring theft. (Ord. No. G-1940, § 3; Ord. No. G-2476, § 2; Ord. No. G-3344, § 2; Ord. No. G-4003, § 2, 1997; Ord. No. G-4378, § 1, 2001; Ord. No. G-5393, § 1, 2009; Ord. No. G-5495, § 1, 2010)