Alarm permits required; fee; renewal; enforcement provisions

(a)

It shall be unlawful for any person to operate an alarm system without a valid alarm user permit. Violation of this section shall be a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided for in F.S. ch. 775.

(b)

Applications must be made to the City of Miami Alarm Unit which will issue permits to alarm users after payment of a $79.00 application fee.

(c)

All alarm user permits will expire on September 30 of each year and must be renewed not later than October 1 of renewal year. Renewal permits will be issued after completion of an application form and the payment of a $79.00 renewal fee or a $26.50 renewal fee provided there have been no false alarms.

(d)

Whenever the police respond to a location where no alarm permit has ever been issued or the alarm permit has expired for the alarm system generating a false alarm, a copy of section 3-23 entitled "Alarm permits required; fee; renewal; enforcement provisions," shall be sent to the alarm user along with written notification as follows:

(1)

On nonpermitted accounts, a $79.00 renewal fee will be required, plus a $210.00 fine for a total of $289.00. There will be no police response to subsequent alarms until the fine and the permit fee are paid.

(2)

A response to an alarm system where the permit has expired will result in a $79.00 renewal fee, plus a $157.50 fine for a total of $236.50. There will be no police response to subsequent alarms until the fine and the permit fee are paid.

(3)

All expired permits will be charged a $26.50 late fee, plus a $79.00 renewal fee. All expired permits with no false alarms will require a $26.50 late fee, plus a $26.50 renewal fee.

(e)

If a business has one or more alarm systems protecting two or more separate structures having different addresses, a separate permit will be required for each structure.

(f)

To reinstate police service the alarm user must obtain a valid alarm permit pursuant to section 3-23(b) or (c) and pay all outstanding fines.

(g)

Subsections (b) through (f) of this section shall not apply in those situations where alarm use permits have been revoked under section 3-29.

(Ord. No. 9203, § 1(3), 11-26-80; Ord. No. 10948, § 1, 2-13-92; Ord. No. 10988, §§ 1, 2, 6-11-92; Code 1980, § 3.5-23; Ord. No. 11424, § 1, 12-12-96; Ord. No. 13142, § 3, 2-11-10)