Chapter 8, Article VII, Sections 441-490, of the Mesquite City Code requires that ALARM USERS, (Alarm Sites), in the city, both commercial and residential, except as stated in Section 442 (a) & (b), obtain permits from the police department. Police permits may be obtained by payment of a biennial fee of $20.00.
PERMITS
1. The biennial fee for a permit is $20.00, payable to the City of Mesquite.
2. There is no charge for data changes on a current permit.
3. Each alarm system (site) requires a permit.
4. A multi-family complex requires only one permit. However, false alarm service fees will be based on the number of false alarms at each individual unit and shall be assessed to the permit holder.
5. Failure to secure a permit from the City for an operational alarm system may result in fines of up to $2000.00 per day or per occurrence of violation.
6. No permits or permit numbers will be returned to an applicant. Information will be entered into the alarm database and applications will be filed by address.
7. Permit applications and fees should be mailed to:
MESQUITE POLICE DEPARTMENT
ALARM ENFORCEMENT SECTION
P.O. BOX 850137
MESQUITE, TEXAS 75185-0137
RESPONSIBILITIES OF ALARM USERS
The Permit Holder, to whom the permit is issued, shall be responsible for compliance with the regulations of the alarm ordinance.
THE PERMIT HOLDER SHALL INSURE THAT:
1. The Police Department is furnished current information regarding persons to be contacted in case of an alarm activation.
2. The alarm mechanism is adjusted to suppress false indications due to:
- Flashes of light;
- Wind noise caused by rattling or vibration of windows or doors;
- Vehicular noise;
- Electrical power fluctuations;
- Other forces unrelated to an actual emergency.
3. An authorized person responds to the scene of an alarm, within 30 minutes, if requested to do so by the Police Department.
4. Audible alarms are adjusted so that the alarm will sound for NO LONGER than 15 minutes, and must be manually reset before sounding again.
5. The alarm must not be manually activated for any reason other than the occurrence of the event that the system was intended to report (i.e., activating a robbery alarm for any reason other than an actual robbery).
6. When an alarm signal is received by your alarm company, they should call Mesquite Police Communications at: (972) 285-6336.
AN ALARM WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED "FALSE" IF IT IS DETERMINED THAT THE ALARM WAS CAUSED BY:
1. Natural or man-made catastrophe;
2. Criminal activity;
3. Severe weather, causing damage to the premises.
VIOLATIONS:
1. A person who operates an alarm system without a permit violates the City Ordinance and may be fined up to $2,000.00 per day or per occurrence of violation.
2. A person who operates an alarm system with a permit may be cited to Municipal Court for violation of the following:
- Permitting an audible alarm to sound for more than 15 minutes.
- Failing to require a manual reset.
3. A permit may be suspended for:
- Any false statement or misrepresentation of a material fact made by an applicant for the purpose of obtaining an alarm permit or renewal, or while making a change thereto, shall be sufficient cause for refusal to grant, or suspension of, a permit.
- Violation of any of the City Ordinance sections dealing with responsibilities of the alarm user.
- Failure to keep information current on alarm applications.
- Failing to respond to an alarm within thirty (30) minutes, when required to do so by the Police Department.
4. It is the responsibility of the permit holder to be familiar with the City Ordinance.
SERVICE FEES
1. If, within a 12-month period, more than five (5) false alarms are emitted from an alarm site, the issuing authority shall assess a fee to the person in control of that alarm site. The service fee shall be fifty (50) dollars for each false alarm exceeding five (5) in a 12-month period.
2. The number of false alarm notifications emitted from an alarm site shall include all types of police alarms, including but not limited to, burglary, panic, intrusion and robbery alarms.
3. Failure to pay assessed fees shall cause the holder's permit to be suspended. Further alarms from an alarm system shall result in criminal charges being filed.
4. A person commits an offense if he allows an alarm notification to be emitted from an alarm site that does not have a valid permit.
5. A permit may be reissued when proof of repair has been presented to the issuing authority.
6. A permit holder shall pay a fee assessed under this section within thirty (30) days after receipt of notice that it has been assessed.
7. A permit holder will be exempt from any fee charged for a false alarm notification which is later shown to have not been a false alarm. The burden of proof shall be on the permit holder.
8. The police officer of police supervisor assigned to respond to an alarm site will make the determination as to whether or not alarm notification is false.
For further clarification of the ordinance, you may call the MESQUITE POLICE DEPARTMENT, ALARM ENFORCEMENT SECTION at (972) 216-6676, Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM-4:30 PM.
The alarm permit will be available in Adobe Acrobat format only. You can download your free copy of Acrobat Reader by clicking on the Acrobat button.
Click here to download the Alarm Permit in .pdf format
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