§ 14-67. Service charge assessment for false alarms and reinstatement of alarm user permits.

(a)

Excessive false alarms. It is found and determined that three or more false alarms within any 12-month period is excessive and constitutes a public nuisance.

(b)

Civil penalties.

(1)

The third through fifth false alarms within a 12-month period will be billed a $50.00 service charge per occurrence, which shall be considered a bill owed by the alarm user to the town and may be collected from the alarm user as a civil penalty. Each $50.00 service charge incurred for the third through fifth false alarms at the premises described in the alarm user's permit shall be paid within 30 days from the date of receipt of the invoice.

(2)

The sixth false alarm within a 12-month period and all false alarms thereafter shall result in the revocation of the alarm user's permit in the following manner:

a.

The alarm user shall be given ten days' advance written notification that the alarm user's permit will be revoked. This written notice shall set forth the reasons for such revocation.

b.

The notice shall specify the specific date of revocation and that the Mint Hill Police Department will discontinue responding to alarms that occur at the premises described in the revoked permit after the date of revocation.

c.

Reinstatement of both the permit and eligibility for police response to alarm calls will be made only upon receipt of any prior unpaid civil penalties assessed pursuant to this subsection and receipt of the applicable service charge as set forth below:

Sixth false alarm ..... $100.00

Seventh false alarm ..... $100.00

Eighth false alarm ..... $250.00

Ninth false alarm ..... $250.00

Tenth and over false alarm ..... $500.00

(c)

Permit year. For the purposes of this section, a permit year is a 12-month period beginning on the date of the permit's issuance.

(d)

Discontinuance of police response. The failure of an alarm user to make payment of any service charge imposed under this section within 30 days from the date of receipt shall result in a discontinuance of police response to alarms that may occur at the premises described in the alarm user's permit until payment is received.

(Ord. No. 648, 1-9-2014)