§ 8.1-3-6. Alarm system registration.

(a)

Every alarm user shall, on a form provided by the Police Department, register the alarm system with the Police Department before the user begins using the system, and must pay the alarm registration fee established by this ordinance. The registration form shall contain the name of two persons who are able to respond to the alarm site within one hour, grant access to the alarm site, and deactivate the alarm system if such becomes necessary. If at any time there is a change in the information provided on the registration form, the correct information must be provided to the Police Department within 30 days of the change.

(b)

An alarm company that installs, causes to be installed, permits to be installed, alters, maintains, repairs, replaces, services or monitors any alarm system shall meet the following requirements:

(1)

An alarm company shall ensure that an alarm user has registered the alarm system with the Police Department or designee before the alarm system is activated or placed into service. An alarm company must provide the alarm user registration form to all of its current and future residential and non-residential alarm users, collect the form and registration fee from the alarm user and deliver the completed alarm registration form and registration fee to the Police Department or designee in the required format before the system is activated or placed into service.

(2)

An alarm company shall provide to the Police Department, when requested to do so, a list which contains the name, address, telephone number and registration number of all of its current alarm users in Fairfax County.

(3)

An alarm company shall notify the Police Department or designee of any alarm user, who has a service contract with or is monitored or maintained by the alarm business, and who has canceled or otherwise terminated their alarm services with the alarm company.

(c)

A separate registration is required for each tenant of a multi-tenant residential or commercial building using an alarm system. This section shall not apply to systems in apartment complexes registered pursuant to Section 8.1-3-6.1.

(d)

Registration of an alarm system is not intended to, nor will it, create a contract, duty or obligation, either expressed or implied, of response. Any and all liability and consequential damage resulting from the failure to respond to a notification is hereby disclaimed and governmental immunity as provided by law is retained. By registering an alarm system, the alarm user acknowledges that police response may be based on factors such as availability of police units, staffing levels, priority of pending requests for police services, weather conditions, traffic conditions and emergency conditions.

(e)

Each registration remains in effect until the registrant relinquishes control of the alarm site or the registration is suspended or revoked.

(f)

A registration is valid only for the premises registered and is not transferable to another alarm user or premises. A new registration must be applied for in accordance with this section.

(g)

All information submitted to a third party administrator in compliance with this regulation must be held in strict confidence and must not be disclosed without approval of the Fairfax County Police Department and the alarm company of record. Any person found guilty of the unauthorized release of such information shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.

(h)

Alarm users with alarm systems installed prior to July 1, 1999, shall comply with this Section prior to October 1, 1999.

(i)

Any alarm user who allows an alarm response to an alarm signal initiated by an alarm system which is not in compliance with the registration requirements of this Section shall be in violation of this Section and subject to an administrative service fee of $50.00.

(j)

[T]he Police Department shall make registration forms available to alarm companies and alarm users.

(k)

The registration fee shall be $25.00. A $25.00 fee shall be assessed to reinstate a suspended registration.

(l)

The twelve-month period used to calculate violations of Sections 8.1-3-9 and 8.1-3-10 shall commence with the date of registration issuance. (31-98-8.1; 21-09-8.1.)