FALSE INTRUSION AND HOLDUP ALARMS

Grand Rapids City Code tit. IX, ch. 163

in effect

Grand Rapids City Code § 9.400 Purpose.

Sec. 9.400. - Purpose. The City Commission determines that the number of false intrusion and holdup alarms within the City of Grand Rapids has caused problems which necessitate the enactment of this Chapter. Included in these problems are: Unreasonable demands upon the time and resources of the Grand Rapids Police Department. Increased danger to police officers and citizens of the City of Grand Rapids caused by the emergency response of the Grand Rapids Police Department to intrusion and holdup alarms. The unwarranted diversion of Grand Rapids Police Department resources to answering false alarms and the consequent reduction of resources available to deal with other police responsibilities. This Chapter is intended to provide minimum standards for the installation of alarm systems, to regulate the use of alarm systems, and to prescribe a penalty for excessive numbers of false alarms. (Ord. No. 81-2, 1-13-81)

Grand Rapids City Code § 9.401 Definitions.

Sec. 9.401. - Definitions. As used in this Chapter: (1) Alarm system means any device or piece of equipment or an assembly of equipment and devices designed or arranged to signal visibly, audibly, electronically, mechanically or by any combination of these methods the presence of a hazard requiring urgent attention and to which the police are expected to respond. As used in this Chapter, the term "alarm system" shall include, but not be limited to, "automatic holdup alarm systems," "burglar alarm systems," and "manual holdup alarm systems," as those terms are herein defined. Fire alarm systems and alarm systems which monitor temperature, humidity, or any other condition not directly related to the detection of an unauthorized intrusion into a premises or an attempted robbery at a premises are specifically excluded from the provisions of this Chapter unless such systems are integrated into an "alarm system" as defined in this Section. It is intended that the term "alarm system," as defined in this Section, shall exclude those devices or those pieces or assemblies of equipment and devices attached and affixed entirely within a protected premises and designed or arranged primarily to signal visibly, audibly, electronically, mechanically or by any combination of these methods the presence of a hazard to the occupants of the protected premises. "Alarm systems" as defined in this Section shall include those devices or pieces or assemblies of equipment and devices attached and affixed at any place on the protected premises and designed or arranged primarily to signal visibly, audibly, electronically, mechanically or by any combination of these methods the presence of a hazard to a point and to persons not on the protected premises. (2) Alarm user means any person, whether owner, occupant or tenant, upon whose premises an alarm system is maintained or operated within the City of Grand Rapids, except for alarm systems on motor vehicles. If, however, the alarm system on a motor vehicle is connected with an alarm system at a premises, the person using such a system is an alarm user. (3) Automatic holdup alarm system means an alarm system in which the signal transmission is initiated by the action of a robber or attempted robber. (4) Burglar alarm system means an alarm system signaling an entry or attempted entry into an area protected by the system. (5) Holdup alarm system means an alarm system signaling a robbery or attempted robbery. (6) Manual holdup alarm system means an alarm system in which the signal transmission is initiated by the direct action of the person assaulted or by an observer of the assault. (7) False alarm means any activation of an alarm system, except activation caused by criminal activity, acts of God or verifiable interruptions of electrical or telephonic service to an alarm user, unless the alarm is canceled by the party that originally notified the police of the alarm before the police arrive on the scene. (8) An act of God is unusual, extraordinary, sudden or unexpected display of the forces of nature against which the science and the skill of mankind are of no avail. (9) Person. Person means any individual, partnership, corporation, unincorporated association or any group of persons. (Ord. No. 81-2, 1-13-81; Ord. No. 2000-46, § 1, 7-25-00)

Grand Rapids City Code § 9.402 Alarm User Permit.

Sec. 9.402. - Alarm User Permit. (1) Within one hundred twenty (120) days after the adoption of this Chapter, every alarm user within the City of Grand Rapids shall obtain an alarm user permit for each alarm system operated within the City. Such alarm user permit shall be issued by the Grand Rapids Police Department upon compliance with the provisions of this Chapter. The permit shall be valid for a period of one (1) year and shall be nontransferable. (2) Any person maintaining or operating an alarm system at more than one (1) premises within the City of Grand Rapids shall obtain an alarm user permit for each separate premises. (3) The form of the application and alarm user permit shall be established by the Police Chief and shall be approved by the Grand Rapids City Attorney. The completed application for each alarm user permit shall be accompanied by a fee to be used to defray the cost of administering this Chapter. The amount of the fee shall be fixed by the City Commission. (4) Any alarm system user who maintains or operates an alarm system without first obtaining a permit, as required by this Section, shall be guilty of a violation of this Code. (Ord. No. 81-2, 1-13-81)

Grand Rapids City Code § 9.403 Display of Permit.

Sec. 9.403. - Display of Permit. The alarm system user permit shall be kept on the premises serviced by the alarm system and shall be displayed upon the request of a duly authorized representative of the Grand Rapids Police Department. (Ord. No. 81-2, 1-13-81)

Grand Rapids City Code § 9.404 Standards for Alarm Systems.

Sec. 9.404. - Standards for Alarm Systems. (1) Any alarm system installed or used in the City of Grand Rapids and which is subject to the permit provisions herein shall make use of equipment equivalent to or exceeding the following minimum applicable Underwriter's Laboratory (UL) standards for the system installed: UL 609, "Local Burglar Alarm Units and Systems"; UL 636, "Holdup Alarm Units and Systems"; UL 681, "Installation and Classification of Mercantile and Bank Burglar Alarm Systems"; UL 1023, "Household Burglar Alarm Systems Units." (2) Any alarm system installed or used in the City of Grand Rapids which is subject to the provisions of this Chapter and which signals an audible alarm that can be heard off the alarm system user's premises shall be equipped with an automatic device which shall shut off the audible alarm after it has sounded for not more than fifteen (15) minutes and which will not permit the audible signal to be activated again until the alarm is manually reset. (3) The device, equipment or hardware used in an alarm system may correspond to any of the several levels of protection or grades of service listed in the applicable standards, provided, however, that alarm users shall not be required to provide protection for all of the areas or openings which may be required to be protected by the applicable standards. (4) The standards referred to in this Section are hereby adopted as part of this Chapter subject to the modifications and qualifications set forth herein and a copy of each such standard shall be kept on file at the Grand Rapids Police Department and the Grand Rapids City Clerk's office and shall be available for public inspection and copying. (5) In those instances where UL has not established standards for categories of equipment or where new equipment is undergoing field testing, the Police Chief may require that the alarm system be inspected at the expense of the alarm user by a professional electrical engineer who shall certify in writing whether the alarm system meets or exceeds the performance standards set out in Section 9.404. (6) The provisions of this Section are not applicable to alarm systems installed prior to the effective date of this Chapter. (Ord. No. 81-2, 1-13-81)

Grand Rapids City Code § 9.405 Inspection of Alarm Systems.

Sec. 9.405. - Inspection of Alarm Systems. (1) For the purpose of enforcing the provisions of this Chapter, a sworn officer of the Grand Rapids Police Department or any employee of the Grand Rapids Police Department with specific authorization to inspect alarm systems granted by the Chief of Police shall, upon any activation of an alarm system, be admitted to the premises in or upon which the alarm system is located for the purpose of inspecting such alarm system or systems. (2) Any employee of the Grand Rapids Police Department with specific authorization to inspect alarm systems granted by the Chief of Police shall have authority to enter, at all reasonable times, the premises in or upon which an alarm system is located for the purpose of inspecting an alarm system or systems which has activated: (a) Three (3) false alarms in any one hundred twenty (120) day period. (b) Four (4) false alarms in any two hundred forty (240) day period. (c) Five (5) false alarms in any three hundred sixty-five (365) day period. (Ord. No. 81-2, 1-13-81)

Grand Rapids City Code § 9.406 False Alarms.

Sec. 9.406. - False Alarms. (1) No alarm user shall maintain, use, or allow the use of an alarm system or alarm systems which signals false alarms in excess of that permitted herein. An alarm system user shall be in violation of this Code whenever any alarm system signals: (a) More than three (3) false alarms in any one hundred twenty (120) day period. (b) More than four (4) false alarms in any two hundred forty (240) day period. (c) More than five (5) false alarms in any three hundred sixty-five (365) day period. (2) False alarms which are recorded in the first sixty (60) days after installation of an alarm system for which an alarm system user permit has been issued shall not be counted. False alarms that are successfully contested by the alarm user shall not be counted. (3) Fines: (a) The fine for the first false alarm in excess of the number herein permitted shall be not less than fifty dollars ($50.00). (b) The fine for the second false alarm in excess of the number herein permitted shall be not less than seventy-five dollars ($75.00). (c) The fine for the third false alarm in excess of the number herein permitted shall be not less than one hundred dollars ($100.00). (d) The fine for the fourth false alarm in excess of the number herein permitted shall be not less than one hundred twenty-five dollars ($125.00). (e) The fine for the fifth false alarm in excess of the number herein permitted shall be not less than one hundred fifty dollars ($150.00). (f) The fine for [the sixth and] each subsequent false alarm in excess of the number herein permitted shall be not less than two hundred dollars ($200.00). (Ord. No. 81-2, 1-13-81; Ord. No. 2000-46, § 2, 7-25-00)

Grand Rapids City Code § 9.407 Exceptions.

Sec. 9.407. - Exceptions. This Chapter shall not apply to the use of an alarm system by law enforcement personnel of Federal, State or local governments. (Ord. No. 81-2, 1-13-81)

Source: City of Grand Rapids, Michigan, City Code and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/mi/grand_rapids/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TIOLRE_CH163FAINHOALFetched: 11/7/2026