ALARM SYSTEMS

Biloxi Code of Ordinances ch. 12, art. III

in effect

Biloxi Code of Ordinances § 12-3-1 Purpose and scope of article.

Sec. 12-3-1. - Purpose and scope of article. (a) The purpose of this article is to protect the emergency services of the city from misuse. (b) This article governs burglary, robbery and standalone alarm systems, requires permits, establishes fees, provides for allocation of revenues and deficits, provides for punishment of violations and establishes a system of administration. (Code 1959, § 11A-38; Ord. No. 1577, § 1, 1-8-90)

Biloxi Code of Ordinances § 12-3-2 Definitions.

Sec. 12-3-2. - Definitions. The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this article, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning: Alarm agent means any person who is employed by an alarm business, either directly or indirectly, to sell, lease, install, maintain, service, repair, alter, replace or move an alarm system. Alarm business means the business by any person of selling, leasing, maintaining, servicing, repairing, altering, replacing, moving or installing any alarm system or causing to be sold, leased, maintained, serviced, repaired, altered, replaced, moved or installed any alarm system in or on any building, structure or facility. Alarm system means any assembly of equipment, mechanical or electrical, arranged to signal the occurrence of an illegal entry or other activity requiring urgent attention and to which police are expected to respond. Alarm user means the person in control of any building, structure or facility wherein an alarm system is maintained. Automatic dialing device means a device which is interconnected to a telephone line and is programmed to select a predetermined telephone number and transmit by voice message or code signal an emergency message indicating a need for emergency response. Bureau of emergency communications means the city facility used to receive emergency and general information from the public to be dispatched to the respective police units within the city. Burglary alarm system means an alarm system signaling an entry or attempted entry into the area protected by the system. Coordinator means the director of public safety or his designated representative. Director of public safety means the chief public safety officer for the city or his designated representative. False alarm means an alarm signal eliciting a response by police when a situation requiring a response by the police does not in fact exist, but does not include an alarm signal caused by violent conditions of nature or other extraordinary circumstances not reasonably subject to control by the alarm business operator or alarm user. Identification card. Every person directly engaged in the business of maintaining, repairing, altering, replacing, moving or installing any alarm system shall carry on his person at all times while so engaged a valid identification card, and shall display such card to any police officer upon request. The identification card shall bear the name and address of the registrant and the name of the alarm business. The fee for this service shall be set by the city council. Interconnect means to connect an alarm system, including an automatic dialing device, to a telephone line, either directly or through a mechanical device that utilizes a telephone, for the purpose of using the telephone line to transmit a message upon the activation of the alarm system. Primary trunk line means a telephone line serving the city police department that is designated to receive emergency calls. Robbery alarm system means an alarm system signaling a robbery or attempted robbery. Standalone system means any system installed in a building, including residences and businesses, which is not connected by telephonic or electronic link to the bureau of emergency communications. Included is any system which notifies a private agency or firm of an occurrence at the alarm location and any system which, by noise or alarm at that location, draws attention to that location. (Code 1959, § 11A-39; Ord. No. 1577, § 1, 1-8-90)

Biloxi Code of Ordinances § 12-3-3 Alarm user's permit.

Sec. 12-3-3. - Alarm user's permit. (a) Generally. Every alarm user other than persons using standalone systems shall obtain an alarm user's permit from the coordinator for each system from the coordinator's office upon the effective date of this article or prior to use of an alarm system. Users of systems using both robbery and burglary alarm capabilities shall pay separate fees for each function. Application for a burglary or robbery alarm user's permit and a $10.00 fee for each shall be filed with the coordinator's office each year. Each permit shall indicate each type of alarm system on the premises. Each permit shall bear the signature of the coordinator and be for a one-year period. The permit shall be physically upon the premises using the alarm system and shall be available for inspection by the department of public safety, law enforcement division. (b) Issuance of revoked user's permit; fees for subsequent false alarms. (1) A revoked user's permit shall be obtained from the coordinator's office by filing an application and paying a fee of $25.00. Each permit shall bear the signature of the coordinator and shall bear the same expiration date as the revoked permit. The permit shall be physically upon the premises using the alarm system and shall be available for inspection by the department of public safety, law enforcement division. (2) Fees for subsequent false alarms shall be at the rate of $25.00 for each false alarm to which the police react and where the police actually arrive at the location of the alarm. (c) Waiver of fee for senior citizens. If a residential alarm user is over the age of 65 and is the primary resident of the residence, and if no business is conducted in the residence, a user's permit may be obtained from the coordinator's office according to subsection (a) of this section without the payment of a fee. (d) Delinquency charge. A $25.00 charge will be charged in addition to the fee provided in subsection (a) of this section to a user who fails to obtain a permit within 60 days after the effective date of this article, or who is more than 60 days delinquent in renewing a permit. (e) Special alarm user's permit. An alarm user required by federal, state, county or municipal statute, regulation, rule or ordinance to install, maintain and operate an alarm system shall be subject to this article; provided: (1) The permit shall be designated a special alarm user's permit. (2) A special alarm user's permit for a system which has four or more false alarms in a permit year shall not be subject to revocation under section 12-3-6, but the holder of the permit shall pay a fee of $100.00 with the submission of the report required by subsection 12-3-7(b)(1). (3) For each false alarm over four in a permit year, upon written demand therefor by the coordinator, the holder of a special user's permit shall pay a fee of $25.00. (4) The payment of any fee provided for in subsections (2) and (3) of this section shall not be deemed to extend the term of the permit. (f) Governmental users. An alarm user which is a governmental political unit shall be subject to this article, but a permit shall be issued without payment of the fee and the permit shall not be subject to revocation, and the user shall not be subject to payment of additional fees or the imposition of any penalty provided in this article. (Code 1959, § 11A-40; Ord. No. 1577, § 1, 1-8-90)

Biloxi Code of Ordinances § 12-3-4 Identification card.

Sec. 12-3-4. - Identification card. Individuals described in the definition of identification card in section 12-3-2 shall obtain from the coordinator the required identification card upon application to the coordinator. The coordinator shall develop and use an application form to gather the required information. The application will be accompanied by a one-time nonrefundable fee of $10.00. The identification card shall be valid for one year from the date of issue. The identification card may be renewed on a yearly basis by presenting the card to the coordinator for validation. There shall be no fee after the initial application fee. (Code 1959, § 11A-41; Ord. No. 1577, § 1, 1-8-90)

Biloxi Code of Ordinances § 12-3-5 User instructions.

Sec. 12-3-5. - User instructions. (a) Every alarm business selling, leasing or furnishing to any user an alarm system which is installed on premises located in the area subject to this article shall furnish the user with instructions that provide information to enable the user to operate the alarm system properly and to obtain service for the alarm system at any time. (b) Standard form instructions shall be submitted by every alarm business to the coordinator within 60 days of the effective date of this article. If he reasonably finds such instructions to be incomplete, unclear or inadequate, he may require the alarm business to revise the instructions to comply with subsection (a) of this section and then to distribute the revised instructions to its alarm users. (Code 1959, § 11A-42; Ord. No. 1577, § 1, 1-8-90)

Biloxi Code of Ordinances § 12-3-6 Automatic dialing devices.

Sec. 12-3-6. - Automatic dialing devices. (a) It is unlawful for any person to program an automatic dialing device to select a primary trunk line, and it is unlawful for an alarm user to fail to disconnect or reprogram an automatic dialing device which is programmed to select a primary trunk line within 12 hours of receipt of written notice from the coordinator that it is so programmed. (b) Within 60 days after the effective date of this article, all existing automatic dialing devices programmed to select a primary trunk line shall be reprogrammed or disconnected. (c) It is unlawful for any person to program an automatic dialing device to select any telephone line assigned to the city, and it is unlawful for an alarm user to fail to disconnect or reprogram such device within 12 hours of receipt of written notice from the coordinator that an automatic dialing device is so programmed. (Code 1959, § 11A-43; Ord. No. 1577, § 1, 1-8-90)

Biloxi Code of Ordinances § 12-3-7 False alarms generally.

Sec. 12-3-7. - False alarms generally. (a) Any burglar alarm system or robbery alarm system which has four or more false alarms within a permit year shall be subject to permit revocation as provided in this section. (b) If the city police department records four or more false alarms within a permit year for any alarm system: (1) The coordinator shall notify the alarm user and the alarm business providing service or inspection to the user by certified mail of such fact and direct that the user submit a report to the coordinator within ten days of receipt of the notice describing actions taken or to be taken to discover and eliminate the cause of the false alarms. (2) If the alarm user submits a report as directed, the coordinator shall determine if the actions taken or to be taken will prevent the occurrence of false alarms. If he determines that the action will prevent the occurrence of false alarms, he shall notify the alarm user and the relevant alarm business in writing that the permit will not be revoked at that time and that if one more false alarm occurs within the permit year the permit will be summarily revoked. (3) If no report is submitted, or if the coordinator determines that the actions taken or to be taken will not prevent the occurrence of false alarms, the coordinator shall give notice by certified mail to the user that the permit will be revoked without further notice on the tenth day after the date of the notice if the user does not file within that period a written request for a hearing. (4) If a hearing is requested, written notice of the time and place of the hearing shall be served on the user by the coordinator by certified mail at least ten days prior to the date set for the hearing, which date shall not be more than 21 or less than ten days after the filing of the request for hearing. (5) The hearing shall be before the coordinator, and the alarm user shall have the right to present written and oral evidence, subject to the right of cross examination. If the coordinator determines that four or more false alarms have occurred in a permit year, and that the user has not taken actions which will prevent the occurrence of false alarms, the coordinator shall issue written findings to that effect and an order revoking the user's permit. (6) An alarm user shall immediately discontinue use of the alarm system upon being notified by certified mail of the revocation of the permit pursuant to subsections (3) and (5) of this section. (7) An alarm user whose permit has been revoked may apply for a revoked user's permit as provided in subsection 12-3-3(b). The coordinator shall not be required to issue a revoked user's permit unless he is satisfied that the user's system has been properly serviced and its deficiencies corrected. The coordinator may impose reasonable restrictions and conditions upon the user before issuing a revoked user's permit, which restrictions and conditions shall be written on the permit. The permit may be summarily revoked on the occurrence of four false alarms in the permit year. (8) In situations permitting summary revocation under subsection (b)(2) or (7) of this section, revocations shall be effective on the third day following the mailing by certified mail by the coordinator of a notice of revocation. There shall be no appeal of a summary revocation. (Code 1959, § 11A-44; Ord. No. 1577, § 1, 1-8-90)

Biloxi Code of Ordinances § 12-3-8 False alarms from standalone systems.

Sec. 12-3-8. - False alarms from standalone systems. (a) Any standalone alarm system which has four or more false alarms within a calendar year shall be subject to administrative costs as provided in this section. (b) If the city police department records four or more false alarms within a calendar year for any standalone alarm system: (1) The coordinator shall notify the alarm user by certified mail of such fact and direct that the user submit a report to the coordinator within ten days of receipt of the notice describing actions taken or to be taken to discover and eliminate the cause of the false alarms. (2) If the alarm user submits a report as directed, the coordinator shall determine if the actions taken or to be taken will prevent the occurrence of false alarms. If he determines that the action will prevent the occurrence of false alarms, he shall notify the alarm user in writing that administrative fees will not be assessed at this time and that, if one more false alarm occurs, administrative fees will be assessed. (3) If no report is submitted, or if the coordinator determines that the actions taken or to be taken will not prevent the occurrence of false alarms, the coordinator shall give notice by certified mail to the user that, on the tenth day after the date of the notice, if the user does not file within ten days of the notice a written request for a hearing, administrative fees will be assessed for each subsequent false alarm during the calendar year. (4) If a hearing is requested, written notice of the time and place of the hearing shall be served on the user by the coordinator by certified mail at least ten days prior to the date set for the hearing, which date shall not be more than 21 or less than ten days after the filing of the request for hearing. (5) The hearing shall be before the coordinator; and the alarm user shall have the right to present written and oral evidence, subject to the right of cross examination. If the coordinator determines that four or more false alarms have occurred in a calendar year, and that the user has not taken actions which will prevent the occurrence of false alarms, the coordinator shall issue written findings to that effect and stating that administrative fees shall be assessed for each subsequent false alarm to which the police react during that calendar year. (6) Fees assessed for subsequent false alarms shall be at the rate of $25.00 for each false alarm to which the police react and where the police actually arrive at the location of the alarm. (Code 1959, § 11A-45; Ord. No. 1577, § 1, 1-8-90)

Biloxi Code of Ordinances § 12-3-9 Confidentiality of information.

Sec. 12-3-9. - Confidentiality of information. (a) All information submitted in compliance with this article shall be held in the strictest confidence and shall be deemed a public record exempt from disclosure pursuant to state statute, and any violation of confidentiality shall be deemed a violation of this article. The coordinator shall be charged with the sole responsibility for the maintenance of all records of any kind whatsoever under this article. (b) Subject to the requirements of confidentiality, the coordinator shall develop and maintain statistics having the purpose of assisting alarm system evaluation for use by members of the public. (Code 1959, § 11A-46; Ord. No. 1577, § 1, 1-8-90)

Biloxi Code of Ordinances § 12-3-10 Disposition of revenue; records of revenue and administrative costs.

Sec. 12-3-10. - Disposition of revenue; records of revenue and administrative costs. (a) All fees, fines and forfeitures of bail collected pursuant to this article shall be general fund revenue of the city; provided, however, that the city shall maintain records sufficient to identify the sources and amounts of that revenue. (b) The city shall maintain records in accordance with sound accounting principles sufficient to determine on a fiscal year basis the direct costs of administration of the provisions of this article by the city officers or employees, including salaries and wages (excluding the coordinator, individually), travel, office supplies, postage, printing facilities, office equipment and other properly chargeable costs. (c) The term "sound accounting principles," as used in this section, shall include but not be limited to practices required by the terms of any state or federal grant or regulations applicable thereto which relate to the purpose of this article. (Code 1959, § 11A-47; Ord. No. 1577, § 1, 1-8-90)

Biloxi Code of Ordinances § 12-3-11 Enforcement of article; penalty for violation of article.

Sec. 12-3-11. - Enforcement of article; penalty for violation of article. (a) Enforcement of this article will be by municipal court procedure. (b) Violation of this article shall be punished upon conviction by a fine of not more than $300.00. (c) The failure or omission to comply with any section of this article shall be deemed a violation and may be so prosecuted, and the violator shall be subject to the penalty provided in subsection (b) of this section. (Code 1959, § 11A-48; Ord. No. 1577, § 1, 1-8-90)

Source: City of Biloxi, Mississippi, Code of Ordinances and Land Development Ordinance (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/ms/biloxi/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COOR_CH12LIBURE_ARTIIIALSYFetched: 11/1/2026