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AN ORDINANCE REPEALING SECTIONS 20-30 THROUGH 2O-36 OF ARTICLE II OF CHAPTER 20, AND ADDING A NEW ARTICLE II TO CHAPTER 20, OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF CHARLOTTESVILLE, 1990, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO FALSE ALARMS. BE IT ORDAINED by the Council of the City of Charlottesville, Virginia, that Sections 20-30 through 20-36 of Article II of Chapter 20 of the Charlottesville City Code, 1990, as amended, are hereby repealed, and a new Article II (Automatic Communication and Alarm Systems) is hereby added to Chapter 20, to read as follows: CHAPTER 20. POLICE ARTICLE II. AUTOMATIC COMMUNICATION AND ALARM SYSTEMS Section 20-31. Declaration of findings and policy. This Council hereby finds that sub -standard alarm systems, and the false alarms associated with them, constitute a hazard to the police and to the public in general. The regulation of alarm systems and false alarms is necessary to promote the health, safety and welfare of the citizens of the City of Charlottesville. False alerts of intrusions or robberies increase the City's police operational costs, divert police resources from other critical areas, and increase the opportunities for auto collisions and other incidents en route to the site of false alarms. Toward the end of preserving the integrity and efficiency of the City's emergency police response services, those who utilize Automatic Alarm Systems must be required to maintain those systems in good working order and to promptly repair any defects which may cause those systems to trigger false alarms. Section 20-32. Violations of Article. Unless otherwise specifically provided, a violation of any provision of this article shall constitute a Class 4 misdemeanor. Section 20-33. Definitions. The following words, terms article, shall have the meanings except where the context clearly and phrases, when used in this ascribed to them in this section, indicates a different meaning: Alarm System. Any device or assembly of equipment and devices (including, but not necessarily limited to, any Automatic Communication Device) that will, upon activation, cause an audible, visible or other signal to register at any office of the City, its Police Department, or its Emergency Communications Center, and