(a) A security alarm business shall provide written and oral instructions to each of its security alarm system users for every security alarm system site on the proper use and operation of its security alarm systems. Such instructions shall specifically include all instructions necessary to turn the security alarm system on and off and instructions on the avoidance of false alarms.

Terms Used In Delaware Code Title 24 Sec. 1225

  • Alarm: means a security alarm system signal that is created by the activation of a security alarm system. See Delaware Code Title 24 Sec. 1222
  • Automatic voice dialer: means any electrical, electronic, mechanical, or other device capable of being programmed to send a prerecorded voice message, when activated, over a telephone line, radio or other communication system, to a law-enforcement authority, public safety or emergency services agency requesting dispatch. See Delaware Code Title 24 Sec. 1222
  • Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
  • False alarm: means a security alarm system dispatch request to a law-enforcement authority, when no emergency of actual or threatened criminal activity requiring immediate response exists. See Delaware Code Title 24 Sec. 1222
  • Law-enforcement authority: means any authorized representative of a law-enforcement agency. See Delaware Code Title 24 Sec. 1222
  • Monitoring: means the process by which a security alarm business receives signals from a security alarm system and relays a security alarm system dispatch request for the purpose of summoning law enforcement to the security alarm system site. See Delaware Code Title 24 Sec. 1222
  • Monitoring station: means an office or entity whereby a security alarm business conducts monitoring of security alarm systems for purposes of dispatch and notification. See Delaware Code Title 24 Sec. 1222
  • Panic alarm: means an audible security alarm system signal generated by the manual activation of a device intended to signal a life threatening or emergency situation requiring law-enforcement response. See Delaware Code Title 24 Sec. 1222
  • Person: means an individual, corporation, partnership, association, organization, or similar entity. See Delaware Code Title 24 Sec. 1222
  • Responder: means an individual capable of reaching the security alarm system site within 30 minutes and having access to the security alarm system site, the code to the security alarm system, and the authority to approve repairs to the security alarm system. See Delaware Code Title 24 Sec. 1222
  • Security alarm business: is a s defined in § 1201 of this title. See Delaware Code Title 24 Sec. 1222
  • Security alarm system: is a s defined in § 1201 of this title. See Delaware Code Title 24 Sec. 1222
  • Security alarm system administrator: means a person designated by the State with authority to administer, control and review false alarm reduction efforts and administer the provisions of this section. See Delaware Code Title 24 Sec. 1222
  • Security alarm system dispatch request: means a notification to a law-enforcement authority that a security alarm system, either manual or automatic, has been activated at a particular security alarm system site. See Delaware Code Title 24 Sec. 1222
  • Security alarm system site: means a single fixed premises or location served by a security alarm system or systems. See Delaware Code Title 24 Sec. 1222
  • Security alarm system user: means any person or entity, which has contracted for monitoring, repair, installation or maintenance services from a security alarm business for a security alarm system, or which owns or operates a security alarm system which is not monitored, maintained or repaired under contract. See Delaware Code Title 24 Sec. 1222
  • Verify: means at least 2 attempts by a security alarm business, or its representative, to contact the security alarm system site and/or security alarm system user by telephone and/or other electronic means, whether or not actual contact with a person is made, to determine whether a security alarm system signal is valid before requesting law-enforcement dispatch, in an attempt to avoid an unnecessary security alarm system dispatch request. See Delaware Code Title 24 Sec. 1222
  • Year: means a calendar year, and is equivalent to the words "year of our Lord. See Delaware Code Title 1 Sec. 302
  • Zones: means division of devices into which a security alarm system is divided to indicate the general location from which a security alarm system signal is transmitted. See Delaware Code Title 24 Sec. 1222

(b) A security alarm business shall be responsible for the prevention of false alarms during installations, servicing, repairs and maintenance of security alarm systems.

(c) A security alarm business shall ensure that battery backup power is installed during new installations of security alarm systems.

(d) A security alarm business shall not use an automatic voice dialer.

(e) A security alarm business providing monitoring services shall attempt to verify an activated alarm signal by contacting at least 2 different telephone numbers provided by a security alarm system user who has authority to cancel the dispatch before a security alarm system dispatch request is made, unless the security alarm system administrator has waived the 2-call dispatch requirement. This subsection shall not apply to duress and holdup alarms.

(f) A security alarm business that issues security alarm system dispatch requests must maintain for a period of at 1 year from the date of a security alarm system dispatch request, records relating to security alarm system dispatch requests. Records must include name, address and telephone number of the security alarm system user, the security alarm system zone or zones activated, the time of a security alarm system dispatch request and evidence of its efforts to verify. These records shall immediately be made available to the security alarm system administrator or any police officer at any time during normal business hours.

(g) A security alarm business providing monitoring services shall provide the relevant police department or departments with a toll-free telephone number for contacting monitoring station dispatchers and for obtaining information as provided in subsection (f) of this section.

(h) A security alarm business shall not make a security alarm system dispatch request if monitoring equipment indicates a security alarm system malfunction.

(i) After completion of the installation of a security alarm system, an employee of the security alarm business responsible for installing the security alarm system shall review with the security alarm system user a false alarm prevention checklist approved by the security alarm system administrator.

(j) A security alarm business responsible for monitoring a security alarm system at a registered security alarm system site shall not make a security alarm system dispatch request to a law-enforcement authority in response to a burglar alarm signal, excluding panic, duress and holdup signals, during the first 7 days following a security alarm system installation. The security alarm system administrator may grant a security alarm system user’s request for an exemption from this waiting period based upon a determination that special circumstances substantiate the need for the exemption.

(k) A security alarm business responsible for monitoring a security alarm system at a registered security alarm system site shall:

(1) Report alarm signals by using telephone numbers designated by the security alarm system administrator;

(2) Communicate security alarm system dispatch requests to law-enforcement;

(3) Communicate cancellations to the law-enforcement authority;

(4) Ensure that all security alarm system users of security alarm systems equipped with a duress, holdup or panic alarm are given adequate training as to the proper use of the duress, holdup or panic alarm;

(5) Communicate any available information (north, south, front, back, floor, etc.) about the location on all alarm signals related to the security alarm system dispatch request;

(6) Communicate the type of alarm activation (silent or audible, interior or perimeter);

(7) Provide a security alarm system user registration number when requesting law-enforcement dispatch;

(8) After a security alarm system dispatch request, promptly advise the law-enforcement authority if the monitoring company knows that the security alarm system user or the responder is on the way to the security alarm system site;

(9) Attempt to contact the security alarm system user within 24 hours via mail, fax, telephone, or other electronic means when an security alarm system dispatch is made; and,

(10) Beginning June 10, 2012, monitoring companies must maintain for a period of at least 1 year from the date of the security alarm system dispatch request, records relating to security alarm system dispatch requests. Records must include the name, address and telephone number of the security alarm system user, the security alarm system zones or zones activated, the time of security alarm system dispatch request and evidence of an attempt to verify. The security alarm system administrator may request copies of such records for individually named security alarm system users. If the request is made within 60 days of an security alarm system dispatch request, the monitoring company shall furnish requested records within 3 business days of receiving the request. If the records are requested between 60 days to 1 year after security alarm system dispatch request, the monitoring company shall furnish the requested records within 30 days of receiving the request.

(11) A security alarm system installation company and/or monitoring company that purchases security alarm system accounts from another person shall notify the security alarm system administrator of such purchase and provide details as may be reasonably requested by the security alarm system administrator.

76 Del. Laws, c. 179, § ?4; 81 Del. Laws, c. 73, §§ ? 3, 5, 6;