[§436M-1]  Definitions.  Whenever used
in this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires:



"Alarm business" means any
individual, corporation, or other business entity that engages in selling,
leasing, maintaining, servicing, repairing, altering, replacing, moving, or
installing any alarm system in or on any building, place, or premises, except
motor vehicles.



"Alarm system" means any device that
is designed for the detection of an unauthorized entry into any building,
place, or premises, except motor vehicles, or for alerting others to the
commission of an unlawful act, or both, and that emits a sound or transmits a
signal or message when activated.



"Audible alarm system" means any
alarm system that emits a sound when activated.



"Automatic telephone dialer" means
any alarm system that, when activated, dials a programmed telephone number and,
when the telephone is answered, plays a recorded message informing the listener
of an unauthorized entry or unlawful act.



"False alarm" means any alarm activation
that is communicated to the police but that is not in response to an actual or
threatened criminal act.  False alarms include alarm activations caused by
negligence, by improperly installed or maintained equipment, and by efforts to
summon the police for a purpose other than that for which the alarm is
designed.  False alarms shall not include alarm activations for which the cause
cannot be determined, or is in reasonable doubt, or is beyond the control of
the alarm user or alarm business.



"False alarm rate" means the total
number of false alarms received by the police relative to the total number of
alarm systems in operation. [L 1986, c 134, pt of §1]