§ 1225 — Duties of security alarm businesses [For application of this section, see 81 Del. Laws, c. 73, § 7]

(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.

(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.

Legislative History

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