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.