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DOES LOCKSMITH NEED ALARM LICENSE
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Ken:
After I searched through the archives I could not find any post from you related to Locksmithing and the relationship to access control installation by security system license holders. As you know, Locksmithing is a different license but we can’t perform an installation without (usually) installing some type of locking device.
What does the law state? Speaking to locksmiths you get one answer, while speaking to integrators we get another. We perform this work, but have been concerned about our legal standing for several reasons, including the viability of contracts if we are performing unlicensed work.
Mitch Cohen
BRIC SECURITY
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RESPONSE
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    When looking for articles on a specific issue go to our Articles Page [https://www.kirschenbaumesq.com/page/alarm-articles] then to your tool bar, Edit, Find feature, and put in the word for topci you are looking for.  I put in locksmith and came up with this:
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QUESTION:  LOCKSMITH V. ALARM LICENSE FOR ACCESS CONTROL JULY 8, 2015
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Ken
    Our licensing as locksmiths covers Access Control. This is what has been known to us in the past. However, with our new endeavors in Alarms and Monitoring contracts, the situation has forced us to think that it may be possible for someone to make the argument that the Bluetooth/app driven lock products could be considered home automation.
    We have never been faced with any trouble about it. We know that we are completely legal and compliant while installing these products. We simply didn’t know if this particular scenario had come up before and if so, how it played out.
ZB
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RESPONSE
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    Your jurisdiction and license requirements will determine which activity is covered by which license.  Installing locks and access control is traditionally recognized as locksmith work, covered by a locksmith license.  But once the access control system is connected to the alarm system to report unauthorized entry it can become alarm equipment, requiring an alarm license.  I suspect that most licensing laws will focus on the alarm system and causing a dispatch to a central station.  In that situation the system requires an alarm license.  If a local access control system is upgraded to remote access control I don't think that would be considered an alarm system.  Not all remote activated integrated systems require an alarm license, only those connected to the alarm system.  However, license terminology needs to be reviewed in each jurisdiction to be sure which license is required.
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DISCUSSION REGARDING CENTRAL STATION PHONE LINES AND RECEIVERS
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Ken
    Do you have any discussions regarding central station phone lines and receivers...?
Thanks
Mike
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RESPONSE
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    Many and they all say the same thing, make sure you own your own lines.  You don't need to own your own receivers, but you should be sure that your central station has agreed to provide you with all your subscriber data in electronic and paper format if you decide to lease the central station.  Don't allow the central station to hold you hostage with this data - which it can if you don't have the right to the data in your contract.  To be sure what your rights are with your central station insist that your central station use and give you a central station Dealer Agreement with the Kirschenbaum Contract TM.  There will be check boxes on the front of the contracts highlighting the essential terms of your relationship with the central station.  You will still be indemnifying the central station, and have to pay its charges, but you'll know up front if you've given the central station the right to: 

  • monitor all your accounts
  • increase your charges
  • refuse to provide data electronically
  • make you pay back a loan
  • hold you to a long term agreement
  • require you to sell your monitoring accounts to the central station