[Ord. of 2-1-1982, § 1]
This chapter shall be known and may be cited as an "Ordinance
Regulating Burglar, Holdup, and Fire Alarm Systems and Users."
[Ord. of 2-1-1982, § 2]
(a)
The purpose of this chapter is to provide minimum standards and regulations
applicable to burglar, holdup and fire alarm users as defined in this
chapter, and to encourage the installation of protective alarm systems
in all dwellings, commercial, industrial and agricultural structures.
(b)
ALARM AGENT
ALARM BUSINESS
ALARM SYSTEM
ALARM USER
ANNUNCIATOR
ANSI
ANSWERING SERVICE
AUTOMATIC DIALING DEVICE
AUTOMATIC HOLDUP ALARM SYSTEM
BURGLAR ALARM SYSTEM
CENTRAL STATION
CENTRAL STATION EQUIPMENT
CENTRAL STATION SYSTEM
CITY
DIRECT CONNECT
DIRECT LINE
FALSE ALARM
FIRE ALARM SYSTEM
FIRE DEPARTMENT
FIRE MARSHAL
HOLDUP ALARM SYSTEM
INTERCONNECT
LOCAL ALARM SYSTEM
MANUAL HOLDUP ALARM SYSTEM
MODIFIED CENTRAL STATION
PERSON
POLICE CHIEF
POLICE DEPARTMENT or POLICE
PRIMARY TRUNKLINE
PROPRIETARY SYSTEM
REMOTE SIGNALING SYSTEM
SIGNAL LINE
SPECIAL TRUNKLINE
SUBSCRIBER
TELEPHONE COMPANY
UL
For the purpose of this chapter, the following terms, phrases, words
and their derivations shall have the meanings given herein. When not
inconsistent with the context, words used in the present tense include
the future, words used in the plural number include the singular number
and words in the singular number include the plural number. The word
"shall" is always mandatory and not merely directory.
Any person employed by an alarm business, whose duties include
the altering, installing, maintaining, moving, repairing, replacing,
selling, servicing, responding to, or causing others to respond to
an alarm device.
Any business operated by a person for a profit which engages
in the activity of altering, installing, leasing, maintaining, repairing,
replacing, selling, servicing or responding to a burglar, holdup fire
alarm system, or which causes any of these activities to take place.
An assembly of equipment and devices arranged to signal the
presence of a hazard requiring urgent attention and to which police
or fire are expected to respond. In this chapter, the term "alarm
system" shall include the terms "automatic holdup alarm systems,"
"burglar alarm systems," "holdup alarm systems," and "manual holdup
alarm systems." Alarm systems which monitor temperature, humidity
or any other condition not directly related to the detection of an
unauthorized intrusion into a premises or an attempted robbery or
a fire or smoke condition at a premises are specifically excluded
from the provisions of this chapter.
Any person on whose premises an alarm system is maintained
within the City of Milford except for alarm systems on motor vehicles
or proprietary systems. If, however, an alarm system on a motor vehicle
is connected with an alarm system at a premises (other than a proprietary
system), the person using such a system is an alarm user. Also excluded
from this definition and from the coverage of this chapter are persons
who use alarm systems to alert or signal persons within the premises
in which the alarm system is located, of an attempted unauthorized
intrusion or holdup attempt. If such a system, however, employs an
audible signal emitting sounds or a flashing light or beacon designed
to signal persons outside the premises, such system shall be within
the definition of alarm system and shall be subject to this chapter.
The instrumentation on an alarm console at the receiving
terminal of a signal line through which both visual and audible signals
show when an alarm device at a particular location has been activated,
or it may also indicate line trouble.
Stands for the American National Standards Institute.
Refers to a telephone answering service providing among its
services the service of receiving on a continuous basis through trained
employees, emergency signals from alarm systems, and thereafter immediately
relaying the message by live voice to the communication center of
the Milford Police Department.
Refers to an alarm system which automatically sends over
regular telephone lines, by direct connection or otherwise, a prerecorded
voice message or coded signal indicating the existence of the emergency
situation that the alarm system is designed to detect.
An alarm system in which the signal transmission is initiated
by the action of the robber.
Refers to an alarm system signaling an entry or attempted
entry into the area protected by the system.
An office to which remote alarm and supervisory signaling
devices are connected, where operators supervise the circuits.
Refers to the signal receiving, recording or retransmitting
equipment installed in the central station.
A system in which the operation of electrical protection
circuits and devices are signaled automatically to, recorded in, maintained
and supervised from a central station having trained operators in
attendance at all times.
The City of Milford, Connecticut.
An alarm system which has the capability of transmitting
system signals to and receiving them at an agency maintained by the
local government; for example, a police communication center.
A telephone line leading directly from a central station
to the communication center of the Milford Police Department that
is for use only to report emergency signals on a person-to-person
basis.
The activation of an alarm system through mechanical failure,
malfunction, improper installation, or the negligence of the owner
or lessee of an alarm system, or of his employees or agents. Such
terminology does not include, for example, alarms caused by hurricanes,
tornadoes, earthquakes, or other violent conditions. False fire alarms
shall not mean alarms transmitted because of a water main break or
similar causes that occur outside of the protected property. "False
alarms," as defined in this chapter, also does not include those alarms
that are transmitted with a criminal, malicious or mischievous intent.
Refers to a signal or message from a person or device indicating
the existence of a fire or other emergency which requires Fire Department
action.
Those publicly supported companies authorized by the City
of Milford to provide fire protection services.
The certified person, designated as Fire Marshal by the City
of Milford, or his designated representative.
Refers to an alarm system signaling a robbery or attempted
robbery.
To connect an alarm system to a voice-grade telephone line,
either directly or through a mechanical device that utilizes a standard
telephone, for the purpose of using the telephone line to transmit
an emergency message upon the activation of the alarm system.
Refers to a signaling system which, when activated causes
an audible and/or visual signaling device to be activated in or on
the premises within which the system is installed.
Refers to an alarm system in which the signal transmission
is initiated by the direct action of the person attacked or by an
observer of the attack.
An office to which remote alarm and supervisory signaling
devices are connected, where operators supervise the circuits. Such
modified central station is not listed by Underwriter's Laboratories.
Any person, firm, partnership, association, corporation,
company or organization of any kind.
The Chief of the Police Department of the City of Milford,
or his designated representative.
The publicly supported Police Department of the City of Milford,
or any authorized agent thereof.
A telephone line leading directly into the communication
center of the Milford Police Department that is for the purpose of
handling emergency calls on a person-to-person basis, and which is
identified as such by a specific number included among the emergency
numbers listed in the telephone directory issued by the telephone
company and covering the service area within the Milford Police Department's
jurisdiction.
An alarm system sounding and/or recording alarm and supervisory
signals at a control center located within the protected premises,
the control center being under the supervision of the proprietor of
the protected premises. If a proprietary system includes a signal
line connected directly or by means of an automatic dialing device
to a police communication center, a central station, modified central
station or answering service, it thereby becomes an "alarm system"
as defined in this chapter.
An alarm signaling system which, when activated by an alarm
device, transmits a signal from an alarm signaling device to a central
location, other than the Milford Police Department, where appropriate
action is taken to investigate and respond to the signal.
Refers to the transmission line through which the signal
passes from one of the elements of the signal transmission to another.
A telephone line leading into the communication center of
the Milford Police Department and having the primary purpose of handling
emergency signals or messages originating either directly or through
a central location from automatic dialing devices.
A person who buys and/or leases, or otherwise obtains an
alarm signaling system and thereafter contracts with or hires an alarm
business to monitor and/or service the alarm device.
The utility that furnishes telephone services to the City
of Milford.
Stands for Underwriters' Laboratories.
[Ord. of 2-1-1982, § 3]
(a)
No automatic dialing device shall be interconnected to any trunkline
at the Milford Police Department after the effective date of this
chapter.
(b)
Within eight months after the effective date of this chapter, all
automatic dialing devices interconnected to any trunkline at the Milford
Police Department shall be disconnected therefrom. The owner or lessee
of such device shall be responsible for having the device disconnected
within the eight-month time period.
(c)
This section refers only to those trunklines terminating at the Milford
Police Department.
[Ord. of 2-1-1982, § 4]
(a)
Every alarm business selling or leasing to any person an automatic
dialing device which is installed on such person's premises in
the City of Milford after the effective date of this chapter shall
furnish that person with instructions that provide adequate information
to enable persons using such device to operate it properly and, if
the device is to be serviced or maintained by another alarm business,
shall furnish such other alarm business with a manual or other information
necessary to enable it to service or properly maintain such device.
(b)
If the Police Chief or Fire Marshal reasonably finds such information
to be incomplete or unclear, or inadequate to explain how the device
operates and is constructed, he may require the alarm business to
revise the information to meet his approval, and then to distribute
the revised information to persons who have had such devices installed,
as well as to persons subsequently having such devices installed.
(c)
Every alarm business selling or leasing to any person an automatic
dialing device which is installed on such person's premises in
the City of Milford after the effective date of this chapter shall
provide, or make available at all times, service to repair such device
should it malfunction, and shall furnish to the person buying or leasing
such device written information concerning how service may be obtained
at any time, including a telephone number to call for service.
[Ord. of 2-1-1982, § 5; Ord. of 7-10-2000, § 1]
An alarm device that is capable of sending a message, code,
signal or prerecorded voice message shall not be connected to any
telephone line terminating in the Milford Police Department or the
Milford Fire Department.
[Ord. of 2-1-1982, § 6]
Each owner or lessee, at his expense, is required to maintain
all components of his alarm system in good working order at all times
to insure that the sensory mechanism used in connection with such
device be adjusted to suppress false indications of holdups or intrusions
or fire or smoke conditions so that the device will not be activated
by impulses due to short flashes of light, wind, noises, vehicular
noise or other forces unrelated to genuine alarms.
[Ord. of 2-1-1982, § 7; Ord. of 7-10-2000, § 2]
No fire alarm system shall be tested or demonstrated without
making notification to the Milford Fire Department and no burglar,
holdup or panic alarm shall be tested or demonstrated without first
making notification to the Milford Police Department.
[Ord. of 2-1-1982, § 8]
When an alarm business service to its subscribers is disrupted
for any reason by the alarm business, or the alarm business becomes
aware of such disruption, it shall promptly notify its subscribers
by telephone that protection is no longer being provided. If, however,
the alarm business has written instructions from its subscriber not
to make such notification by telephone during certain hours, the alarm
business may comply with such instructions.
[Ord. of 7-10-2000, § 3]
[Ord. of 2-1-1982, § 10; Ord. of 7-10-2000, § 4]
(a)
Enforcement and administration of this chapter shall be the function
of the Chief of Police, or his designee, except that the Fire Marshal,
or his designee, shall have jurisdiction over fire alarm systems.
(b)
The City of Milford shall set the following standards for alarm performance:
(1)
A maximum of three false alarms from any one protected property
per calendar year shall be allowed.
(2)
After the third false alarm, the subscriber shall be notified
in writing or electronically. Such notification shall require that
their alarm system is inspected by the installing company and the
subscriber shall review alarm procedures with all employees.
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Also, written notification shall be made to the Police Chief
or Fire Marshal, as appropriate, indicating that the alarm problem
has been corrected. The letter shall be received by the appropriate
party within 15 days of notification of an alarm problem.
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(3)
Upon receipt of the fourth false alarm, the City of Milford
shall charge a penalty of $50. Upon receipt of the fifth false alarm,
the City of Milford shall charge a penalty of $75. Upon receipt of
the sixth alarm and any alarm thereafter, in any one calendar year,
the City of Milford shall charge a penalty of $90.
(c)
Failure of any owner or lessee, and/or alarm equipment supplier to
comply with the requirements of a written notice of a violation of
any provision hereof within 15 days of receipt of such notice exclusive
of Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, shall also constitute an infraction
punishable by a fine not to exceed $100 per violation, in addition
to any outstanding balances payable to the City of Milford. Such notice
shall continue in force and effect until full compliance with requirements
stated therein, and each and every failure to comply with such notice
within 24 hours after the three days allowed for compliance shall
constitute a separate offense.
[Ord. of 2-1-1982, § 11; Ord. of 7-10-2000, §§ 5, 6]
(a)
Immediately upon installation of an alarm system, the system shall
be registered with the Milford Police Department or Milford Fire Department,
as appropriate. Such registration shall contain the following information:
name, residence, and telephone number of the owner or lessee and any
other person authorized in an emergency to gain access to the alarmed
area. A minimum of two names, addresses, and telephone numbers shall
be supplied. In addition, the alarm company who installed the system,
or is maintaining the system, shall be supplied in accordance with
this section. It shall be the responsibility of the owner/tenant to
keep this information updated.
(b)
It shall be the responsibility of each alarm user to notify the police
or Fire Department, as appropriate, in writing, of any changes in
the list.
[Ord. of 2-1-1982, § 12]
Any person engaging in an alarm business in the City shall supply
the Police Chief with the name, address and telephone number of the
alarm business owners, in writing, within 30 days after the effective
date of this chapter. The address and telephone numbers shall be both
business and residence.
[Ord. of 2-1-1982, § 13]
The City of Milford, shall not be liable for any defects in
operation of any signal line system, for any failure or neglect to
respond appropriately upon receipt of an alarm from such a source,
for any failure or neglect of any person in connection with the installation,
operation, disconnection or removal of equipment, the transmission
of alarm signals, or the relaying of such signals or messages.
