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City of Pawtucket, RI
Providence County
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Table of Contents
Table of Contents
[Approved 6-14-2011 by Ch. No. 2965]
A. 
All fire alarm systems connected to the Fire Department shall be maintained in good operating condition at all times.
B. 
If a fire alarm system connected to the Fire Department transmits an alarm signal condition to the Fire Department through a mechanical failure, malfunction, improper installation or negligence of the user, his employees or agents, the Fire Chief shall assess the owner a false alarm service fee for each false alarm in excess of two false alarms occurring within a calendar year. All fees assessed hereunder shall be paid to the Treasurer of the City.
C. 
False fire alarms caused by acts of God, including but not limited to power outages, hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, thunderstorms or adverse weather or atmospheric disturbances shall not be deemed to be a false fire alarm.
D. 
False alarm incidents shall be cumulative. The following fees shall be assessed for false alarms per annum:
[Amended 8-6-2020 by Ch. No. 3229]
Incidents
Fees
0 to 2
$0
3 to 5
$150 per incident
6 to 10
$200 per incident
In excess of 10
$300 per incident
E. 
The provisions of this section shall not apply to fire alarm systems owned and/or operated by agencies of the City of Pawtucket.
A. 
All fire alarm systems shall be maintained in good operating condition at all times.
B. 
If a fire alarm system transmits an alarm signal through a mechanical failure, malfunction, improper installation or negligence of the user, his employees or agents, which results in notification to and/or the dispatching of Fire Department personnel to the scene of the alarm, the Fire Chief shall assess the premises owner a false alarm service fee for each false alarm in excess of two false alarms occurring within a calendar year. All fees assessed hereunder shall be paid to the Treasurer of the City.
C. 
False fire alarms caused by acts of God, including but not limited to power outages, hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, thunderstorms or adverse weather or atmospheric disturbances shall not be deemed to be a false fire alarm.
D. 
False alarms resulting from notifications by a nonowner of the premises where no alarm ever transmitted shall not be deemed to be a false fire alarm.
E. 
False alarm incidents shall be cumulative. The following fees shall be assessed for false alarms per annum:
[Amended 8-6-2020 by Ch. No. 3229]
Incidents
Fees
0 to 2
$0
3 to 5
$150 per incident
6 to 10
$200 per incident
In excess of 10
$300 per incident
F. 
The provisions of this section shall not apply to fire alarm systems owned and/or operated by agencies of the City of Pawtucket.
A. 
Whenever an alarm is activated in the City, thereby requiring an emergence response to the location by the Fire Department, and the Fire Department does respond, a Fire Department officer on the scene of the activated alarm system shall inspect the area protected by the system and shall determine whether the emergency response was in fact required as indicated by the alarm system or whether in some way the alarm system malfunctioned and thereby activated a false alarm.
B. 
If the Fire Department officer at the scene of the activated alarm system determines the alarm to be false, said officer shall make a report of the false alarm as notification of which shall be mailed or delivered to the alarm user, at the address of said alarm system installation location, advising the alarm user of the false alarm.
C. 
The Fire Department Chief, or his or her designee, shall have the right to inspect any alarm system on the premises to which a response has been made, and he or she may cause an inspection of such system to be made at any reasonable time thereafter to determine whether it is being used in conformity with the terms of this article.
A. 
Any alarm user who is aggrieved by an assessment received in accordance with §§ 210-34 and/or 210-35, may within five working days of notice receipt, appeal in writing to the Director of Public Safety for consideration to be waived from the assessment. The Director of Public Safety or his/her designee will review the appeal with the requested consideration of waiver. If still unsatisfied, the alarm user may, within 30 days of the final decision of the Director of Public Safety, appeal to the Pawtucket Municipal Court.
B. 
Failure to pay any monetary charge under §§ 210-34 and/or 210-35 or to file an appeal to the Municipal Court following 30 days of the final decision of the Director of Public Safety shall constitute a violation of this article punishable by fines of two times the amount of the monetary charge.