[Amended 5-22-2025 by Ord. No. 25-16]
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
ALARM DEVICE
Any type of alarm system actuating equipment in the alarm panel providing warning of intrusion, fire, smoke, flood or other peril.
ALARM PANEL
That device existing in the Police Department of the Borough of Garwood giving visual or audio indications or both, requiring a response thereto by the Police Department, Fire Department or other municipal agency.
DIAL ALARM
That type of device that employs an automatic dialing system precoded to connect with a telephone in the Police Headquarters rather than to the alarm panel.
FALSE ALARM
The activation of an alarm system resulting from mechanical failure, malfunction, improper maintenance, or any cause other than an actual fire or emergency condition for which the system is designed to detect and respond, or the testing of alarms required by law or practice without prior notice to the Garwood Police Department
LOCAL ALARM
Any alarm or device which when activated produces a signal not connected to the alarm panel, such as burglar alarms actuating bell devices.
PERSON
Deemed to include any natural person, partnership, corporation or association or any other legal entity.
A. 
No person shall install, operate or maintain any type of alarm system, unless the alarm system has been registered with the Police Chief or Fire Chief as follows.
B. 
An alarm system shall be deemed registered when the occupant of the building in which it is installed shall have filed with the Police Chief a registration form which shall include, among other data, the location of the device, the name of the installer of said device, the type of device, provisions relating to false alarms and testing procedures, a list of persons to be contacted in the event of an alarm, and other information as may be required by the Chief.
(1) 
All local alarms shall be equipped with a time relay or battery to limit the sounding of alarms to 30 minutes or less.
(2) 
Owners of alarm systems upon registration shall be deemed as having consented to inspection of the premises in which said alarm devices are installed at reasonable hours by the Police Chief and/or Fire Chief, or their designated representatives.
(3) 
No dial alarm shall be permitted unless it shall first have been:
(a) 
Registered with the Chief of Police as hereinafter required.
(b) 
Approved by the Chief of Police after approval thereof by the New Jersey Bell Telephone Company and the performance of a test alarm conducted by or on behalf of the applicant.
(4) 
All dial alarms shall be coded as well to notify a relative, neighbor, or other third party who shall be named in the registration required by this article.
(5) 
All dial alarms shall be capable of being disconnected by the owner to permit a call to the police switchboard in the event that a false alarm occurs.
[Amended 5-22-2025 by Ord. No. 25-16]
A. 
In the case of false alarm any person having knowledge thereof shall immediately notify the Police or Fire Department. In addition, in the case of false alarms the Police Chief and/or Fire Chief shall cause an investigation to be made and keep a record of said alarms on file. For such false alarms the following penalties shall be imposed:
(1) 
For the first and second false alarms in any given calendar year, a warning shall be issued;
(2) 
For the third false alarm in the same calendar year, a fine of $500 shall be paid to the Borough of Garwood; and
(3) 
For the fourth and subsequent false alarms a fine of $2,000 shall be paid to the Borough of Garwood.
B. 
Where the investigation of the Police and/or Fire Department discloses continued abuse of the privilege of connection to the alarm panel or register and a disregard of the permittee for taking remedial steps to avoid false alarms, the Police Chief has the right to require disconnection from the alarm panel or register for limited or permanent time, provided that no such registration shall be revoked or suspended without giving the permittee an opportunity to show cause before the Chief of Police why such action should not be taken.
C. 
The Garwood Fire Chief, Garwood Deputy Fire Chief, or the highest-ranking fire officer for fire alarms will determine whether the alarm is a false alarm using the criteria in the chapter.
D. 
The ranking police officer on duty for police alarms will determine whether the alarm is a false alarm using the criteria in the chapter.
E. 
The designation of a false alarm will be recorded by Police Dispatch and maintained as a record.
F. 
The Garwood Police Department is responsible for enforcing this section and issuing summonses related to this section. Garwood's Code Enforcement Officer may also issue summonses related to this section. The Garwood Fire Chief and/or Deputy Chief may, in the absence of the Garwood Police Department, may also recommend to the Garwood Police Department that summonses should be issued.
A. 
The Chief of Police may from time to time promulgate rules and regulations supplementing this article in order to provide for recordkeeping and efficient management of said system.
B. 
If any article, section or subsection of this article is for any reason held to be unconstitutional or invalid, such provisions shall be deemed severable.