The purpose of this article is to establish
standards and regulations concerning the installation, operation and
maintenance of certain alarm systems within the Township of Hardyston.
As used in this chapter, the following terms
shall have the meanings indicated:
ALARM SYSTEM
Any device employed to call attention to or provide warning
of intrusion by any person or by fire, smoke, flood or other peril,
whether the same provides a visual or audio response, alarm or warning.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this article, the term
"alarm system" shall not include self-contained battery or electrically
powered smoke detector or carbon monoxide detector units located within
single-family residences and which give out an audible signal. The
term "alarm system" shall also not include automobile alarm systems.
CENTRAL ALARM STATION
An alarm system that transmits the alarm to an alarm processing
center which then calls to dispatch the Police and/or Fire Department.
DIAL ALARM
That type of automatic telephone dialing service using the
telephone system to transmit an alarm of intrusion, fire, smoke, flood
or other peril to the Police Department or any other third party.
FALSE ALARM
Any alarm or signal of an alarm reported through a central
alarm station or through a dial alarm system which has been actuated
by inadvertence, negligence, intentional or unintentional act of person
other than an intruder, and including alarms caused by mechanical
failure, malfunction or improper installation of the alarm system
and related equipment. False alarms shall not include activation caused
by power or phone line interruptions, where such interruptions have
been reported to the Police Department.
PERSON
Any individual, person, firm, association, partnership, corporation,
organization or club.
REGISTRANT
Any person who operates, owns or leases an alarm system within
the scope of this article, who has been issued a registration permit
to operate and maintain such alarm system.
The provisions of this article shall apply to
any person who owns, operates, leases or maintains any dial alarm
system or alarm system utilizing a central alarm station which requires
a response by the Police Department, Fire Department, first aid squad
or any other Township agency. The provisions of this article shall
in no way prohibit service by a private source to persons within or
without the Township, so long as such activity is not in violation
of this article, and provided further that any person owning, operating,
leasing or maintaining a premises protected by an alarm system shall
be responsible for the registration thereof in accordance with this
article.
[Amended 4-18-2000 by Ord. No. 2000-7]
False alarms shall be considered a violation
of the provisions of this article. In case of false alarm, any person
having knowledge thereof shall immediately notify the Police Department.
The Police Department shall cause an investigation to be made of all
false alarms and shall keep a record of such false alarms on file.
The Police Department shall issue written warnings for the first four
false alarms on any registered system occurring within the same calendar
year. Subsequent false alarms shall be subject to the penalties provided
for below.
[Amended 4-18-2000 by Ord. No. 2000-7]
Any person who shall violate any of the terms or provisions of this article or who shall commit or do any act or thing prohibited by this article shall, upon conviction thereof, be punished in accordance with Chapter
1, Article
I, provided that minimum fines shall be established as follows:
A. Failure to register: $50.
B. False alarms. The holder of any registration permit,
except in the case of a permit issued for a publicly owned building,
shall be assessed a penalty for each false alarm in excess of four
occurring in any one calendar year. The penalties shall be assessed
as follows:
[Amended 5-20-2008 by Ord. No. 2008-04]
(1) Fifth
false alarm in the same calendar year: $100.
(2) Sixth
false alarm in the same calendar year: $200.
(3) Seventh
false alarm in the same calendar year: $300.
(4) Eighth
false alarm in the same calendar year: $400.
(5) All
subsequent false alarms in the same calendar year: $500.
[Added 5-20-2008 by Ord. No. 2008-04]
A. All alarm devices shall be installed in accordance with all applicable
municipal and governmental laws, ordinances and requirements.
B. Any unauthorized equipment may be disconnected by the Chief of Police
or his designated representative for noncompliance with this article;
any person installing, maintaining or using unauthorized equipment
shall be prosecuted for violation of this article; and each and every
day said equipment is in use shall be considered a separate violation.
C. A registrant or his representative shall respond to the source of
a signal or transmission from an alarm device as promptly as possible
after the activation of such device and shall contact the Police or
Fire Department dispatched to the scene. He shall relieve the police
or fireman in charge whenever there is no apparent fire or criminal
activity at the scene of the alarm.
D. Any registrant shall be deemed to have consented to inspection of
the premises on which said alarm device is installed, at reasonable
hours, by the Police or Fire Chief or his designated representative.
This provision shall not be construed to impose a duty on the municipality
to make inspections or to relieve the alarm owner from inspecting,
testing and maintaining his own alarm device(s).
E. All costs and recurring charges incurred in the installation and
maintenance of alarm systems shall be borne by the registrant.
F. All private alarm systems shall be maintained in good working order
by the registrant and, in particular, in a manner so as to avoid the
occurrence of false alarms. The occurrence of three false alarms in
one calendar month or at least two false alarms in each of three consecutive
calendar months shall constitute prima facie evidence that the system
was not maintained in good working order.
[Added 5-20-2008 by Ord. No. 2008-04]
The Township of Hardyston and its various departments, agencies
and officials shall be under no duty or obligation to any registrant
or to any other person or persons with respect to the adequacy, operation,
installation, repair or maintenance of the alarm console equipment
and any allied or related equipment or services and assumes no liability
in connection therewith. Upon issuance of a registration permit hereunder,
the registration permit holder hereby agrees to hold and save harmless
the Township of Hardyston and its departments, agencies and officials
from any liability or damages suffered as a result of or arising out
of improper or faulty installation, operation or maintenance of any
police or fire alarm system of the registrant or the improper or faulty
installation, operation or maintenance of the alarm console at the
Municipal Building. No action taken by the Township or the Township
Police Department pursuant to the provisions of this section shall
create any liability upon the Township or the Township Police Department
by reason of any failure of any alarm system and any failure to respond
to any emergency or any act of omission or commission relating to
any alarm system.