[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Committee of the Township of Independence 12-14-1987
by Ord. No. 87-23 (Ch. 65 of the 1984 Code). Amendments noted
where applicable.]
The purpose of this chapter is to provide standards and regulations
for various types of intrusion, burglar, fire, smoke and other emergency alarm
devices, whether it be a dial alarm, direct alarm, indirect alarm or local
alarm.
The provisions of this chapter shall apply to any person who operates,
maintains or owns any dial alarm, direct alarm, indirect alarm or local alarm
system designed to summon the Police Department, Fire Department or other
municipal agencies to any location in response to any type of alarm signal.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings
indicated:
That type of device using telephone lines transmitting an alarm directly
through to the Police Department.
Any alarm or device which, when activated, signals the Police Department
directly by the use of an electronic or radio signal.
Any alarm activated by inadvertence, negligence or the unintentional
act of someone other than an intruder and shall include, as well, alarms caused
by malfunction of the alarm device.
Any alarm or device which, when activated, signals any nongovernmental
person, entity or agency, whether located within or without the territorial
limits of the Township of Independence, by use of a dial, electronic or radio
signal, the report of which is then, by the use of a dial or electronic radio
signal or manual voice response, communicated to the Police Department.
Any alarm or device which, when activated, produces a visual and/or
noise signal and is not connected through telephone lines to the Police Department.
Includes any natural person, partnership, corporation, association,
business, club or organization.
A.
Any person who owns or operates a dial alarm, direct
alarm, indirect alarm or local alarm shall make application for the continuance
thereof in writing to the Chief of Police within 30 days from the final passage
of this chapter, which application shall contain at least the location of
the device, the name and address of the installer of the 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 of Police.
B.
No person may install or cause to be installed a dial
alarm, direct alarm, indirect alarm or local alarm device without first obtaining
a written permit for the installation from the Chief of Police of the Township
of Independence.
C.
There shall be no fee charged for the processing of an
application to install a dial alarm, direct alarm, indirect alarm or local
alarm device.
A.
Persons having either dial alarms, direct alarms, indirect
alarms or local alarm devices shall be required to leave with the Police Department
the name of a person or persons who can be reached in case of malfunction
of the equipment in order that the device can be temporarily disconnected.
B.
Persons having alarm devices which are being tested or
repaired shall notify the Police Department before tests or repairs commence
and after completion of the same, so as to avoid the possibility of activating
a false alarm.
A.
In the case of false alarms, any person having knowledge
thereof shall immediately notify the Police Department in the fastest possible
manner.
B.
The Chief of Police shall cause an investigation to be
made of all false alarms and keep a record of said alarms on file. For such
false alarms, the Township Committee prescribe the following penalties: For
the first and second false alarms in any given calendar year, a warning shall
be issued; for the third false alarm in the same calendar year, a fine of
$15 shall be paid to the Township of Independence; for the forth and subsequent
false alarms, a fine of $75 shall be paid. After four false alarms in any
given calendar year, the Township Committee reserves the right to require
disconnection of the device for a limited or permanent time, provided that
no such permit shall be revoked or suspended without giving the permittee
an opportunity to show cause before the Township Committee why such action
should not be taken.
A.
In the event of a malfunction of the equipment and no person can be located to secure the device, then the owner shall be liable to pay a penalty of $25, in addition to the penalties prescribed in § 117-6B.
B.
Any person not complying with any of the provisions of
this chapter shall be liable to a penalty of $50 payable to the Township of
Independence. Said penalty and all other penalties may be recovered in a court
of law by the issuance of the Municipal Court of Independence and recoverable
in the same manner as a fine imposed for any offense.
This chapter shall take effect immediately upon final passage and publication
as required by law.
