It is the purpose of this chapter to protect and promote the health,
safety and general welfare of the residents of the Town of Farmington by reducing
the number of avoidable alarms to emergency agencies. Avoidable alarms contribute
to ineffective utilization of public safety manpower and equipment. In addition,
avoidable alarms require emergency responses which may contribute to a high
accident rate and delay responses to genuine emergencies. This chapter seeks
to ensure that fire and police communications facilities will be available
to dispatch personnel for actual emergencies and to alleviate the nuisance
of audible alarms to the surrounding community.
For the purpose of this chapter, certain words and phrases shall be
construed herein as set forth in this section, unless it is apparent from
the context that a different meaning is intended:
APPELLANT
A person who perfects an appeal pursuant to this chapter.
AUDIBLE ALARM
A device designed for the detection of fire which generates an audible
sound on the premises when it is activated.
AVOIDABLE ALARM
The activation of an alarm system through mechanical failure, malfunction,
improper installation or the negligence of the owner, user, custodian or lessee
of alarm system or his employee or agent or through any other cause or which,
through direct connection to an emergency agency or which, through notification
of any emergency agency by a private answering point or automatic dialing
device or through notification to an emergency agency by any other second
party or means, indicates that an emergency situation exists requiring an
emergency response within the Town of Farmington when, in fact, an emergency
situation does not exist. An avoidable alarm also includes the knowing or
intentional activation of an alarm to an emergency agency when the activator
knows that an emergency situation does not exist. Avoidable alarm does not
include alarms activated by violent conditions of nature such as hurricanes,
tornadoes, earthquakes or any other similar cause beyond the control of the
user of an alarm system. Activation of an alarm system under circumstances
in which the activator reasonably believes an emergency situation exists is
not an avoidable alarm. Notwithstanding the above, the term "false alarm"
shall not mean an alarm purposely generated by the owner of a structure for
purposes of testing the effectiveness of said alarm, provided that the appropriate
fire and police agencies shall have first been given five days' prior written
notice of the date, time and location of such test.
BUILDING INSPECTOR
The Building Inspector of the Town of Farmington or his deputy. It
shall also include the Code Enforcement Officer of the Town or his deputy.
FIRE ALARM SYSTEM
Any mechanical or electrical device which is designed or used for
the detection of fire and which emits a sound or transmits a signal or message
when activated. Fire alarm systems include but are not limited to direct-dial
telephone services, audible alarms and proprietor alarms. Devices which are
not designed or used to register alarms that are audible, visible or perceptible
outside the protected building, structure or facility are not included within
this definition, nor are auxiliary devices installed by a telephone company
or cable television company to protect its systems which might be damaged
or disrupted by this use of an alarm system.
NOTICE
Written notice, given by personal service upon the addressee or given
by United States mail, postage prepaid, addressed to the person to be notified
at his last known address. Service of such notice shall be effective upon
the completion of personal service or upon the placing of the same in the
custody of the United States Postal Service.
PERSON
Any person who owns, leases, contracts for or otherwise obtains an
alarm system. A person or entity may be both a subscriber and an alarm business.
REMOTE AUTOMATIC ALARM
Any device installed in or on any structure within the Town of Farmington
for the purpose of detecting the presence of an intruder or of smoke or fire
and which is capable of communicating an alarm or signal by electronic, telephonic
or other direct means to a receiver maintained by any fire or police agency
or by any state or local government or by any agency or subdivision thereof.
TOWN
The Town of Farmington.