[HISTORY: Adopted by the City Council of the City of Troy 8-6-1987 (Art. V of Ch. 19 of the 1973 Code). Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
General penalty — See Ch. 1, Art. II.
Building Code — See Ch. 141, Art. I.
The purpose of this chapter is to promote the health, safety and general welfare of the people of the City of Troy, New York, including the protection of the property of the City and its inhabitants, by imposing regulations on the installation and maintenance of burglar and other emergency alarms in the City of Troy.
[Amended 11-2-1989]
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
EMERGENCY ALARM
Any alarm system designated to send a signal, recorded or otherwise, which terminates in any manner at the Police or Fire Department of the City of Troy, or any alarm system designed to emit an audible exterior signal at the scene of the installation.
FIRE DEPARTMENT
The Fire Department of the City of Troy.
POLICE DEPARTMENT
The Police Department of the City of Troy.
SUBSCRIBER
Any person, persons, associations or corporations seeking to install an emergency alarm upon premises under its control and located within the City of Troy.
A. 
Prior to installation of any emergency alarm in the City of Troy, an application shall be submitted to and approved by the Chief of Police or Fire Chief of the City of Troy or their designees.
B. 
Each application for an emergency alarm as required above shall include such information as is requested by the Chief of Police or Fire Chief, including but not limited to the address and location of the premises, the type and nature of the alarm system, the location of the alarm within the premises and the name of the subscriber.
Any person or persons, associations or corporations failing to comply with the provisions of this chapter is guilty of a violation and shall, upon conviction thereof, be subject to a fine not exceeding $250 or imprisonment not exceeding 15 days or both. Enforcement of the provisions of this chapter shall be the responsibility of the Troy Police Department.
[Amended 11-2-1989; 12-1-1994]
A. 
An annual fee as set by resolution of the City Council shall be charged by the City of Troy for each and every alarm system which terminates directly at the Police or Fire Department, either at a module in the alarm board or, in the case of a dialer, to a number assigned for the dialer by the Police or Fire Department.
B. 
The fee required herein shall be paid annually, in advance, on or before January 1 of each year. Any system for which the City of Troy has not received the annual fee on or before January 20 of the applicable year shall be disconnected at the Police or Fire Department terminal, and a penalty fee of $10 plus the yearly fee shall be due before the terminal will be reconnected.
Each and every emergency alarm in the City of Troy shall at all times be properly maintained by the owner of the premises where the system is installed.
[Amended 11-2-1989]
The Chief of Police and Fire Chief shall have the authority to promulgate rules and regulations governing the operations, testing and maintenance of each alarm system. The penalty for violation of said rules and regulations shall be suspension or revocation of the applicant's license.
A penalty of $50 shall be levied against any subscriber who transmits a false alarm, whether caused by human error or malfunction of equipment at the subscriber's terminal. Wire trouble caused by problems within the telephone lines shall not be considered a false alarm. The intentional transmission of a false alarm shall be punishable under the New York State Penal Law. No penalty for a false alarm shall be levied against any subscriber except for a third and subsequent false alarm in any calendar year.
[Amended 11-2-1989]
Each and every emergency alarm system which terminates in a module at the Police or Fire Department must be electrically wired at a reversing relay at the subscriber's residence or place of business.
Each and every alarm system which is audible at the scene of the alarm shall be installed with a timer which will discontinue the signal after a period of no more than one hour.
[Amended 11-2-1989]
A. 
Each and every dialer alarm, whether tape, digital or otherwise, which shall terminate at the Police or Fire Department shall terminate at said Police or Fire Department only at the number assigned to said alarm by the Police or Fire Department.
B. 
Tape dialer alarms shall also be programmed to dial the subscriber or a representative of the subscriber.
C. 
Any new installation of a dialer which shall terminate at the Police or Fire Department must be of the digital type which sends a signal rather than a voice and must be compatible with the receiving equipment which has been installed at the Police or Fire Department.
D. 
Any change of ownership or replacement of an emergency alarm installation shall be considered a new installation and shall mandate that if a dialer be installed at that location, it must be a digital dialer.
A. 
The City of Troy shall not be liable for any defects in operation of emergency alarm systems nor for failure to respond appropriately nor for any erroneous response nor for the failure or defect of any licensee pursuant to the provisions of this chapter with respect to the installation, operation or maintenance of equipment, the transmission of alarm signals or messages or the relaying of such signals or messages.
B. 
In the event that the City finds it necessary to disconnect a module or signaling device, the City shall incur no liability therefrom.
[Amended 11-2-1989]
In the case of apparent false alarms received by the Police or Fire Department, it is mandated that a representative of the subscriber respond to the scene to verify the security and/or safety of the premises.