[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Committee of the Township of Pennsauken
3-11-1981 by Ord. No. 81-6. Amendments noted where applicable.]
The purpose of this chapter is to establish regulations concerning the
operation and maintenance of certain alarm systems within the Township of
Pennsauken and to provide penalties upon conviction for violation of any of
the provisions set forth herein.
For the purpose of this chapter, certain words and phrases are defined
as follows:
Any mechanical, electrical or electronic device which is designed
or used for the detection of an unauthorized entry into a building, structure
or facility, or for alerting others about the commission of an unlawful act
within a building, structure or facility, or for alerting others about the
existence of any other condition requiring response of police or ambulance
personnel; and which emits and/or transmits an audible and/or visual signal
or message when actuated. Alarm systems include but are not limited to direct-dial
telephone devices, audible alarms and subscriber alarms. However, alarm systems
installed at buildings and premises owned or occupied by any municipal or
governmental agency shall be exempt from regulation or control by this chapter.
[Amended 10-28-1982 by Ord.
No. 82-36]
Any alarm system designed to be used for the detection of fire or
other conditions requiring the presence of fire personnel.
Any alarm system designed or used for the detection of those conditions
requiring the response primarily of the police or ambulance personnel and
not that of fire or fire personnel.
A device that emits an audible signal from the premises that it is
designed to protect.
A device that, when actuated, causes a recorded message to be transmitted,
via telephone, to the communications centers of the Pennsauken police or fire
personnel.
The primary phone number advertised to the public for requesting
emergency services.
An alarm signal, necessitating response by the Pennsauken police,
fire or ambulance personnel where an emergency does not exist. An alarm that
has been activated by an external source that is beyond the reasonable control
of the subscriber shall not be considered false.
Any one or more units or companies of the Pennsauken volunteer fire
companies.
Pennsauken Police Department.
An alarm system that is terminated by direct connection to the Pennsauken
police or fire communications centers in accordance with regulations prescribed
in separate legislation.
Township of Pennsauken.
A.Â
It shall be the responsibility of all persons, entities,
firms, corporations or other groups that own or occupy any land or premises
in Pennsauken Township at which an alarm system is installed to provide current
information to the police, consisting of the names and telephone numbers of
responsible persons who may be contacted in case of emergency or who are authorized
to provide service to the alarm system. Either must be on a twenty-four-hour
basis. This information is to be filed with the police when the alarm system
is initially placed into service and must be revised immediately whenever
changes are necessary.
[Amended 10-28-1982 by Ord.
No. 82-36]
B.Â
Audible alarms must be silenced within 60 minutes after
a designated responsible person is notified to do so by the police or the
alarm system may be equipped with a timing device that will automatically
silence the audible alarm within 60 minutes after it is actuated.
C.Â
The direct-dial alarms shall not be connected to the
emergency phone numbers of either the police or fire personnel of Pennsauken
Township. A secondary phone will be provided for direct dial alarms only.
Direct-dial alarms must be equipped with a device that will prevent more than
three repeated transmissions of an alarm for the same emergencies to the communications
centers of the police or fire personnel. Recorded messages must also include
the name and telephone number of a responsible person who may be contacted
by the police in case of an emergency, on a twenty-four-hour basis.
D.Â
False alarms.
(1)Â
It shall be the responsibility of all owners or occupiers of lands or premises in the Township, as set forth in Subsection A, to prevent the transmission of false alarms through a program of training and periodic inspection and maintenance of the system. The maximum number of permissible false alarms for any one location, fire or police, shall be as follows: two false fire alarms in any sixty-day period and six false police alarms in any thirty-day period.
[Amended 10-28-1982 by Ord.
No. 82-36]
(2)Â
False alarms in excess of these standards shall be considered
to be in violation of this chapter.
The provisions of this chapter shall not apply to the general alerting
alarms that may be used by fire companies, ambulance squads or civil defense
agencies to summon response of their members. The provisions of the chapter
shall not apply to alarm systems that are affixed to motor vehicles.
[Amended 10-28-1982 by Ord.
No. 82-36; 9-12-1984 by Ord.
No. 84-26]
A.Â
Any person, entity, firm, corporation or other group
that is found guilty of violating any of the provisions of this chapter shall
be subject to one or more of the following: a fine not exceeding $1,250 or
imprisonment in the county jail for a term not exceeding 90 days, or a period
of community service not exceeding 90 days, at the discretion of the Municipal
Court Judge. Each incident shall be considered as a separate violation.
B.Â
In addition to any penalty that may be adjudicated by
the court, the Chief of Police may authorize the disconnection of subscriber
alarms from the police communications center after giving 20 days' written
notice to the subscriber. And, in addition to any Court penalty adjudicated
by the Court, the Chief of the Fire Department may authorize the disconnection
of subscriber alarms from the fire communications center, after giving 20
days' written notice to the subscriber.
The provisions contained herein shall apply equally to those alarm systems
that were placed in service prior to or subsequent to the effective date of
this chapter.
