[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Council of the Township
of Vernon 4-27-1998 by Ord. No.
98-3. Amendments noted where applicable.]
The purpose of this chapter is to establish standards and regulations
concerning the installation, operation and maintenance of certain
alarm systems within the Township of Vernon.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
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 chapter, the term
"alarm system" shall not include self-concealed 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.
An alarm station that transmits the alarm to an alarm processing
center which then calls to dispatch the Police and/or the Fire Department.
An alarm device using telephone or other lines which transmits
an alarm signal of intrusion, fire, smoke, flood or other peril to
the Township Police Department or any other third party.
Any alarm or signal activated or transmitted by inadvertent,
negligent, unintentional or intentional act or omission of a person
(caused or transmitted other than by an intruder or by fire, flood,
smoke or carbon monoxide), and shall also include alarms caused by
malfunctioning of the alarm device or other related equipment. False
alarms shall not include activation caused by power or phone line
interruptions when such interruptions have been reported to the Township
Police or the Township Clerk.
Any alarm device or local alarm located within the Township
of Vernon which when activated produces an audible or visual signal
(such as, but not limited to, fire and burglar alarm activating bell
devices). It shall not include motor vehicle antitheft alarms.
[Amended 3-22-1999 by Ord. No. 99-1]
Any natural person, partnership, corporation, association
or other entity.
Any person who owns, operates or leases an alarm system within
the scope of this chapter, who has been issued a registration permit
to operate and maintain such alarm system.
The provisions of this chapter 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 Township Police, Fire Department, First Aid Squad or any other
Township agency. The provisions of this chapter shall in no way prohibit
service by a private source to persons within or without the Township,
so long as such operating, leasing or maintaining a premises protected
by an alarm system shall be responsible for the registration in accordance
with this chapter.
A.
Registration shall be required for each home or business within the
Township utilizing a dial alarm system or an alarm system utilizing
the services of a central alarm on the effective date of this chapter.
Users of systems in place on that date shall complete the required
registration form within 60 days of notice by the Vernon Municipal
Clerk.
[Amended 3-22-1999 by Ord. No. 99-1]
B.
A registration permit shall automatically terminate upon a change
of occupancy for the premises for which the alarm has been registered.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this chapter, no more
than one registration shall be required per home or business at any
single location. Information provided to the Township must be kept
current, and the registrant must notify the Township Clerk in writing
of any changes of information listed in the registration application
no later than 30 days following the applicable change(s).
C.
Registration form. Person(s) required to register their alarm devices
shall complete and file with the Municipal Clerk a registration application
which may be obtained from the Municipal Clerk's office. A copy
of each registration form shall be filed with the Township Police
by the Township Clerk. The Township Clerk shall keep the records confidential
and not open to public inspection. The registrant shall provide the
following information:
[Amended 3-22-1999 by Ord. No. 99-1]
(1)
The full name and address of the registrant, including a complete
physical address and property description which will permit the appropriate
response to the alarm.
(2)
Name and address and telephone number of the person installing, maintaining
and/or owning the system.
(3)
The type of device, including what provisions have been made to avoid
false alarms and testing provisions.
(4)
The name and address of the person(s), if any, responsible for monitoring
and initially responding to an activation of an alarm device and a
phone number for such entity and/or person(s).
(5)
The name of a person, address and telephone number who may be contacted
in the event of an alarm, and at least one person who is authorized
to receive notification of an alarm call and who is authorized to
enter upon the premises in which the alarm system is located.
(6)
Any additional relevant information as may be reasonably required
by the Township Clerk.
It shall be unlawful for any person to cause, allow or activate a false alarm as defined in this chapter. In case of a false alarm, any person and any permittee who violates this chapter shall each be subject to the provisions of § 137-11. In case of a false alarm, any person having knowledge of the false alarm shall immediately notify the Township police. The Township police shall be responsible for enforcing this chapter.
Dial alarm devices may be connected to the Township police by telephone or other lines as are permitted and designated by the Township police or to other law enforcement agencies having jurisdiction or to third party providers. Dial alarms shall be registered as specified in §§ 137-4 and 137-5 of this chapter.
A.
The provisions of this chapter shall not apply to any alarm system
installed on the property owned or occupied by any township, county,
state, or federal government agency or office, or to any alarm device
having only an indoor audible or visual/flashing system, and which
are not dial alarm devices.
B.
Alarm devices having an audible alarm installed out of doors shall be designed to limit the operation of a bell or sound-producing instrument to a maximum of 15 minutes after activation. If the duration of an outside activated audible alarm exceeds 15 minutes, the warnings and penalties provided by § 137-11 of this chapter shall apply as though a false alarm has been activated.
[Amended 6-28-1999 by Ord. No. 99-12]
The Township of Vernon shall be under no duty or obligation
to any permittee by reason of issuance of any registration permit.
[Amended 4-27-2015 by Ord. No. 2015-08]
The Mayor may from time to time promulgate rules and regulations
supplementing this chapter in order to provide for recordkeeping and
efficient management of the system.
[Amended 3-22-1999 by Ord. No. 99-1]
A.
A. The Vernon Township Police Department is charged
with the responsibility for enforcing this chapter. In the event the
police determine there is a sufficient basis to find a violation of
any of the provisions of this chapter, a complaint shall be filed
with the Vernon Township Municipal Court. The Municipal Court Judge
shall hear the complaints concerning violations of this chapter, and
if the responsible party is convicted, the Municipal Court Judge may
impose fines as provided for in this section.
(1)
For the first false alarm in any single calendar year, a warning
shall be issued.
(2)
For the second false alarm in the same calendar year, a fine of $50
shall be paid to the Township of Vernon.
(3)
For the third and subsequent false alarms in the same calendar year,
a fine of not less than $100 nor more than $250 for each occurrence
shall be paid to the Township of Vernon, which shall be accompanied
by an advisory letter (dated within 30 days following the date on
which the complaint is issued) from a licensed alarm company stating
that the system is operating properly. If, however, the person fails
to provide such advisory letter as provided above, a fine may be imposed
by the court up to a maximum of $500 in the court's discretion.
B.
In the event the Township police determine the registrant has failed to take reasonable steps to avoid false alarms, the Township police shall have the right to require the alarm to be disconnected for either a limited amount of time or permanently. However, no such disconnection and revocation of the permit shall take place without providing the registrant an opportunity to show cause before the Municipal Court why such action should not be taken. The occurrence of three or more false alarms in any calendar month shall raise the presumption that the registrant is disregarding their responsibility to take reasonable remedial steps to avoid false alarms. In the event registrant's alarm is disconnected as the result of an action under this section of this chapter, and in the event the registrant is allowed to reconnect the equipment in the future, the registrant shall be responsible for a reregistration fee as set forth in Chapter 250, Fees and Escrows, Article II.[1]
