The purpose of this chapter is to establish regulations concerning
the operation and maintenance of certain alarm systems within the
Township of Washington and to provide penalties for violations of
any of the provisions set forth herein.
For the purpose of this chapter, the following definitions shall
apply:
ALARM DEVICE
Any type of alarm-actuating equipment which provides warning
of intrusion, fire, smoke, burglary, medical emergency, flood or like
perils, including dial alarms (devices using normal telephone lines
transmitting notification by telephone directly to a third-party service
provider.
ALARM SYSTEM
The installation in one or more buildings of one or more
alarm devices for the express purpose of giving visual or audible
warning, or both, of an emergency, such as a burglary, intrusion,
fire, smoke, medical emergency, flood or like perils, and to which
the Washington Township Police Department, the First-Aid Squad or
the Fire Department may be expected to respond.
AUDIBLE ALARM
A device that emits an audible signal from the premises that
it is designed to protect.
FALSE ALARM
An alarm signal resulting in a response by the Washington
Township Police, First-Aid Squad or Fire Department, where an emergency
situation does not exist.
LOCAL ALARM
An audible alarm or one that emits a flashing light or other
warning not transmitted beyond the immediate area.
PERSON
Any natural person, partnership, corporation, association
or other legal entity.
On or after the effective date of this chapter, no owner, tenant,
person or occupant (herein collectively referred to as "person") shall
install or cause to be installed in any premises within the Township
of Washington any alarm system, device or apparatus that communicates
a condition that may be expected to result in a response by the Washington
Township Police, First-Aid Squad or Fire Department without first
receiving a permit for the installation.
[Amended 9-21-2009 by Ord. No. 24-09]
All alarm systems referred to in this chapter shall, at the
time of their installation and at all times thereafter, meet the following
standards:
A. All alarm systems must meet reasonable safety standards, such as
those acceptable to Underwriters Laboratories or equivalent.
B. Every alarm system capable of signaling multiple types of warnings
shall be equipped with separate distinguishing signals, as reasonably
required by the Chief of Police, to the end that the appropriate authorities,
upon receipt of a signal, may immediately ascertain the nature and
cause of the signal.
C. All alarm systems capable of emitting audible signals shall be equipped
with an operating device which will automatically, by mechanical,
electrical or other means, shut off such audible signal after 15 minutes
of continuous sound audible beyond the boundaries of the premises
in which the alarm system is located.
D. In any case where the alarm system emits sound in violation of the
foregoing subsection, the operation or maintenance of the alarm system
shall be deemed to constitute the grant of permission by the owners
and occupants of the premises for law enforcement, first aid or fire
officials to enter the said premises and investigate and to reset
the alarm system.
Alarm systems installed or in use at the effective date of this chapter shall conform to the requirements of this chapter within 180 days after the effective date hereof. All persons shall apply for permits for such systems within 30 days of the effective date of this chapter. In the event of a failure of any system to comply with the provisions of this subsection or of §
39-5 of this chapter, the Township may prosecute under §
39-9.
Any person or persons, firms, corporations or other organizations found to be in violation of this chapter shall, upon conviction, be subject to the penalties provided in §
1-3 of this Code. Each violation of the requirements of this chapter and each and every day the same is violated shall be deemed to be a separate and distinct offense.