[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town of Dennis: Art. I, 8-14-1974
Special Town Meeting, Art. 18; Art. II, 5-8-1990 Annual
Town Meeting, Art. 31. Amendments noted where applicable.]
[Adopted 8-14-1974 STM, Art. 18]
It shall be unlawful to install a mechanical protection device that
is automatically keyed to and/or activates the telephone (numbers) lines controlled
by and/or listed to the Dennis Police Department and/or the Dennis Fire Department.
All such devices installed before the effective date of this chapter shall
be removed or disconnected before ninety (90) days.
"Mechanical protection device" shall be defined as an electrically operated
instrument composed of sensory apparatus and related hardware which automatically
sends over telephone lines, by direct connection or otherwise, a prerecorded
voice alarm upon receipt of a stimulus from the sensory apparatus that has
detected a physical force or condition inherently characteristic of a fire
or unauthorized intrusion.
[Adopted 5-8-1990 ATM, Art. 31]
As used in this Article, the following terms shall have
the meanings indicated:
Any device which when activated by a criminal act transmits a signal
to the Police Department, transmits a signal to a person or company who relays
information to the Police Department or produces an audible or visible signal
to which the police are expected to respond.
Any person who is the owner or person in charge of premises where
an alarm device is maintained within the Town of Dennis.
The activation of an alarm through negligence of an alarm user or
employee, improper installation, mechanical failure, malfunction or any other
cause which results in the police responding, where it is determined after
investigation by the Police Department that no criminal activity or attempted
criminal activity has occurred. Such terminology does not include, for example,
alarms caused by hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes or other normally infrequent
violent weather conditions or surges or failures in the transmission of electrical
power that are beyond the control of the user.
A.Â
Every alarm user shall submit to the Chief of Police
his name, address, telephone number and the name, address and telephone number
of at least one (1) other person who is authorized to respond to an emergency
signal transmitted by an alarm system and who can open or provide access to
the premises in which the alarm is located. All existing alarm systems shall
be registered with the Dennis Police Department within sixty (60) days of
the effective date of this bylaw. All newly installed alarms after the effective
date of this bylaw shall be registered with the Dennis Police Department within
(30) days of the date of installation.
B.Â
All alarm users must notify the Police Department in
advance of any testing of equipment. Failure to notify the Police Department
in advance of testing shall constitute a false alarm and be subject to the
assessment schedule contained herein.
C.Â
All alarm systems which use an audible bell, horn or
siren shall be equipped with an automatic shutoff device, which will deactivate
the alarm within twenty-five (25) minutes. All alarm users with an audible
bell, horn or siren must comply with this section within ninety (90) days
of the effective date of this bylaw.
B.Â
False alarms. After the Police Department has recorded
three (3) separate false alarms from an alarm user within a calendar year,
the Police Chief or his designee shall notify the alarm user, in writing,
of such facts, including the dates and times of each alleged false alarm.
For the fourth false alarm, within a calendar year, a fine of twenty-five
dollars ($25.) shall be assessed, and a fine of fifty dollars ($50.) shall
be assessed for each subsequent false alarm within said calendar year.
The provisions of this bylaw shall not apply to alarm devices owned
or controlled by the Town of Dennis, or the Dennis-Yarmouth Regional School
District.
Neither the Town of Dennis nor any of its officers, employees, Boards,
Commissions or Committees shall be under any obligation or duty to an alarm
user or to any other person hereunder by reason of this bylaw. The Town of
Dennis specifically disclaims liability for any damages which may be caused
by failure to respond to an alarm device.
The Chief of Police may promulgate such rules as may be necessary for
the implementation of this bylaw.
