[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:
ALARM DEVICE
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.
ALARM USER
Any person who is the owner or person in charge of premises where an alarm device is maintained within the Town of Dennis.
FALSE BURGLAR ALARM
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. 
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. 
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. 
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.
A. 
Failure to comply with Subsections A, B or C of § 46-4 above shall be punishable by a fine of not more than three hundred dollars ($300.) for each offense. Each day that such violation continues shall be a separate offense.
B. 
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.