It is the purpose of this chapter to promote
the health, safety and general welfare of the residents of the Village
of Cooperstown by reducing the number of avoidable alarms to the Police
Department. Avoidable alarms contribute to ineffective utilization
of public safety manpower and equipment. In addition, avoidable alarms
require emergency responses, which may contribute to accidents or
delay responses to genuine emergencies. This chapter seeks to ensure
the Department will be available for actual emergencies and alleviate
the nuisance of avoidable alarms in the Village.
As used in this chapter, the following terms
shall have the meanings indicated:
ALARM SYSTEM
A device or assembly of equipment which emits an audible
signal intended to alert persons outside a premises to the existence
of a hazard or emergency, or which is intended to alert emergency
agencies by automatically dialing an emergency agency, or which is
connected to a private answering point for the purpose of reporting
such alarms to emergency agencies, or which is directly connected
to Otsego County Communications Center.
FALSE ALARM
The activation of an alarm system indicating that an emergency
situation exists requiring response, when, in fact, no such situation
actually existed.
POLICE ALARM DEVICE
An alarm system designed or intended to be used for the purpose
of announcing the existence of a robbery, intrusion or other threat
to life or property which would require a law enforcement agency to
respond and investigate the cause of the activation.
Any person, firm or corporation who does not
pay any charge or fee established in connection with this chapter
or who violates any provision of this chapter shall be subject to
a fine not to exceed $250 for each offense or imprisonment for not
more than 15 days, or both. A separate offense shall be deemed committed
upon each day during which a violation occurs or is committed.