[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Committee of the Township of Stillwater 10-5-2004
by Ord. No. 2004-17. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Noise — See Ch. 272.
The provisions of this chapter shall apply to any person or entity who
or which operates, maintains, has control over, or owns any alarm device designed
to summon the police or fire personnel to any location in response to an alarm
signal. The terms of this chapter shall in no way prohibit alarm companies
from providing service by private source within the Township of Stillwater.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the following
meanings indicated:
Any type of alarm system providing warning of intrusion, fire, smoke,
carbon monoxide, flood or like peril or emergency.
Any alarm device or combination of alarm devices installed for one
or more buildings at any location.
An alarm device using telephone or other lines which transmits an
alarm signal or signals to a lawfully established police department or any
privately owned alarm company.
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 alarm" shall not include activation caused
by power or phone line interruptions when such interruptions have been reported
to a lawfully established police department or the Township Clerk.
Any alarm device which when activated produces an audible or visual
signal (such as, but not limited to, fire and burglar alarm activating belt
devices). It shall not include motor vehicle anti-theft alarms.
Any person owning or leasing or having control over an alarm device
or a local alarm within the Township of Stillwater, including but not limited
to the owner or tenant of a premises or building or other structure.
Includes any natural person, partnership, corporation, association
or any other entity.
The Stillwater Township Police Department or any of the Stillwater
Township volunteer fire companies.
A.
It shall be unlawful for any person to have control over,
or to operate, or to install or maintain an alarm device within the Township
of Stillwater without first registering said use with the Township Clerk in
accordance with this chapter.
B.
Every user of an alarm device shall, by December 31,
2004, submit to the Township Clerk a registration application for an alarm
permit, using the application form provided by the Township Clerk. Information
must be kept current, and the permittee must notify the Township Clerk, in
writing, of any changes of information listed on the registration application
no later than 30 days following the applicable change or changes.
C.
A registration permit shall automatically terminate upon
a change of occupancy of the premises for which the alarm device has been
registered.
Persons 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 and which shall contain the following information:
A.
The full name and address of the applicant, including
a complete physical address and property description which will permit the
appropriate response to the alarm.
B.
The exact location of each alarm device on the property
and in or on the building or structure.
C.
Name and address and telephone number of the person installing,
maintaining and/or owning the system.
D.
The type of device, including what provisions have been
made to avoid false alarms and testing provisions.
E.
The name and address of the entity or 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).
F.
The name and address of any entity or person and their
telephone numbers who may be contacted in the event of an alarm and at least
one other entity or person(s) 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.
G.
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 the case of a false alarm, any person and any permittee who violate this chapter shall each be subject to the provisions of § 95-10.
A.
The provisions of this chapter shall not apply to any
alarm system installed on 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 20 minutes after activation. If the duration of an outside activated audible alarm exceeds 20 minutes, the warnings and penalties provided by § 95-10 of this chapter shall apply as though a false alarm had been activated.
A.
The Township of Stillwater shall be under no duty or
obligation to any permittee by reason of issuance of any registration permit.
B.
As a condition precedent to the issuance of a registration
permit pursuant to this chapter, it shall be the obligation of each permittee
to agree, in writing, to indemnify and save harmless the Township of Stillwater,
its agents, servants and employees, the Stillwater Township Police Department,
and the Fire Departments and rescue squads serving Stillwater Township from
and on account of any and all damages arising from or sustained as a result
of any forced entry into the premises during any alarm response and for failure
of the Township of Stillwater, its agents, servants and employees, the Stillwater
Township Police Department, and the Fire Departments and rescue squads serving
Stillwater Township and all other police departments for failure to respond
to any alarm.
The Township Committee may from to time promulgate rules and regulations
supplementing this chapter in order to provide for recordkeeping and efficient
management of said system.
Any person, firm or corporation who or which violates the terms of this
chapter shall be subject to a fine; provided, however, that the following
minimum and mandatory fines shall apply to false alarms:
A.
For the first false alarm in any single calendar year,
a warning shall be issued.
B.
For the second false alarm in the same calendar year,
a fine of $50 shall be paid to the Township of Stillwater.
C.
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 Stillwater, 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.
