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:
ALARM DEVICE
Any type of alarm system providing warning of intrusion,
fire, smoke, carbon monoxide, flood or like peril or emergency.
ALARM INSTALLATION
Any alarm device or combination of alarm devices installed
for one or more buildings at any location.
DIAL ALARM DEVICE
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.
FALSE ALARM
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.
FIRE DEPARTMENT
Any of the Stillwater Township volunteer fire companies.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General
Provisions, Art. I)]
LOCAL ALARM
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.
PERMITTEE
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.
PERSON
Includes any natural person, partnership, corporation, association
or any other entity.
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.
Dial alarm devices may be connected to any lawfully established police department lines as are permitted. Said dial alarms shall be registered as specified in §§
95-3 and
95-4 of this chapter.
The Township Committee may from time 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.