[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Board of the
Town of Stanford 1-12-2023 by L.L. No. 1-2023.[1] Amendments noted where applicable.]
[1]
Editor's Note: This local law also repealed former Ch. 56,
Alarms, adopted 9-14-2000 by L.L. No. 5-2000.
The Town of Stanford recognizes the need for externally audible
alarms as a protection against and as a deterrent to the burglary
of structures, or fires, or other emergencies, for structures located
in the Town of Stanford. The Town of Stanford declares, however, that
the reasonable objectives of externally audible alarms are accomplished
when the sound associated with their operation persists for not more
than 20 minutes. The operation of externally audible alarms for more
than 20 minutes does not serve any legitimate objective or purpose.
The sound associated with the operation of an externally audible alarm
becomes unreasonable after 20 minutes of operation and constitutes
a public nuisance.
For the purposes of this article, the following terms shall
have the meanings respectively ascribed:
Includes any burglar, theft, fire, heat or other emergency
alarm which emits audible noise, whether internally or externally,
in a structure, business or dwelling, including, but not limited to,
alarms with automatic dialers to central station monitoring facilities
or emergency response agencies.
Any warning device designed to produce an audible sound when
triggered by the unauthorized entry into or tampering with the structure
to which it is affixed. An externally audible alarm may be located
wholly within a structure, provided that it emits a sound which is
audible outside of the structure.
The continuous or intermittent emission of a sound from an
alarm.
Any natural person, partnership, corporation, association
or other legal entity.
The noise produced by a horn, siren, bell, buzzer, voice
recording or any other device the principal purpose of which is to
create a noise to attract attention or to give warning.
A.Â
No person shall affix an alarm to or install an alarm on or within
any structure within the Town of Stanford or cause the same to be
done without first securing a permit from the Town of Stanford.
B.Â
Applications for permits shall be made by the owner or lessee or
person employed in connection with the proposed work. Every person
desiring to obtain said permit shall file with the Town of Stanford
Building Inspector a written application upon a blank form prepared
and furnished by the Town of Stanford. An application must be accompanied
by a fee of $50 before a permit is issued.
(1)Â
Such application shall contain the following information:
(a)Â
The name, residence address and telephone number of the owner/lessee
of the premises, and the Tax Grid number of the property on which
the alarm is installed, along with the Dutchess County E-911 property
address for the premises for which the alarm is installed.
(b)Â
The name, address and telephone number of three people other
than the owner/lessee who are authorized to respond to an emergency
and open the building where the alarm system is installed to reset
the alarm.
(c)Â
In the case of a business location, the owner/lessee shall provide
the names of at least three persons to contact in case of an emergency
and who have access to the building to reset the alarm.
(d)Â
A statement that the external audible alarm is capable of and
shall automatically terminate its operation within 20 minutes of its
being activated.
[Amended 8-10-2023 by L.L. No. 3-2023]
It shall be unlawful for the owner/lessee having possession
or custody of any structure to which an externally audible alarm is
connected or affixed to permit to suffer or allow the operation of
that externally audible alarm for a period in excess of 20 minutes.
Such operation constitutes a public nuisance. In addition to any other
penalty permitted or allowed under the laws of the State of New York,
any person convicted of a violation of this article shall pay a fine
of $50 for the first offense, $100 for the second offense and $200
for each offense thereafter.
The Town of Stanford recognizes the need and legitimate purpose
of alarm systems to detect the burglary of structures, or fires, or
other emergencies, in buildings and structures in the Town of Stanford
which may be connected directly to a central monitoring system, Dutchess
County Emergency Response (E-911) or the Sheriff or State Police.
The Town of Stanford finds, however, that there have been frequent
false alarms to the Stanford Fire District, including the Stanford
Fire Company or Rescue Squad, because of alarm malfunctions. This
has resulted in the unnecessary response by the Stanford Fire Company
or the Rescue Squad to alarms and needless waste of fire, rescue and
law enforcement resources which are necessary to protect the public
safety, health and welfare. This article is designed to remedy the
problem of false alarms to the Stanford Fire District, including the
Stanford Fire Company or Rescue Squad.
For purposes of this article, the following terms shall have
the meanings respectively ascribed:
Any mechanical or electrical device or system which is designed
or used for the detection of any unauthorized entry into a building,
structure or facility or used for mechanically or electronically alerting
others to the commission of an unlawful act, burglar, theft, fire,
heat or other emergency whether installed within or without the building.
This system produces a signal, message or warning directly to Emergency
Response (E-911), to some other location which is then reported, referred,
telephoned, transmitted or in some other manner communicated to Dutchess
County Emergency Response (E-911), by any method whatsoever, including
but not limited to the owner of a business or his/her employee or
representative, an alarm company or its representative, or an answering
service or any other person reacting to or responding to said signal,
message, warning or any audible alarm which requires immediate investigation
and response by the Department. Said alarm system shall include but
not be limited to telephonic or wireless alarm systems, which are
defined to mean any mechanism, equipment or device which is designed
to operate automatically through the use of public telephone, radio,
satellite or wireless communication facilities to transmit a signal,
message or warning to another location.
The activation of the alarm system because of but not limited
to mechanical failure, malfunction, improper installation or negligence
by a person or when activation results in a response by the Stanford
Fire District, including the Stanford Fire Company or Rescue Squad,
where an emergency does not exist. False alarms do not include alarms
caused by hurricanes, tornadoes or other violent weather conditions.
A natural person, firm, partnership, association or corporation
or representative or agent of said entities who is the owner or lessee
of an alarm system.
A.Â
No person shall install an alarm system on or within any structure
within the Town of Stanford or cause the same to be done without first
securing a permit from the Town of Stanford.
B.Â
Applications for permits shall be made by the owner or lessee or
person employed in connection with the installation of the alarm system.
Every person desiring to obtain said permit shall file with the Town
of Stanford Building Inspector a written application upon a blank
form prepared and furnished by the Town of Stanford. An application
must be accompanied by a fee of $50 before a permit is issued.
(1)Â
Such application shall contain the following information:
(a)Â
The name, residence address and telephone number of the owner/lessee
of the premises, and the Tax Grid number of the property on which
the alarm is installed, along with the Dutchess County E-911 property
address for the premises for which the alarm is installed.
(b)Â
The name, address and telephone number of three people other
than the owner/lessee who are authorized to respond to an emergency
and open the building where the alarm system is installed to disconnect
or reset the alarm.
(c)Â
In the case of a business location, the owner/lessee shall provide
the names of at least three persons to contact in case of an emergency
and who have access to the building to reset the alarm.
(d)Â
Name, address and telephone number of the installer of the system
and company who will monitor the alarm system and report alarms to
Dutchess County Emergency Response (E-911).
(3)Â
Any electrical security gate on the driveway for said residence or
business with an automatic fire alarm installed shall be automatically
opened by the activation of the automatic fire alarm and/or activated
by the sound of fire sirens on emergency vehicles and should be programed
to stay open until manually closed by the homeowner or property caretaker.
(4)Â
All persons operating or maintaining an existing alarm system must
obtain a permit within 90 days after the effective date of this article.
A.Â
The failure of any person to comply with the provisions of this law
requiring the filing for and obtaining of a permit shall result in
a fine in the amount of $100.
[Amended 8-10-2023 by L.L. No. 3-2023]
B.Â
Penalties for false alarms.
(1)Â
Upon the second false alarm in any one calendar year, a person shall
be subjected to a fine of $250 for that false alarm, $500 for the
third false alarm and $1,000 for each false alarm thereafter.
(2)Â
Written notice by certified mail through the United States Postal
Service shall be sent from the Building Inspector or Code Enforcement
Officer to the person who is listed as the owner or lessee of the
alarm system after the first false alarm in any one calendar year
stating that fines in the amounts of $250, $500 and $1,000 will be
payable for subsequent false alarms. The failure of such written notice
to be sent or received shall not act as a bar to the enforcement of
this regulation.
C.Â
Violators shall be prosecuted and penalties shall be collected in the manner prescribed by law or ordinance effective in the Town of Stanford, including the right of a fire official, Building Inspector or Zoning Enforcement Officer of the Town of Stanford to issue an appearance ticket for Town of Stanford Justice Court for a violation of this article. A violation of this article is punishable by a fine as set forth in Subsections A and B of this section.
