For the purpose of this chapter, the following terms, phrases,
words and their derivations shall have the meanings given herein.
The word "shall" is always mandatory and not merely directory.
ALARM AGENT
Any person employed by an alarm business whose duties include
the altering, installing, maintaining, moving, repairing, replacing,
selling, servicing, responding to, or causing others to respond to
an alarm device. No construction personnel not in the employ of an
alarm business may be involved under contracts or subcontracts in
the use or installation of alarm systems. Such persons are not required
to obtain identification cards as alarm agents or obtain licenses
as alarm businesses.
ALARM BUSINESS
Any business operated by a person for a profit which engages
in the activity of altering, installing, leasing, maintaining, repairing,
replacing, selling, servicing or responding to a burglar or holdup
alarm system, or which causes any of these activities to take place.
ALARM SYSTEM
An assembly of equipment and devices or a single device such
as a solid state unit, which is electrically powered, arranged to
signal the presence of a physical force or condition inherently characteristic
of a hazard requiring urgent attention and to which the Police Department
is expected to respond. In this chapter, the term "alarm system" shall
include the terms "automatic holdup alarm system," "burglar alarm
systems," "holdup alarm systems," as those terms are hereinafter defined.
Fire alarm systems and alarm systems which monitor temperature, humidity
or any other condition not directly related to the detection of an
unauthorized intrusion into a premises or an attempted robbery at
a premises are specifically excluded from the provisions of this chapter.
The Police Department response to an alarm is initiated through a
direct-connect alarm signal in an annunciator panel located in the
communications center of the Police Department or upon notification
by a central station, modified central system, or answering service
over regular telephone line by direct or indirect connection to the
Police Department Communications Room.
ALARM USER
Any person on whose premises an alarm system is maintained
with the Township, except for alarm systems on motor vehicles or proprietary
systems. Also excluded from this definition and from the coverage
of this chapter are persons who use alarm systems to alert or signal
persons within the premises in which the alarm system is located of
an attempted unauthorized intrusion or holdup attempt. If such a system,
however, employs an audible signal emitting sounds or a flashing light
or beacon designed to signal persons outside the premises, such systems
shall be within the definition of "alarm system" and shall be subject
to this chapter.
ANNUNCIATOR
The instrumentation on an alarm console at the receiving
terminal of a signal line which, through both visual and audible signals,
shows when an alarm device at a particular location has been activated,
or it may also indicate line trouble.
ANSI
The American National Standards Institute.
ANSWERING SERVICE
Refers to a telephone answering service providing among its
services the service of receiving on a continuous basis through trained
employees emergency signals from alarm systems and thereafter immediately
relaying the message by live voice to the communications center of
the Police Department.
AUTOMATIC DIALING DEVICE
Refers to an alarm system which automatically sends over
regular telephone lines a prerecorded voice message or signal indicating
the existence of the emergency situation that the alarm system is
designed to detect. An automatic dialing device may only be interconnected
to a telephone line transmitting to a central station, modified central
system or an answering service.
BURGLAR ALARM SYSTEM
An alarm system signaling an entry or attempted entry into
the area protected by the system.
CENTRAL STATION
An office to which remote alarm and supervisory signaling
devices are connected, where operators supervise the circuits, and
where guards are maintained continuously to investigate signals.
CENTRAL STATION SYSTEM
A system in which the operation of electrical protection
circuits and devices are signaled automatically to, recorded in, maintained
and supervised from a central station having trained operators and
guards in attendance at all times.
DIRECT CONNECT
An alarm system which has the capability of transmitting
system signals to and receiving them at the police communications
center through an annunciator panel.
DIRECT LINE
A nonlisted telephone line leading directly from a central
station to the communications center of the Police Department that
is for use only to report emergency signals on a person-to-person
basis.
FALSE ALARM
The activation of an alarm system through mechanical failure,
malfunction, improper installation, failure, interruption or fluctuation
of primary power source, or the negligence of the owner or lessee
of an alarm system or of his employees or agents. Such terminology
does not include, for example, alarms caused by hurricanes, tornadoes,
earthquakes or other violent conditions.
INTERCONNECT
To connect an alarm system to a voice-grade telephone line,
either directly or through a mechanical device that utilizes a standard
telephone, for the purpose of using the telephone line to transmit
an emergency message upon the activation of the alarm system.
LOCAL ALARM SYSTEM
A signaling system which when activated causes an audible
and/or visual signaling device to be activated in or on the premises
within which the system is installed.
MANUAL HOLDUP ALARM SYSTEM
An alarm system in which the signal transmission is initiated
by the direct action of the person attacked or by an observer of the
attack.
MISUSE
The willful activation of an alarm system for any reason
other than providing notification of a crime.
MODIFIED CENTRAL STATION
An office to which remote alarm and supervisory signaling
devices are connected, where operators supervise the circuits.
PERSON
Any person, firm, partnership, association, corporation,
company or organization of any kind.
POLICE CHIEF
The Chief of the Police Department of the Township of Middletown,
or his designated representative.
PRIMARY TRUNKLINE
A telephone line leading directly into the communications
center of the Police Department that is for the purpose of handling
emergency calls on a person-to-person basis, and which is identified
as such by a specific number included among the emergency numbers
listed in the telephone directory issued by the telephone company
and covering the service area within the Police Department's
jurisdiction.
PROPRIETARY SYSTEM
An alarm system sounding and/or recording alarms and supervisory
signals at a control center located within the protected premises,
the control center being under the supervision of the proprietor of
the protected premises. If a proprietary system includes a signal
line connected directly to a police communications center, a central
station, modified central station or answering service, it thereby
becomes an alarm system as defined in this chapter.
REMOTE SIGNALING SYSTEM
An alarm-signaling system which, when activated by an alarm
device, transmits a signal from an alarm-signaling device to a central
location other than the Police Department, where appropriate action
is taken to investigate and respond to the signal.
SIGNAL LINE
The transmission line through which the signal passes from
one of the elements of the signal transmission to another.
SUBSCRIBER
A person who buys and/or leases or otherwise obtains an alarm-signaling
system and thereafter contracts with or hires an alarm business to
monitor and/or service the alarm device.
TELEPHONE COMPANY
The utility that furnishes telephone services to the Township
of Middletown.
UL
Underwriters' Laboratories.