[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Commissioners of the City
of Bordentown 7-16-1984 by Ord. No. 1984-13. Section 96-10 amended
at time of adoption of Code; see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II.
Other amendments noted where applicable.]
This chapter may be cited and referred to as the "Alarm System
Ordinance of the City of Bordentown of 1984."
For the purpose of this chapter, certain words and phrases are
defined as follows:
Any mechanical, electrical or electronic device which is
designed or used for the detection of an unauthorized entry into a
building, structure or facility or for alerting others about the commission
of an unlawful act or the presence of a fire or smoke condition or
other emergency situation within a building, structure or facility
or for alerting others about the existence of any other condition
requiring the response of the police, fire, ambulance or other emergency
personnel, and which emits an audible and/or visual signal when activated. "Alarm
system" includes, but is not limited to, audible alarms and subscriber
alarm systems.
Any device that emits an audible signal from the premises
that it is designated to protect whether or not the same is part of
an alarm system as defined in this chapter.
Alarm systems and devices which automatically dial any emergency
phone number and uses a recorded or taped message to alert the communications
center of the need for fire or ambulance services.
The primary telephone number advertised to the public for
the purpose of requesting emergency fire, police and/or ambulance
services.
Any alarm activation of any alarm system by other than an
intruder or other unauthorized entry into a building, structure or
facility or the existence of an emergency situation.
A.
License required. Any person who desires to connect a commercially
or privately owned or operated alarm system to the communications
center of the Police Department of the City of Bordentown shall first
obtain a license from the Director of Public Safety and Affairs or
his designee, both hereinafter referred to as "Director," for such
connection privilege. Application for such licenses shall be made
to the Director on a form prepared in accordance with this chapter.
B.
Fee. The Director shall set the initial application and annual fee
charged for such a license and for any petition for reinstatement
of a terminated license. Such fees shall each not exceed $100.
C.
Application for license. An applicant for such a license shall file
with the Director, together with the required license application
fee, a written application, signed and sworn to by the applicant or
by an authorized officer of the applicant if a corporation or partnership.
The application shall include the following information:
(1)
The name and address of the applicant.
(2)
The name and address of the person actually using the alarm system,
if different from the name set forth above.
(3)
The type of systems and the method of connection to the communications
center.
(4)
A statement by the applicant holding the city harmless for any and
all losses or damages which may occur as a result of any malfunction
or the failure of the alarm system or of the City Police Department
to respond promptly thereto and a clause to indemnify the city in
the event that any judgment is obtained against the city arising out
of such use of the communications center.
For any false alarm after the third false alarm in any one calendar
year, as established by the records of the Police Department, the
applicant, owner, lessee or tenant of a building, structure or facility
in which an alarm system or audible alarm is installed shall be in
violation of this chapter and liable for the imposition of a penalty
hereunder upon complaint to be made by a member of the City Police
Department.
Audible alarms must be silenced by the building, structure or
facility owner, lessee or tenant or someone on behalf of such person(s)
within 60 minutes after the same begins to emit an audible signal.
After the fourth false alarm in any one calendar year or the
sixth false alarm in any eighteen-month period, any license issued
pursuant to this chapter shall be terminated by the Director, who
shall give written notice thereof personally or by regular mail sent
to the applicant at the address shown upon the application for the
license being terminated. Service shall be terminated on the third
day following personal service or mailing of the notice of termination.
The licensee may petition the Board of Commissioners of the city for
a hearing to request the resumption of connection privileges. Any
such petition must demonstrate effective measures taken to eliminate
the reoccurrence of false alarms. Reinstatement of connection privileges
shall be in the sole discretion of said Board of Commissioners. There
shall be no refund of any fee upon terminating of service whether
the same be by the Director or voluntary by the applicant or other
person.
The provisions of this chapter shall not apply to the audible
alarms that may be used by police, fire, ambulance, rescue or other
emergency services, civil defense agencies or affixed to motor vehicles.
The use of automatic dialing equipment is hereby prohibited
for alerting the communications center of the need for police assistance
or intervention but is herewith permitted as to the need of fire or
ambulance services.
The provisions contained herein shall apply equally to those
alarm systems and audible alarms that were placed in service both
prior to as well as subsequent to the effective date of this chapter.
