[1]
Editor's Note: This chapter title formerly read "Alarm Systems," but was renamed 8-10-1993 by Ord. No. 3366, § 1.
[Ord. No. 1770, § 1; amended by Ord. No. 1966, 10-5-1982, § 1]
The purpose of this chapter is to provide standards and regulations for various types of burglar alarm and emergency medical alarm devices, including those which produce a visual or audible signal and those which by direct line, radio, telephone or other means actuate a device at police headquarters in the Township of Teaneck and require a response thereto by the Police Department, and to decrease the number of false alarms which are detrimental to the Township of Teaneck and its citizens.
[Ord. No. 1770, § 2; amended by Ord. No. 1891, 12-2-1980, § 1; Ord. No. 1966, 10-5-1982, §§ 2, 3]
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
ALARM SIGNAL
An audible sound or transmission of a signal or message as the result of the activation of an alarm system.
ALARM SYSTEM
Any mechanical or electrical device that is arranged, designed or used to signal the occurrence in the Township of Teaneck of a burglary, robbery, other criminal offense or medical emergency requiring urgent attention and to which police or emergency medical personnel are expected to respond. "Alarm system" includes those through which the Police Department personnel are notified directly of such signals through automatic recording devices or are notified indirectly by way of third persons who monitor the alarm systems and who report such signals to the Police Department. "Alarm system" also includes those designed to register a signal which is so audible, visible or in other ways perceptible outside a protected building, structure or facility as to notify persons in the neighborhood beyond the zoning lot where the signal is located, who may in turn notify the Police Department of the signal. Excluded, however, from this definition of "alarm system" are devices which are not designed or used to register alarms that are audible, visible or perceptible outside of the protected building, structure, facility or enclosed area or auxiliary devices installed by telephone companies to protect telephone systems from damage or disruption of service. A proprietary system, defined as an alarm system installed and used to alert or signal persons within the premises in which the alarm system is located of an attempted unauthorized intrusion or holdup attempt and not transmitting such signal to police headquarters, is excluded from the provisions of this chapter.
ALARM USER
Any person on whose premises an alarm system is maintained within the Township, except for alarm systems on motor vehicles or proprietary systems. If, however, an alarm system on a motor vehicle is connected with an alarm system of a building, structure, facility or enclosed area, other than a proprietary system, then the person using such system is an alarm user.
AUDIBLE ALARM
A device designed for the detection of unauthorized entry on the premises or a medical emergency requiring urgent attention which generates an audible sound when activated.
FALSE ALARM
The activation of an alarm system through mechanical failure, malfunction, improper installation or negligence of the owner or lessee of an alarm system or of his employees or agents but does not include alarms caused by hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes or other violent conditions.
LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER
The Police Chief or any officer employed by and serving under his direction.
NOTICE
Unless otherwise specified, means written notice given by delivering a copy thereof to the addressee or by leaving a copy thereof at his home with a competent member of his household over the age of 14 years or by leaving a copy thereof at his office with a person in his employ or by ordinary mail.
PERSON
Any natural person or individual or any firm, partnership, association, limited partnership, sole proprietorship or corporation or any business entity.
TELEPHONE ALARM DEVICE
Any device which, when activated, automatically transmits by telephone line a recorded alarm message or electronic mechanical alarm signal to any telephone instrument installed at police headquarters or the communications system of the Township.
TOWNSHIP
The Township of Teaneck.
[Ord. No. 1770, § 3; amended by Ord. No. 34-2019, 10-29-2019]
(a) 
Alarm user registration. Every nonresidential alarm user shall, within 90 days of the effective date of this chapter, register all alarm systems which operate within the Township with the law enforcement officer, and no person shall thereafter install or operate an alarm system without first having registered same.
(b) 
Registration form. The registration form shall be furnished by the law enforcement officer and shall set forth the following information: name of alarm user; address of premises in or upon which the alarm system has been or will be installed; telephone number; type of alarm system (audible, direct connect, dial, etc.); name and telephone number of at least one person who can be reached and is authorized to respond to an alarm signal and who can enter the premises in which the alarm system is installed; and such other pertinent information as may be required by the law enforcement officer.
(c) 
(Reserved)[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Former Subsection (c), which pertained to registration fees for alarm systems, was superseded 1-8-1980 by Ord. No. 1844. The current alarm system registration fees are included in Ch. 2, Appendix III, Fees and Charges for Specific Township Services.
(d) 
Restricted use of registration forms. The information contained in the registration form required by this section and other information received by the law enforcement officer shall be regarded as confidential and shall be securely maintained and restricted to inspection only by the law enforcement officer or authorized personnel specifically assigned the responsibility of handling and processing alarm user registration forms in the course of official duties.
[Ord. No. 1770, § 4; amended by Ord. No. 3055, 9-16-1986, § 1]
(a) 
An alarm system shall be maintained to deactivate within 20 minutes of its activation. Its failure to do so shall be deemed to be a violation of this chapter. For a first violation, the alarm user shall be notified, in writing, that a violation has occurred. If a second violation shall occur within six months of the first violation, the alarm user shall be notified, in writing, of the second violation and shall be given further notice that the system must be corrected within 72 hours after receipt of the second violation notice. The written notice shall also advise the user to submit proof to the law enforcement officer that the user has corrected the system. The failure to furnish such proof within the period of time directed in the second violation notice shall also constitute a violation of this chapter.
(b) 
An audible alarm system shall be maintained to deactivate within 20 minutes of its activation. Its failure to do so shall be deemed to be a violation of this chapter. If the alarm continues to be audible for a period of one hour or more, the law enforcement officer is hereby authorized and empowered to enter the premises and disconnect the alarm. A service fee shall be assessed against the alarm user in an amount as set forth in Appendix III, Fees and Charges for Certain Township Services, of Chapter 2 of the Code for each time the system is required to be disconnected by the law enforcement officer. Further, the alarm shall not be reactivated unless and until the user submits proof to the law enforcement officer that the user has corrected the system. The failure to furnish such proof shall also constitute a violation of this chapter.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II)]
(c) 
All telephonic alarms shall be keyed to ring the Police Department headquarters on a special police number to be provided upon request. This number will be hooked into a code-a-phone mechanism, which will prevent interruption of normal departmental communications activity. The service fee schedule is applicable for this class of alarm, as is the disconnect procedure.
(d) 
Any person testing an alarm system covered by the provisions of this chapter shall notify police headquarters immediately prior to and after the testing is completed. Failure so to do shall subject such person to a penalty provided for false alarms.
[Ord. No. 1770, § 5; amended by Ord. No. 3429, 10-17-1995, § 6]
(a) 
In the event of the occurrence of three false alarms in a calendar year, the alarm user shall, within three working days after notice to do so, complete a written report to the law enforcement officer setting forth the cause of the false alarms, if known; the corrective action taken; whether the alarm system has been inspected by an alarm service company; and such other information as the law enforcement officer may reasonably require.
(b) 
A notice by the law enforcement officer shall be given upon the occurrence of the third false alarm in a calendar year; thereafter, a service fee shall be assessed against the alarm user in accordance with the fee analysis schedule in Chapter 2, Charter/Administrative Code, Appendix III.
(c) 
In addition to the service fees provided above, if the fourth false alarm or any succeeding false alarm has resulted from a failure on the part of the alarm user to take corrective action after notice by the law enforcement officer, the law enforcement officer may order such audible alarm or alarm system to be disconnected. The law enforcement officer shall serve written notice upon the alarm user, who shall disconnect the system, which shall not be reconnected unless and until the requirements of this chapter have been met; provided, however, that no alarm system shall be disconnected where such system is required by law to be maintained.
(d) 
An alarm system which has been disconnected in accordance with an order of the law enforcement officer may be reconnected upon satisfactory proof submitted to the law enforcement officer that the prescribed corrective action has been taken.
(e) 
Failure to remit the required service fee or misuse of the permitted number of false alarms will result in the disconnection of the alarm mechanism from the alarm board in the Police Department, upon the order of the law enforcement officer and after written notice to the alarm user.
[Ord. No. 1770, § 6]
The law enforcement officer may from time to time promulgate such rules and regulations as in his judgment are necessary to implement the provisions of this chapter; subject, however, to prior approval of the Township Manager.
[Ord. No. 1770, § 8]
Any person, firm or corporation found guilty in the Municipal Court of the Township of Teaneck of violating any provision of this chapter for which a fee or charge is not otherwise fixed herein shall be subject to a fine of not more than $200 or to imprisonment for a period of not more than 90 days, or both.
[Ord. No. 1770, § 9]
Within five days of the date of service of notice of violation by the law enforcement officer, an alarm user affected by the notice may request a hearing thereon, by serving such request upon the Township Manager. Such request shall set forth briefly the grounds or reasons on which the request for a hearing is based and the factual matters contained in the notice of violation which are to be disputed at the hearing. The Township Manager or his designated representative, upon receipt of the request, shall within 30 days therefrom and upon five days' notice to the alarm user set the matter down for hearing. The Township Manager will issue his decision within 30 days of the hearing.