[Adopted 6-28-1988 by L.L. No. 2-1988]
The purpose of this article is threefold:
A.
To regulate the connection of alarm systems with the 911 Emergency
Communications Centers to prevent the emergency number from being
jammed or seized by automatic dialing devices, or other such similar
devices.
B.
To regulate the automatic dialer's message content to ensure that
the essential information is received to provide appropriate emergency
response.
C.
To regulate administrative matters relating to the operations of
the 911 Emergency Communications Centers to ensure the health, safety
and general welfare of the residents of the County by regulating the
use and application of alarm systems, and by providing an alternate
seven-digit number solely for the purpose of automatic dialer interconnect.
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
The County of Saratoga Emergency Services Director, or his
designated representative, hereinafter the "Director."
Any assembly of equipment or device arranged to signal the
presence of a hazard requiring urgent attention, and to which police,
fire or emergency medical related service agencies are expected to
respond. An alarm system shall include automatic dialing devices.
Any person on whose premises, located within the County of
Saratoga, an alarm system is owned, operated or maintained by such
person or his agents, employees or servants.
A device which is connected to a telephone line and is programmed
to access a predetermined emergency agency number and transmit by
voice message or coded signal to an emergency agency an emergency
message indicating a need for emergency response.
The County of Saratoga, State of New York.
The central dispatching location provided by the County and
the New York State Police or any of the other Public Safety Answering
Points to receive all emergency calls on behalf of participating agencies.
Any person, firm, partnership, association, corporation,
company or organization of any kind.
Refers to a business which offers service receiving emergency
signals from alarms and where emergency signals from alarm systems
are monitored and thereafter relayed to an emergency agency.
A designated telephone line(s) leading into the County's
Emergency Communications Centers, and having the primary purpose of
handling emergency signals or messages from automatic dialing devices.
Effective July 11, 1988, all automatic dialing devices terminating
at the Emergency Communications Centers shall be programmed to access
designated special trunk lines. The designated emergency telephone
number is 885-5522. All automatic dialers accessing the 911 Emergency
Communications Centers shall be programmed to dial the above number.
A.
Dialers shall not be programmed to dial the number "911." All automatic dialing devices terminating at the Emergency Communication Centers must be programmed to dial the designated seven-digit number authorized in § 133-3 above.
B.
Dialers shall not hold the telephone line open after the Emergency
Communications Center has broken the telephone connection.
C.
Dialers shall not dial the Emergency Communications Centers more
than once as a result of a single activation.
D.
Dialers shall not state a message more than twice after the call
has been answered at the Emergency Communications Center.
E.
Dialer messages must be in the following format: "This is (name of
household or business in the County) reporting a (robbery, burglary,
police trouble, fire, water flow or emergency medical) alarm at (number,
street name) (apartment or room number), (floor), (building name).
The nearest intersection is (intersecting street) in (city, town or
village).
A.
Alarm notifications which terminate at a private answering station
or point, and are then communicated to the Emergency Communications
Centers by an individual for appropriate dispatch response, shall
be permitted on the 911 emergency telephone number. The calling party
shall provide the Emergency Communications Center operator with the
following information:
(1)
Type of alarm activated (robbery, burglary, police trouble, fire,
water flow, or emergency medical).
(2)
Name of business or household.
(3)
Street number and name.
(4)
Apartment, room number or floor (if applicable).
(5)
Building name.
(6)
Nearest intersecting street.
(7)
City, town or village.
(8)
Any additional information as requested by the Emergency Communications
Center operator.
B.
The calling party shall promptly terminate the call upon transmission
of the above information.
Financial institutions or units of government permitted to have
direct connection to the alarm panels located at the Emergency Communications
Centers shall be required to enter into a separate agreement with
the County. The agreement will set forth all requirements and conditions
for such alarms.
The testing of automatic alarm dialers shall be permitted in
accordance with the following procedures:
A.
Business and residential alarms may be tested a maximum of four times
per year. Such testing shall be conducted during the hours of 8:00
a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Exceptions for frequency of tests and hours will
be granted when an alarm is being tested as a result of alarm maintenance
or repair.
B.
Prior to the alarm test, the user must contact one of the County's
911 Emergency Communications Centers to notify the Center of the test.
The caller must provide his name, address, telephone number, and type
of alarm. The telephone number to be used when requesting an alarm
test is 885-6761 for a robbery, burglary or police trouble alarm,
and for a fire, water flow, or emergency medical alarm. If for any
reason the alarm test cannot be conducted, the operator will advise
the user and the test shall be rescheduled at a time which is designated
by the 911 Emergency Communications Center's operator.
C.
In accordance with the law enforcement agency policy, a police officer
or deputy may be dispatched to the alarm address to verify the test.
D.
Upon test completion, the user shall recall the 911 Emergency Communications
Center by calling the administrative number, and verify the alarm
test. The caller must identify himself and advise the operator of
the name of the business or household and request validation of the
test.
E.
The 911 Emergency Communications Center operator will monitor test
and evaluate clarity of message, tone and message completeness.
A.
Any person, business or firm programming an automatic dialing device
to call the 911 emergency telephone number of the County of Saratoga
shall be liable for a civil penalty of $500.
B.
In addition to the civil penalty, noncompliance with any of the procedures contained herein is a violation of § 133-4 of this article and punishable by a fine of not less than $500 and not more than $1,000 or by a term of imprisonment not to exceed 15 days, or by both such fine and imprisonment.
C.
A police officer or deputy sheriff may order the alarm user to immediately
disconnect any device not conforming to the provisions of this article
from the 911 emergency number. The failure by such alarm user to obey
such order shall be a violation punishable by a fine of not less than
$500 and not more than $1,000 or by a term of imprisonment not to
exceed 15 days, or by both such fine and imprisonment.
D.
Additionally, the owner of such alarm system shall be liable for
a civil penalty of $500 for the failure to obey such order.
The Director may refuse to permit any person, business or firm
the right to program its automatic dialing device to access the designated
special seven-digit number when the Director has reason to believe
that the use of the device would adversely impact the operations of
the 911 Emergency Communications Centers.
These regulations shall pertain to all alarm systems which terminate
at the 911 Emergency Communications Centers. The 911 Director may
from time to time issue amendments, in writing, to these regulations.
All regulations shall be issued with an effective date. It is the
duty of all alarm users to keep advised of amendments to the existing
procedures and make appropriate changes and/or modifications as required.
