The purpose of this chapter is to provide standards and regulations
for various types of intrusion, burglar, fire, smoke and other emergency
alarm devices, whether it be a dial alarm, direct alarm, indirect
alarm or local alarm.
The provisions of this chapter shall apply to any person who
operates, maintains or owns any dial alarm, direct alarm, indirect
alarm or local alarm system designed to summon the Police Department,
Fire Department or other municipal agencies to any location in response
to any type of alarm signal.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
DIAL ALARM
That type of device using telephone lines transmitting an
alarm directly through the Police Department or Fire Department.
DIRECT ALARM
Any alarm or device which, when activated, signals the Police
Department or Fire Department directly by the use of an electronic
or radio signal.
FALSE ALARM
Any alarm activated by inadvertence, negligence or the unintentional
act of someone other than an intruder and shall include as well alarms
caused by malfunction of the alarm device.
INDIRECT ALARM
Any alarm or device which, when activated, signals any nongovernmental
person, entity or agency, whether located within or without the territorial
limits of the Borough of Edgewater, by use of a dial, electronic or
radio signal, the report of which is then, by the use of a dial or
electronic radio signal or manual voice response, communicated to
the Police Department or Fire Department.
LOCAL ALARM
Any alarm or device which, when activated, produces a visual
and/or noise signal and which is not connected to telephone lines
to the Police Department or Fire Department switchboards.
PERSON
Includes any natural person, partnership, corporation, association,
business, club or organization.
[Amended 12-18-1984 by Ord. No. 803-84]
A. In the case of a false alarm, any person having knowledge thereof
shall immediately notify the Police/Fire Department and shall use
such means of communication so as to preclude the necessity for a
response by the Police/Fire Department. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
such communication shall not excuse a violation of this chapter in
the event that the Police/Fire Department has undertaken such action
necessary in order to respond to the scene.
B. The Police Chief and/or Fire Chief shall cause an investigation to
be made on all false alarms and shall keep a record of said alarms
on file. For such alarms, the Mayor and Council prescribe the following
penalties: for the first and second false alarms in any given calendar
year, a warning shall be issued; for the third false alarm in the
same calendar year, a fine of not less than $100 shall be paid to
the Borough of Edgewater; for the fourth false alarm and any subsequent
false alarms, a fine of $250 shall be paid to the Borough of Edgewater.
After four false alarms in any given year, the Mayor and Council reserves
the right to require the disconnection of the device for a limited
or permanent time, provided that no such permit shall be revoked or
suspended without giving the permittee an opportunity to show cause
before the Mayor and Council why such action should not be taken.
[Amended 12-20-1993 by Ord. No. 1016-93]