[HISTORY: Adopted by the Mayor and Council of the Borough
of Edgewater 4-3-1984 by Ord. No. 778-84 (Ch. 110 of the 1975
Code). Amendments noted where applicable.]
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:
That type of device using telephone lines transmitting an
alarm directly through the Police Department or Fire Department.
Any alarm or device which, when activated, signals the Police
Department or Fire Department directly by the use of an electronic
or radio signal.
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.
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.
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.
Includes any natural person, partnership, corporation, association,
business, club or organization.
A.Â
Any person who owns or operates a dial alarm, direct alarm, indirect
alarm or local alarm shall make application for the continuance thereof
in writing to the Police Chief/Fire Chief within 30 days from the
final passage of this chapter, which application shall contain at
least the location of the device, the name and address of the installer
of the device, the type of device, provisions relating to false alarms
and testing procedures, a list of persons to be contacted in the event
of an alarm and other information as may be required by the Police
Chief/Fire Chief.
B.Â
No person may install or cause to be installed a dial alarm, direct
alarm, indirect alarm or local alarm device without first obtaining
a written permit for the installation from the Police Chief/Fire Chief
of the Borough of Edgewater.
C.Â
The fee for processing an application for the issuance of a written
permit to install a dial alarm, direct alarm or indirect alarm or
local alarm device shall be $100.
[Amended 4-4-1994 by Ord. No. 1025-94]
D.Â
In addition to the initial application fee, an annual renewal fee
of $50 shall be required.
[Added 4-4-1994 by Ord. No. 1025-94]
A.Â
Persons having either dial alarms, direct alarms, indirect alarms
or local alarm devices shall be required to leave with the Police/Fire
Department the name of a person or persons who can be reached in case
of malfunction of the equipment in order that the device can be temporarily
disconnected. In lieu thereof, this requirement can be fulfilled by
leaving a tagged key to the premises with the Police Chief/Fire Chief
of the Borough of Edgewater, provided that in so doing the owner thereby
releases the Borough of Edgewater and the Police/Fire Department from
any claims or damages or loss in connection with said entry.
B.Â
Persons moving alarm devices which are being tested or repaired shall
notify the Police/Fire Department before tests or repairs commence
and after completion of same so as to avoid the possibility of activating
a false alarm.
[Amended 12-18-1984 by Ord. No. 803-84]
A.Â
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.Â
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]
A.Â
Any person found to have violated any of the provisions of this chapter,
the penalties for which are set forth in the New Jersey Uniform Construction
Code (N.J.A.C. 5:23), shall be subject to the penalties set forth
therein.