[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Commissioners (now Municipal Council) of the Borough of Hawthorne 2-15-1989 by Ord. No. 1482; amended in its entirety 5-7-2003 by Ord. No. 1808 (Ch. 57 of the 1989 Code). Subsequent amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Department of Public Safety — See Ch. 25.
Fees — See Ch. 220.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
AUTOMATIC ALARM DIALING EQUIPMENT
Includes any and all preprogrammed or automatic dialing attachments or radio reporting devices or any other type of equipment which is utilized to report to the Fire or Police Departments over the telephone wires and any message, alarm signal or transmission.
[Amended 6-6-2007 by Ord. No. 1902-07]
No person, firm or corporation shall install or cause to be installed any automatic alarm dialing equipment except as heretofore provided by this chapter. Said registration shall include the type of device utilized, including brand name or manufacturers thereof, serial number, type of device, from whom purchased, method of operation of said device, provisions relating to false alarms and testing procedures, a list of persons to be contacted in the event of an alarm and any other information as may be required by the Municipal Council or its agent.
Registration will be required of all persons, firms or corporation having installed said automatic dialing equipment prior to the effective date of this chapter. Registration shall be renewed on an annual basis.
A dial alarm or any alarm device which, when activated automatically or electronically, selects a telephone line connected to Hawthorne Police Headquarters, reporting by a prerecorded message requesting fire or police assistance, shall conform to the following regulations:
A. 
Dial alarms shall be coded to dial a special separate number designated by the Chief of Police or his agent. No such devices shall be connected to or set up to dial regular police headquarters telephone lines.
B. 
Prerecorded messages must be approved by the Chief of Police or his agent. The total length of the alarm message must not exceed 15 seconds. The alarm message shall be transmitted at least two times, but no more than three times.
C. 
The dialing alarm device must be provided with an automatic line seizure feature in the event that the special number is busy with another alarm call.
D. 
Preexisting devices. In the event that any person, firm or corporation has a dial alarm device in existence at the time of the date of the adoption of this chapter, he shall, within 30 days, register said device and pay the annual fee.
E. 
Maintenance. All components of such equipment must be maintained by the owner and kept in good repair. Where evidence exists that there has been a failure to comply with the operational requirement of this chapter, the Chief of Police or his agent shall demand that such device be disconnected until such time as compliance.
F. 
Registration fee. Every person, firm or corporation utilizing a dial alarm device shall register the same with the Borough Clerk and renew such registration on an annual basis. Upon the filing of said registration or renewal thereof, the permittee shall pay to the Borough of Hawthorne an annual fee for the privilege of connecting said equipment in the sum as set forth in Chapter 220, Fees, no portion of which shall be prorated or refundable. Should any such fee be delinquent for 30 days, the Municipal Clerk shall notify the permittee, in writing, that such system or equipment is in violation of this chapter.
A. 
In case of a false alarm or malfunction of any equipment, any person having knowledge shall immediately notify the Police Department within one minute after the receipt of the alarm to avoid a false alarm being credited to the alarm user. In addition, in case of a false alarm, the Chief of Police or his agent shall cause an investigation to be made and keep a record of said alarms on file.
B. 
In the event that a malfunction or false alarm shall occur in the equipment, the following penalties shall be assessed for each malfunction:
(1) 
During any twelve-month period commencing January 1:
(a) 
First two malfunctions: no penalty; written warning to be given.
(b) 
Third malfunction: $25.
(c) 
Fourth through seventh malfunctions: $50.
(d) 
Eighth and subsequent malfunctions: $100.
(2) 
Malfunctions or false alarms in excess of eight in any twelve-month period shall constitute a basis for requiring disconnection of devices or equipment.
C. 
It shall be unlawful to operate an audible alarm system which does not shut off within a maximum time of 15 minutes from the time of activation.
[Amended 6-6-2007 by Ord. No. 1902-07]
In addition to the revocation of the license or permit of any person, firm or corporation who fails to comply with the provisions of this chapter, such person, firm or corporation may, if found guilty of such violation, be subject to a fine not to exceed $2,000 or imprisonment for a term not to exceed 90 days or a requirement to perform community service for a period not to exceed 90 days. In the case of a continuing violation, the violator may be found guilty of as many separate offenses as the number of days he is proved to have continued the violation.