This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Ordinance
to Provide for the Regulation and Control of the Installation, Operation
and Maintenance of Alarm Systems in the City of Union City."
As used in this chapter, the words terms and phrases, hereinafter
defined, shall have the following meanings:
ALARM SYSTEM
The installation in one or more buildings of one or more
alarm devices or local alarms for the express purpose of affording
visual or audible warning, or both, of an emergency such as a holdup,
burglary, intrusion, fire, smoke, flood or like perils.
CENTRAL STATION
A communications center receiving signals from an alarm signaling
device which is operated for its subscribers. Such central location
is maintained and supervised on a continuous basis by trained operators
who will take appropriate action upon receipt of an emergency signal
from an alarm signal device, including the relaying of such information
directly to the Police Department communications center.
DIAL ALARM
An alarm device that employs an automatic dialing system
precoded to connect with a telephone in police headquarters rather
than to the alarm console with an automatic cutoff.
FALSE ALARM
The activation of an alarm system by causes other than those
to which the alarm system was designed or intended to respond or activate.
LOCAL ALARM or PRIVATE ALARM
Any mechanism that constitutes, in whole or in part, an alarm
system that is operated by a private company at a location other than
the property in the City.
OCCUPANT
A person in possession of premises in or upon which an alarm
system exists.
In addition to any other requirements imposed by this chapter,
an alarm business shall not be granted a license to operate, on all
or part of its services, a central station servicing central alarms
unless the Police Department finds that the central station, if operated,
will meet the following minimum requirements:
A. Compliance with the Standard for Central Station Burglar Alarm Units
and Systems (UL 611-1968), issued by Underwriters' Laboratories
Inc., or American National Standards Institute (ANSI 2.2, 1971) and
any later edition of these standards that may be issued. Such standards
are hereby adopted and made a part of this chapter, and a copy of
the most recent standards shall be kept on file at the Police Department
and be available for public inspection. The service provided may correspond
to any of the several grades of service listed in the standards, but
in no event shall the owner, claim agent or other person in responsible
control of the location wherein such system is located by present
longer than one hour at such location, after being request to do so
by a representative of the Police Department. Such person shall inspect
the alarm system after each activation to ensure proper operation.
B. Proof of compliance to part of this section shall be provided, in writing, from the alarm business through its legal representative to the Police Department, specifying the minimum acceptable standards pertaining to central stations as outlined in Subsection
A above. Such written proof shall not preclude, but shall be in addition to, physical inspection of the premises and equipment by the Police Department and shall further be in addition to and in support of any other section of this chapter.
C. It shall be the obligation of the central station to contact the
occupant or the prespecified designee of the occupant when the system
shall become activated by having received a visual or audio response
to that occupant's alarm system.
Under the provisions of this chapter, the Chief of Police, or
any authorized representative (s)he may have designated and empowered,
shall make a decision with respect to the installation, operation
and maintenance of any alarm equipment, or with respect to the issuance
or denial of any application relating thereto. Any person aggrieved
by such decision may within 10 days following the decision, file a
written appeal therefrom with the City Clerk and the Chief of Police,
whereupon the Board of Commissioners shall promptly conduct a hearing
and affirm, modify or reverse the decision from which the appeal has
been taken.
The Chief of Police, after prior consultation with the licensee,
from time to time, shall promulgate such rules and regulations in
connection with the provisions of this chapter in order to reasonably
provide for efficient recordkeeping and management of the system,
provided that such rules and regulations, or any revisions thereof,
shall not take effect unless and until first approved by resolution
of the Board of Commissioners.