[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Meeting of the Town of Dedham
as Ch. 13, Sec. 43, of the 1996 By-laws; amended 11-18-2013 STM by Art. 16. Subsequent
amendments noted where applicable.]
For the purpose of this section the following terms, phrases,
words and their derivations shall have the meanings given herein.
When not inconsistent with the context, words used in the present
tense include the future, words used in the plural number include
the singular number, and words in the singular number include the
plural number. The word "shall" is always mandatory and not merely
directory.
An assembly of equipment and devices or a single device such
as a solid state unit which plugs directly into a 110 volt AC line,
arranged to signal the presence of a hazard requiring urgent attention
and to which police are expected to respond. Fire Alarm Systems and
alarm systems which monitor temperature, smoke, humidity or any other
condition not directly related to the detection of an unauthorized
intrusion into a premises or an attempted robbery at a premises are
specifically excluded from the provisions of this section. The provisions
of § 106-4 of this chapter shall not be applicable to municipal,
county and state agencies.
Means:
The activation of an alarm system through mechanical failure,
malfunction, improper installation or negligence of the user of an
alarm system or of his employees or agents, or
Any signal or oral communication transmitted to the Police Department
requesting or requiring, and resulting in, a response on the part
of the Police Department when in fact there has been no unauthorized
intrusion, robbery, or burglary, or attempted threat.
[Amended 5-21-2018 ATM
by Art. 24]
Notwithstanding Subsections A(1) and (2), for purposes of this bylaw, the term “false alarm” shall not include situations where the party requesting or requiring a police response in relation to an alarm system activation subsequently cancels the request in time for dispatch to recall the responding officer prior to arrival.
[Added 5-21-2018 ATM
by Art. 24]
For purposes of this definition activation of alarm systems
by acts of God, including but not limited to power outages, hurricanes,
tornadoes, earthquakes and similar weather or atmospheric disturbances
shall not be deemed to be a false alarm.
Signals emitted by alarm systems shall be controlled and curtailed
as follows:
A.
Every alarm user shall submit to the Chief of Police the names and
telephone numbers of at least two persons who are authorized to respond
to an emergency transmitted by the alarm system, and who can open
the premises wherein the alarm system is installed.
B.
All audible alarm systems installed after the effective date of this
section which use an audible horn or bell shall be equipped with a
device that will shut off such horn or bell within 10 minutes of the
activation of the alarm system.
C.
Any alarm system emitting a continuous and uninterrupted signal for more than 15 minutes which cannot be shut off or otherwise curtailed due to the absence or unavailability of the alarm user or those persons designated under Subsection A of this section and which disturbs the peace, comfort, or repose of a community, a neighborhood, or a number of the inhabitants of the area where the alarm system is located, shall constitute a public nuisance.
(1)
Upon receiving complaint of such a continuous and uninterrupted signal, the Chief of Police shall endeavor to contact the alarm user, or members of the alarm user's family, or those persons designated by the alarm user under Subsection A, in an effort to abate the nuisance. If such efforts do not result in the silencing of the alarm within 30 minutes of its activation, the Police Chief may, at the expense of the owner, order its deactivation using whatever means may be appropriate to the occasion.
(2)
The Police Chief shall cause to be recorded the names and addresses
of all complainants, and the time of each complaint.
A.
Upon receipt of three or more false alarms within a calendar year
the Police Chief may order the user to discontinue the use of the
alarm.
[Amended 5-21-2018 ATM
by Art. 24]
B.
Penalties shall be assessed for false alarm responses generated in
a calendar year as set forth in the following chart:
|
Number of False Alarms
|
Fine
| |
|---|---|---|
|
1-3
|
No penalty - Warning
| |
|
4-6
|
$50 per alarm
| |
|
7-10
|
$100 per alarm
| |
|
11 or more
|
$300 per alarm
|
