As used in this chapter, unless the context
otherwise requires, the following phrases, words and their derivations
shall be defined as follows:
ALARM SYSTEM
Any alarm device which automatically dials the emergency
telephone number of the Village Police Department and uses a pretaped
or prerecorded message to alert the police that an emergency exists
or that the services of the Village Police Department are needed,
excluding alarm signals transmitted to privately operated central
stations. "Alarm system" shall also mean any alarm device which automatically
emits an audible, visual or other response upon the occurrence of
any hazard or emergency and is intended to alert persons outside the
building to the existence of said hazard or emergency.
AUDIBLE ALARM PERMIT
The written authorization of the Village of Chester granted
to any person, business, firm, corporation or other entity to install,
maintain or cause to be installed or maintained in his place of business
or residence any police, fire or medical emergency alarm devices that
constitute audible alarm systems under this Chapter.
[Added 3-12-2007 by L.L. No. 1-2007]
AUDIBLE ALARM PERMIT YEAR
The period from January 1 until the next succeeding December
31, except the first audible alarm permit year shall commence on the
effective date of this chapter and end December 31 of that year.
[Added 3-12-2007 by L.L. No. 1-2007]
AUDIBLE ALARM SYSTEM
Any alarm system, which as a component thereof, generates
an audible sound on the premises when it is actuated.
[Added 3-12-2007 by L.L. No. 1-2007]
DIAL ALARM or DIALING DEVICE
Any police alarm device which is a telephone device or telephone
attachment which automatically or electronically selects a telephone
line connected to Village police headquarters and reproduces a prerecorded
message to report a criminal act or other emergency requiring Police
Department response.
FALSE ALARM
Any signal actuated by a police, fire or medical emergency
alarm device, devices or system of devices which is not the result
of natural disaster, a criminal act, fire or other emergency requiring
police or fire response or which generates an audible sound. The term
"false alarm" shall include human error and equipment malfunction
causing the alarm to be activated and which results in police or fire
response.
[Amended 4-3-1995 by L.L. No. 5-1995; 3-12-2007 by L.L. No. 1-2007]
POLICE EMERGENCY NUMBER
Any telephone number designated by the Chairman of the Board
of Police Commissioners or his designee to receive pretaped or prerecorded
messages to alert the police that an emergency exists or that the
services of the Village Police Department are needed.
All dialing devices operated by automatic means
shall transmit messages only to such designated police emergency numbers.
No person shall use, operate or install any device which will, upon
activation by automatic means, initiate the dialing, calling or other
connection with the Police Department of the Village either at its
regularly constituted telephone number of any other number not specifically
designated as a police emergency number. Emergency fire alarms shall
not be transmitted to police headquarters.
No person shall use, operate or install any
dialing device that will, upon activation, automatically dial, call
or connect the police emergency number for the purpose of receiving
such alarm messages more than twice for any one incident.
[Amended 4-3-1995 by L.L. No. 5-1995]
A. No person shall intentionally, negligently, carelessly
or erroneously cause a false alarm. The user of the alarm system shall
be solely and wholly responsible for any false alarms. Negligent or
careless acts shall include improper maintenance and insufficient
or inadequate instructions to tenants, employees, agents, children
or others concerned with or having access to the operation of the
alarm system.
B. Enforcement of the provisions of this chapter concerning
false alarms shall be carried out by the Village Police Department
regardless of which Village authority responded to the alarm.
The Village, its officers, employees or agents
shall have no responsibility for damages resulting from the failure
of the alarm system to operate or the failure of the Village to respond
to an alarm or for losses incurred as a result of damages to the alarm
system in the event it becomes necessary for the Village to disconnect
an alarm pursuant to this chapter.
In the event that an alarm system emitting an
audible, visual or other similar response shall fail to be deactivated
within the time limitation specified herein, the Village shall have
the right to take such action as may be necessary to disconnect the
alarm.
All preexisting installations shall be subject
to this chapter. Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, any
preexisting installations subject to this chapter shall comply with
the provisions of this chapter within six months of the effective
date hereof.
It shall be a violation of this chapter to intentionally cause a false alarm, and any person who does intentionally cause a false alarm shall be subject to the penalty provisions of §
29-12A herein.
If any part or parts of this chapter are for
any reason held to be invalid, such decision shall not affect the
validity of the remaining portions of this chapter.
This chapter shall take effect upon filing with
the Secretary of State.
[Added 3-12-2007 by L.L. No. 1-2007]
Unless otherwise required by law, all audible alarm systems
within the Village are hereby prohibited unless the alarm user demonstrates
a special need and has obtained an audible alarm permit.
[Added 3-12-2007 by L.L. No. 1-2007]
Every audible alarm user shall obtain an audible alarm-user
permit from the Village Police Department for each audible alarm system
said alarm user owns, controls or operates within the Village.
A. Applications for alarm-user permits shall include the following information:
(1) The applicant's name and address.
(2) The address of the protected premises.
(3) The applicant's home and business telephone numbers.
(4) The type of emergency the alarm system is designed to detect.
(5) The name and address of the person that sold, installed, responds
to and/or maintains the alarm system.
(6) The names, addresses and telephone numbers of at least two persons
who can be reached at any time to disconnect the system.
(7) Statement of special need from the applicant for the need of an audible
alarm system.
B. Every alarm system, in addition to the conditions and requirements of this section, must meet the requirements of Chapter
29 of the Code of the Village of Chester in order to qualify for an alarm permit.
C. The alarm user shall notify the Police Department of any changes
in the above information prior to the change taking effect.
D. The information contained in the alarm-user permit shall be maintained
by the Police Department and its inspection restricted to those department
officers specifically assigned to alarm-system-related duties.
F. Any alarm-system user who operates an alarm system without first
having obtained an alarm-user permit as required herein shall be guilty
of a violation of this chapter.
[Added 3-12-2007 by L.L. No. 1-2007]
A. In the event that an alarm permit has been suspended or revoked,
the alarm user may have the permit reinstated by forwarding to the
Police Department, in writing, verification that the conditions causing
such false alarms have been repaired, corrected or otherwise eliminated.
The Chief of Police can, in his or her sole discretion, reinstate
the permit upon collection of an additional permit fee.
B. Reinstatement shall not affect the false alarm count charged to any
alarm user during each calendar year.
C. In any event, any alarm user whose permit has been suspended or revoked may reapply for an alarm permit 12 months after the permit has been suspended or revoked so long as he or she complies with §
29-2 of this chapter.