[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town of Windsor Locks 12-6-1979. Amendments
noted where applicable.]
This chapter shall be known and may be cited as an "Ordinance
Regulating Burglar, Holdup, and Fire Alarm Systems and Users."
The purpose of this chapter is to provide minimum standards
and regulations applicable to burglar, holdup alarm, and fire alarm
systems and alarm users as defined in this chapter.
For the purpose of this chapter, the following terms, phrases,
words and their derivations shall have the meaning 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.
Any person employed by an alarm business whose duties include
altering, installing, maintaining, moving, repairing, replacing, selling,
servicing, responding to, or causing others to respond to an alarm
device.
Any business operated by a person for a profit which engages
in the activity of altering, installing, leasing, maintaining, repairing,
replacing, selling, servicing, or responding to a burglar, holdup
alarm system, or fire alarm system, or which causes any of these activities
to take place.
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 or fire are expected to respond. In
this chapter, the term "alarm system" shall include the terms "automatic
holdup alarm systems," "burglary alarm systems" and "manual holdup
alarm systems" and "fire alarm systems" as those terms are hereinafter
defined. Alarm systems which monitor temperature, humidity or any
other condition not directly related to the detection of an unauthorized
intrusion into a premises or an attempted robbery or a fire or smoke
condition at a premises are specifically excluded from the provisions
of this chapter.
Any person on whose premises an alarm system is maintained
within the Town of Windsor Locks, except for alarm systems on motor
vehicles or proprietary systems. If, however, an alarm system on a
motor vehicle is connected with an alarm system at a premises (other
than a proprietary system), the person using such a system is an alarm
user. Also excluded from this definition and from the coverage of
this chapter are persons who use alarm systems to alert or signal
persons within the premises in which the alarm system is located of
an attempted unauthorized intrusion or holdup attempt. If such a system,
however, employs an audible signal emitting sounds or a flashing light
or beacon designed to signal persons outside the premises, such system
shall be within the definition of "alarm system" and shall be subject
to this chapter.
The instrumentation on an alarm console at the receiving
terminal of a signal line which, through both visual and audible signals,
shows when an alarm device at a particular location has been activated
or it may also indicate line trouble.
The American National Standards Institute.
A telephone answering service providing among its services
the service of receiving, on a continuous basis through trained employees,
emergency signals from alarm systems, and thereafter immediately relaying
the message by live voice to the communication center of the Windsor
Locks Police Department.
An alarm system which automatically sends over regular telephone
lines, by direct connection or otherwise, a prerecorded voice message
or coded signal indicating the existence of the emergency situation
that the alarm system is designed to detect.
An alarm system in which the signal transmission is initiated
by the action of a robber.
An alarm system signaling an entry or attempted entry into
the area protected by the system.
An office to which remote alarm and supervisory signaling
devices are connected, where operators supervise the circuits, and
where guards are maintained continuously to investigate signals.
The signal receiving, recording, or retransmitting equipment
installed in the central station.
A system in which the operation of electrical protection
circuits and devices is signaled automatically to, recorded in, maintained,
and supervised from a central station having trained operators and
guards in attendance at all times.
An alarm system which has the capability of transmitting
system signals to and receiving them at an agency maintained by the
local government; for example, a police communication center.
A telephone line leading directly from a central station
to the communication center of the Windsor Locks Police Department
that in for use only to report emergency signals on a person-to-person
basis.
The activation of an alarm system through mechanical failure,
malfunction, improper installation, or the negligence of the owner
or lessee of an alarm system or of his employees or agents. Such terminology
does not include, for example, alarms caused by hurricanes, tornadoes,
earthquakes, or other violent conditions. "False fire alarms" shall
not mean alarms transmitted because of a water main break or similar
causes that occur outside of the protected property.
False alarms as defined in this chapter also do not include
those alarms that are transmitted with a criminal, malicious, or mischievous
intent.
A signal or message from a person or device indicating the
existence of a fire or other emergency which requires Fire Department
action.
Those publicly supported companies authorized by the Town
of Windsor Locks to provide fire protection services.
The certified person designated as Fire Marshal by the Town
of Windsor Locks or his designated representative.
An alarm system signaling a robbery or attempted robbery.
To connect an alarm system to a voice-grade telephone line,
either directly or through a mechanical device that utilizes a standard
telephone, for the purpose of using the telephone line to transmit
an emergency message upon the activation of the alarm system.
A signaling system which, when activated, causes an audible
and/or visual signaling device to be activated in or on the premises
within which the system is installed.
An alarm system in which the signal transmission is initiated
by the direct action of the person attacked or by an observer of the
attack.
An office to which remote alarm and supervisory signaling
devices are connected, where operators supervise the circuits. Such
modified central station is not listed by Underwriters' Laboratories.
Any person, firm, partnership, association, corporation,
company or organization of any kind.
The Chief of the Police Department of the Town of Windsor
Locks or his designated representative.
The publicly supported Police Department of the Town of Windsor
Locks or any authorized agent thereof.
A telephone line leading directly into the communication
center of the Windsor Locks Police Department that is for the purpose
of handling emergency calls on a person-to-person basis, and which
is identified as such by a specific number included among the emergency
numbers listed in the telephone directory issued by the telephone
company and covering the service area within the Windsor Locks Police
Department's jurisdiction.
An alarm system sounding and/or recording alarm and supervisory
signals at a control center located within the protected premises,
the control center being under the supervision of the proprietor of
the protected premises. If a proprietary system includes a signal
line connected directly or by means of an automatic dialing device
to a police communication center, a central station, modified central
station or answering service, it thereby becomes an "alarm system"
as defined in this chapter.
An alarm signaling system which, when activated by an alarm
device, transmits a signal from an alarm signaling device to a central
location, other than the Windsor Locks Police Department, where appropriate
action is taken to investigate and respond to the signal.
The transmission line through which the signal passes from
one of the elements of the signal transmission to another.
A telephone line leading into the communication center of
the Windsor Locks Police Department and having the primary purpose
of handling emergency signals or messages originating either directly
or through a central location from automatic dialing devices.
A person who buys and/or leases or otherwise obtains an alarm
signaling system and thereafter contracts with or hires an alarm business
to monitor and/or service the alarm device.
The utility that furnishes the telephone services to the
Town of Windsor Locks.
The Town of Windsor Locks, Connecticut.
Underwriters' Laboratories.
A.
No automatic dialing device shall be interconnected to a primary
trunkline after the effective date of this chapter.
B.
Within 90 days after the effective date of this chapter, all automatic
dialing devices interconnected to a primary trunkline shall be disconnected
therefrom. The owner or lessee of such device shall be responsible
for having the device disconnected within the ninety-day time period.
C.
Automatic dialing devices designed to transmit signals directly to
the Windsor Locks Public Safety Complex may be interconnected to a
special trunkline into the Department. Before such a device is interconnected
to a special trunkline, the person performing this operation shall
first obtain instructions from the Windsor Locks Police Department
concerning the procedure to be followed. The Windsor Locks Police
Department shall designate the number to be used for this purpose.
B.
The relaying of messages by the intermediate services to the Windsor
Locks Public Safety Complex shall be over a special trunkline, except
that central stations may relay messages over a direct line.
C.
Automatic dialing devices may also be interconnected to one or more
telephone numbers available to the owner or lessee of the devices,
or their designated representatives, at another location.
D.
This section shall apply only to those automatic dialing devices
interconnected to the communication center in the Windsor Locks Public
Safety Complex.
Within 90 days after the effective date of this chapter, every
alarm business which has interconnected any automatic dialing device
in the Town of Windsor Locks to a special trunkline in the communication
center of the Windsor Locks Police Safety Complex, any other municipal
office, or a telephone line serviced directly by telephone company
operators shall maintain a current list of such installations for
inspection by the Police Chief or Fire Marshal as appropriate during
the course of his official duties and include in such list:
A.
The name, home address and telephone number of the device's
owner or lessee.
B.
The address of the location where the device is installed and the
telephone number at that location.
C.
The name and telephone number of at least one other person who can
be reached at any time, day or night, and who is authorized to respond
to an emergency signal transmitted by the automatic dialing device,
and who can open the premises wherein the device is installed.
Automatic dialing devices installed on any premises within the
Town of Windsor Locks which are interconnected to a special trunkline
transmitting signals into the Windsor Locks Public Safety Complex
or to a telephone line directly serviced by telephone company operators
that will be responded to by members of the Windsor Locks Police Department
or Windsor Locks Fire Company, respectively, shall meet the following
minimum standards, as determined by the Police Chief or Fire Marshal:
A.
The contents of the recorded message to be transmitted by such device
must be intelligible and in a format approved by the Police Chief
or Fire Marshal as appropriate for the type of emergency being reported.
B.
Upon a single stimulus of the alarm device, an automatic dialing
device may place two separate calls to the Windsor Locks Public Safety
Complex via the special trunkline. No such call shall exceed one minute
and 15 seconds. There must be at least three minutes between the completion
of the first call and the initiation of the second, and the second
call must be clearly identified as a second call.
C.
No single message during the call shall exceed 15 seconds in length.
D.
The time gap between delivery of messages must be less than five
seconds.
E.
All such devices shall be capable of transmitting an emergency message
to two or more separate locations, so that, upon activation, any message
may be sent not only on a special trunkline or a telephone line serviced
directly by telephone company operators, but also to a location where
an authorized person is available to respond to the emergency message,
and to open the premises on which the device is installed.
F.
The sensory apparatus and hardware comprising such devices shall
be maintained by the owner or lessee in such physical condition that
false alarms will be minimized.
G.
This section shall apply only to those automatic dialing devices
interconnected to the communication center of the Windsor Locks Public
Safety Complex.
A.
Every alarm business selling or leasing to any person an automatic
dialing device which is installed on such person's premises in
the Town of Windsor Locks after the effective date of this chapter
shall furnish that person with instructions that provide adequate
information to enable persons using such device to operate it properly
and, if the device is to be serviced or maintained by another alarm
business, shall furnish such other alarm business with a manual or
other information necessary to enable it to service or properly maintain
such device.
B.
If the Police Chief or Fire Marshal reasonably finds such information
to be incomplete or unclear, or inadequate to explain how the device
operates and is constructed, he may require the alarm business to
revise the information to meet his approval, and then to distribute
the revised information to persons who have had such device installed
as well as to persons subsequently having such devices installed.
C.
Every alarm business selling or leasing to any person an automatic
dialing device which is installed on such person's premises in
the Town of Windsor Locks after the effective date of this chapter
shall provide or make available at all times service to repair such
device should it malfunction, and shall furnish to the person buying
or leasing such device written information concerning how service
may be obtained at any time, including a telephone number to call
for service.
A.
Upon the favorable recommendation of the Police Chief or Fire Marshal
and the approval of the Director of Public Safety, alarms from business
premises and financial institutions may be terminated in the Windsor
Locks Public Safety Complex.
B.
The alarm subscriber approved for a direct connection to the Windsor
Locks Public Safety Complex or the alarm business contracting for
servicing the subscriber's alarm system shall be responsible
for obtaining the leased telephone line between subscriber's
premises and the alarm receiving equipment at the Windsor Locks Public
Safety Complex and for furnishing the appropriate interface equipment,
if required, in order to provide an input signal which is compatible
with the receiving equipment used to operate the standard annunciator
panel.
Each owner or lessee, at his expense, is required to maintain
all components of his alarm system in good working order at all times
to ensure that the sensory mechanism used in connection with such
device be adjusted to suppress false indications of holdups or intrusions
or fire or smoke conditions so that the device will not be activated
by impulses due to short flashes of light, wind noises, vehicular
noise or other forces unrelated to genuine alarms.
No alarm system designed to transmit emergency messages directly
to the Windsor Locks Public Safety Complex shall be tested or demonstrated
without first obtaining permission from the Police Chief or Fire Marshal.
Permission is not required to test or demonstrate alarm devices not
transmitting emergency messages directly to the Windsor Locks Public
Safety Complex unless the messages are to be relayed to the Windsor
Locks Police Department or Windsor Locks Fire Department.
When an alarm business' service to its subscribers is disrupted
for any reason by the alarm business, or the alarm business becomes
aware of such disruption, it shall promptly notify its subscribe by
telephone that protection is no longer being provided. If, however,
the alarm business has written instructions from its subscriber not
to make such notification by telephone during certain hours, the alarm
business may comply with such instructions.
A.
There shall be only one indicator panel, which shall meet the specifications
established by Underwriters' Laboratories, Inc. and the requirements
of the Chief of Police, installed in the communications control center.
Such panel shall be installed and maintained by the alarm equipment
supplier(s) at no cost to the Town of Windsor Locks.
B.
The number of indicators mounted in such panel shall be limited as
the Chief of Police may deem practical and within the capacity of
the police communications center to monitor adequately.
A.
Enforcement and administration of this chapter shall be the function
of the Chief of Police, except that the Fire Marshal shall have the
jurisdiction over fire alarm systems, and shall be accomplished as
in provided in either or both of the following two subsections:
(1)
The Town of Windsor Locks shall act the following at standards for
alarm performance:
(a)
A maximum of four false alarms from any one protected property
per year shall be acceptable.
(b)
After the second false alarm, the subscriber shall be notified
in writing. Such notification shall require that the alarm system
be inspected by the installing company and the subscriber shall review
alarm procedures with all employees. Also, written notification shall
be made to the Police Chief or Fire Marshal, as appropriate, indicating
that the alarm problem has been corrected.
(c)
Upon receipt of the fifth false alarm, the Town of Windsor Locks
shall charge a penalty of $25 for the fifth false alarm and each false
alarm thereafter.
(2)
If the owner or lessee and/or alarm equipment supplier(s) fails to
comply with any requirement of this chapter, the Chief of Police may
terminate, in writing, the privilege of having equipment and indicators
in the communications center at the Windsor Locks Police Department
and may require removal of the same within three days from the receipt
of said written notice, exclusive of Saturday, Sunday and holidays,
at the expense of such owner or lessee and/or alarm equipment supplier(s).
Failure to remove said equipment and indicators as specified above
shall result in the Town's doing so at the expense of the person(s)
so notified.
B.
Failure of any owner or lessee and/or alarm equipment supplier to
comply with the requirements of a written notice of a violation of
any provision hereof within three days of receipt of such notice,
exclusive of Saturday, Sunday and holidays, shall also constitute
an offense punishable by a fine not to exceed $100. Such notice shall
continue in force and effect until full compliance with requirements
stated therein, and each and every failure to comply with such notice
within 24 hours after the three days allowed for compliance shall
constitute a separate offense.
The Town of Windsor Locks shall not be liable for any defects
in operation of any signal line system, for any failure or neglect
to respond appropriately upon receipt of an alarm from such a source,
for any failure or neglect of any person in connection with the installation,
operation, disconnection or removal of equipment, the transmission
of alarm signals, or the relaying of such signals or messages.
