[Ord. of 11-2-1953, § 1]
It shall be unlawful to permit or allow a discarded icebox, refrigerator or other container or one not in use to remain in any place accessible to children unless the latching or locking mechanism on the door or doors of the same has been removed or unless the door or doors of the same are removed or are bolted and locked in such manner that it is impossible to open the same by use of the hands.
[Ord. of 3-4-1929, § 1; Ord. of 5-5-1941, § 1; Ord. of 3-15-1971; Ord. of 12-16-1980]
It shall be unlawful for any unauthorized person under the age of 16 to sell, offer to sell, possess or discharge any air pistol or air rifle or similar device in which the propelling force is a spring or air, except that such devices used in connection with an amusement duly licensed or at rifle or pistol ranges duly authorized by law shall not be considered a violation hereof and except that such devices may be authorized for use by officers and employees of the City of Poughkeepsie so designated by the Chief of Police.
[Ord. of 2-4-1929, § 11]
[1]
Editor's Note: Former Section 14-3, Flying kites, adopted by Ord. of 2-4-1929, § 11, was repealed 6-20-2023 by Ord. No. O-23-03.
[Ord. of 3-4-1929, § 1, 2]
(a) 
Interment. No person shall inter or allow to be interred any dead bodies within the City, except in a burial ground.
(b) 
Disinterment. No person shall remove, disturb or expose any dead body or coffin interred in any graveyard or vault in the city, unless permission is first obtained from the Health Officer.
[Ord. of 2-21-1995, § 1, 2; Ord. of 4-6-2004, § 1]
(a) 
The City of Poughkeepsie has identified a significant trade in controlled substances and marijuana on the streets of the City of Poughkeepsie with the resulting increase in crimes related to such street trade. The purpose of the following provisions of this section is to add to the crime-fighting abilities of the City of Poughkeepsie Police Department by prohibiting loitering for the specific illegal purposes of possessing or using marijuana or a controlled substance.
(1) 
Definitions. As used in this section, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE
Any substance listed in Schedule I, II, III, IV or V of Section 3306 of the Public Health Law other than marijuana.
MARIJUANA
Marijuana or concentrated cannabis, as those terms are defined in Section 3302 of the Public Health Law.
MOTOR VEHICLE
a. 
Every vehicle operated or driven upon a public highway which is propelled by any power other than muscular power, except:
1. 
Electrically-driven mobility-assistance devices operated or driven by a person with a disability.
2. 
Vehicles which run only upon rails or tracks.
3. 
Snowmobiles as defined in Article 47 of the New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law.
b. 
The term "motor vehicle" shall exclude fire and police vehicles.
PUBLIC PLACE
A place to which the public or a substantial group of persons has access, and includes but is not limited to any street, highway, sidewalk, bridge, alley or alleyway, plaza, park, parking lot or transportation facility, school, place of amusement or playground or the doorways and entranceways to any building which fronts on any of the aforesaid places or a motor vehicle in or on any such place and hallways, lobbies and other portions of apartment houses and hotels not constituting rooms or apartments designed for actual residence.
(2) 
Loitering for the purpose of using or possessing marijuana or a controlled substance prohibited. A person is guilty of loitering when he or she loiters or remains in a public place for the purpose of possessing or using marijuana or a controlled substance. Loitering under this provision is a violation.
(3) 
Guidelines for law enforcement. In order to make an arrest of a person under this section, a police officer or other person must have repeatedly observed conduct of the subject individually or in conjunction with another which would reasonably lead a police officer to the conclusion that the subject is present for the purpose of using or possessing marijuana or a controlled substance.
(4) 
Penalties. If any party violates the provisions of this section or engages in conduct in violation of this section, he or she shall be subject to punishment by a fine of $250 or by imprisonment for up to 15 days, or both.
(5) 
Enforcement. The provisions of this section can be enforced by the City of Poughkeepsie Police Department and any other police officer or peace officer or other person who can lawfully make an arrest.
(6) 
Savings clause. If any clause, sentence, paragraph, section or part of this section shall be judged by any court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, such judgment shall not affect, impair or invalidate the remainder thereof but shall be confined in its operation to the clause, sentence, paragraph, section or part thereof directly involved in the controversy in which such judgment shall have been rendered.
(b) 
Authority in emergency. In times of public danger, existing or threatened, it shall be the duty of the Police Force to keep the streets and sidewalks clear of all gatherings, and no citizen or other person shall at such times be allowed to remain standing on the streets, after a request to move has been made by an officer of the Police Force or by any member of the Common Council.
[Ord. of 2-4-1929, § 8; Ord. of 3-4-1929, § 1]
(a) 
Generally. No person shall willfully and wantonly injure, deface or tarnish any house, porch, stoop, door, gate, well, pump, fence or tree or any useful or ornamental public or private work or improvement or any post or hydrant standing in the street, either by daubing or smearing the same or part thereof with mud, paint, tar, oil, grease or any other substance or by throwing stones or in any manner whatever, nor shall any person aid or assist therein.
(b) 
Tampering with poles, tamps, fixtures. No person shall in any way deface, mar, injure, disturb, break or destroy any lamps, poles or fixtures of any kind in the streets or public places of the city or meddle with or open the same or obstruct or extinguish the light thereof.
[Ord. of 3-4-1929, § 1]
Each person whose duty it shall be to inspect any gas, water or electric light meter shall at the time of such inspection wear a metal badge which shall be furnished by the city in cases where such inspection is made by a city employee or by the corporation whenever such inspection is made for a corporation. Such badge shall plainly show the name of the city or of the corporation for whom the inspection is made and shall be conspicuously worn in order to be plainly seen and exhibited to each householder or other person upon whose premises inspections are made.
(a) 
Age restriction. No boy under the age of 14 years nor girl under the age of 18 shall carry on any business street trade. In addition, no boy under the age of 12 may sell or deliver newspapers to customers at their homes or places of business.
(b) 
Badge or certificate required. Each boy so engaged, whether it shall be as a shoeshine boy, as a boy selling papers on a corner or as a carrier boy, must have a badge or certificate issued to him through the Board of Education and must carry this badge or certificate on his person at all times.
(c) 
Hours limited. No boys in the above category may work before 6:00 a.m. or after 7:00 p.m., nor for more than four hours on a school day and five hours on any day when school is not in session.
[1]
State law references: Street trades defined and regulated, § 3227 of the Education Law; newspaper carriers, § 3228 of the Education Law.
[Ord. of 4-5-1937, § 2]
(a) 
Prohibited. It shall be unlawful for any person to carry or use upon any vehicle any gong or siren whistle similar to that used on ambulances or vehicles of the Police and Fire Departments.
(b) 
Scope of section. Nothing herein contained shall be construed to permit the use or carrying of any such gong or siren upon any vehicle owned or operated or carrying members of a volunteer Fire Department to and from fires, except fire apparatus owned by the city and operated by the Fire Department when going to a fire. This section shall not apply to the operators of ambulances or police vehicles when used in the course of their official duties.
[1]
State law reference: Breaches of the peace constituting disorderly conduct, § 240.00 et seq. of the Penal law.
[Ord. of 4-5-1937, § 3; Ord. of 6-21-1937, § 1]
(a) 
Permit requirements. It shall be unlawful for any person, without a written permit from the Mayor, to use, play or perform upon any drum, bugle, hand organ, barrel-organ, barrel-accordion, barrel-piano, hurdy-gurdy or other musical or wind instrument upon any street or other public place except in accordance with the provisions of Section 5 of the General City Law. The Mayor may, in his discretion, limit such permit as to time and place and may, at any time, revoke such permit peremptorily and without notice.
(b) 
Soliciting money. It shall be unlawful for any person, except a duly organized religious corporation using or performing upon such musical instrument to solicit, ask, request or accept any money for such use or performance.
(c) 
Permit or copy to be filed. Any person who secures a permit under this section shall file said permit or a copy thereof with the Chief of Police.
[Ord. of 4-5-1937, § 4; Ord. of 5-17-1976, § 1]
It shall be unlawful for any person to operate in or upon any vehicle or in any building or upon any premises or in any street or other public place any voice-amplifying device, radio device or mechanical musical instrument or device of any kind whereby the sound therefrom is cast directly upon the public streets and places where such device is maintained and operated for advertising purposes or for the purpose of attracting the attention of the passing public or which is so placed and operated that the sounds coming therefrom can be heard to the annoyance or inconvenience of travelers upon any street or public place or of persons in neighboring premises. This section shall not apply to the operation of a general broadcasting system on the Main Mall with the written permission of and under supervision by the Downtown Council.
[Ord. of 2-4-1929, § 8]
No person shall write, paint, print, draw or cut upon any building, fireplug, post, fence or other object exposed to public view any obscene word or expression, character, figure or design.
[Added by L.L. No. 1-2016, 5-2-2016]
(a) 
Legislative intent. This legislation is adopted in order to protect persons from threatening, intimidating or harassing behavior, to keep public places safe for use by the general public. This legislation is also intended to provide for the free flow of pedestrian and vehicular traffic on streets and sidewalks in the City, to promote tourism and business and preserve the quality of urban life. The Council finds that aggressive acts associated with solicitation interfere with the free flow of pedestrian and vehicular traffic and intimidate persons in public places and can lead to disruption and disorder in public places. Aggressive acts can also cause persons to avoid public places and lead to declining patronage of commercial establishments and tourism. The Council further finds that solicitation in certain public places is inconsistent with the use of those places, is inherently intimidating, targets persons who are captive audiences or constitutes an invasion of privacy as persons are not able to simply move on if they do not wish to speak to the person soliciting. Solicitation in proximity to bank entrances or check-cashing businesses or automated teller machines is inherently intimidating and should be restricted. By this legislation, the Council intends to promote the health, safety and welfare of the citizens and visitors to the City.
(b) 
Definitions. Wherever used in this section, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
AGGRESSIVE MANNER
(1) 
Intentionally or recklessly making any physical contact with or touching another person in the course of the solicitation, or approaching within an arm's length of the person, except with the person's consent;
(2) 
Following the person being solicited, if that conduct is:
a. 
Intended to or is likely to cause a reasonable person to fear imminent bodily harm or the commission of a criminal act upon property in the person's possession; or
b. 
Is intended to or is reasonably likely to intimidate the person being solicited into responding affirmatively to the solicitation;
(3) 
Continuing to solicit within five feet of the person being solicited after the person has made a negative response, if continuing the solicitation is:
a. 
Intended to or is likely to cause a reasonable person to fear imminent bodily harm or the commission of a criminal act upon property in the person's possession; or
b. 
Is intended to or is likely to intimidate the person being solicited into responding affirmatively to the solicitation;
(4) 
Intentionally or recklessly blocking the safe or free passage of the person being solicited or requiring the person, or the driver of a vehicle, to take evasive action to avoid physical contact with the person making the solicitation;
(5) 
Intentionally or recklessly using words:
a. 
Intended to or likely to cause a reasonable person to fear imminent bodily harm or the commission of a criminal act upon property in the person's possession; or
b. 
Intended or likely to intimidate the person into responding affirmatively to the solicitation; or
(6) 
Approaching the person being solicited in a manner that is:
a. 
Intended to or is likely to cause a reasonable person to fear imminent bodily harm or the commission of a criminal act upon property in the person's possession; or
b. 
Intended to or is likely to intimidate the person being solicited into responding affirmatively to the solicitation.
AUTOMATED TELLER MACHINE
A device, linked to a financial institution's account records, which is able to carry out transactions, including but not limited to account transfers, deposits, cash withdrawals, balance inquiries, and mortgage and loan payments.
AUTOMATED TELLER MACHINE FACILITY
The area comprised of one or more automated teller machines, and any adjacent space which is made available to banking customers after regular banking hours.
BANKING ORGANIZATION
All banks, trust companies, private bankers, savings banks, industrial banks, safe deposit companies, savings and loan associations, credit unions and investment companies as defined in § 2 of the New York State Banking Law.
LICENSED CASHER OF CHECKS
Any individual, partnership, unincorporated association or corporation duly licensed by the New York State Superintendent of Banks to engage in business pursuant to the provisions of Article IX-A of the New York State Banking Law.
PARKING LOT
Any public parking garage, parking deck and parking lot, including but not limited to those public parking garages and public parking spaces included in § 13-317 of the Municipal Code.
PUBLIC PLACE
Any area or building owned, leased, operated or controlled by or on behalf of any government, municipality, public authority or public corporation in the City which is generally accessible by the public, including but not limited to any street, including the sidewalk portion thereof, bridge, park, playground, recreation area, cemetery, school or school grounds, building, facility, driveway, parking lot or parking garage, and the doorways and entrances to buildings and dwellings.
SOLICIT
Includes without limitation, the spoken, written, or printed word or such other acts or bodily gestures as are conducted in furtherance of the purposes of immediately obtaining money or any other thing of value.
(c) 
No person shall solicit in an aggressive manner in a public place.
(d) 
No person shall solicit within 20 feet of an automated teller machine or an entrance or exit of an automated teller machine facility; or within 20 feet of an entrance or exit to a banking organization or a licensed casher of checks during its business hours.
(e) 
No person shall solicit when either the person soliciting or the person being solicited is in a bus shelter or at a bus stop.
(f) 
No person shall solicit in a parking lot as defined in this section.
(g) 
No person on a sidewalk or alongside a roadway shall solicit from any occupant of a motor vehicle that is on a street or other public place.
(h) 
Penalties. A person convicted of violating this section shall be fined in an amount up to $250 or by imprisonment of up to 15 days, or both. In lieu of a fine, the court may impose an appropriate alternative sentence.
[1]
Editor's Note: Former Section 14-13, Parades, demonstrations, assemblages, was repealed by Ord. No. O-09-04. See § 7 3/4-20.
[Ord. of 3-2-1964, § 1, 2; Ord. of 9-4-1968, § 1-3; Ord. of 3-15-1976]
All public selling or offering for sale of any property upon Christmas Day, being the 25th day of December, which would be a violation of § 9 of the General Business Law, which is sold or offered for sale on Sunday, is prohibited.
[Ord. of 7-20-1964, § 1 through 3]
(a) 
Recruitment. No person shall recruit, procure, supply or refer any person for employment in place of any employee involved in a labor dispute in which such person is not directly involved.
(b) 
Employment. No person involved in a labor dispute shall, directly or indirectly, employ in the place of an employee involved in such dispute any person who customarily and repeatedly offers himself for employment in the place of employees involved in a labor dispute, or contract or arrange with any person to recruit, procure, supply or refer persons for employment who customarily and repeatedly offer themselves for employment in place of employees involved in such labor dispute.
(c) 
Engaging in employment. No person who customarily and repeatedly offers himself for employment in place of employees involved in a labor dispute shall take or offer to take the place in employment of any employee involved in a labor dispute.
[Ord. of 12-16-1963, § 1 through 5; Ord. of 6-18-1973; Ord. of 8-1-1977, § 1; Ord. of 3-20-1979, § 1]
(a) 
Abandoned vehicle defined. A motor vehicle shall be deemed to be an abandoned vehicle if left unattended for more than 96 hours on the property of another if said vehicle was left without the permission of the owner of said property.
(b) 
Junked vehicles. It shall be unlawful for the owner, lessee, tenant or agent of such owner of private property to park, place, abandon, leave or permit others to park, place or leave any vehicle in a dismantled, partially dismantled, wrecked or inoperable condition on any private property. Enforcement of this Subsection (b) may be made pursuant to Section 9-10.
(c) 
Hazard declared. The parking, placing or leaving of any dismantled, partially dismantled, wrecked or inoperable vehicle on any privately owned property shall be deemed to constitute a hazard to the health, safety and welfare of the public.
(d) 
Exceptions to section. This section shall not apply to properties occupied and used for the business of repairing, reconditioning and remodeling vehicles in conformance with the Zoning Ordinance of the City of Poughkeepsie.[2]
[2]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 19, Zoning and Land Use Regulations.
[1]
Editor's Note: See also Administrative Code Section 10-9 for provisions on lost, found or stolen property.
[Ord. of 3-4-1929, § 1; Ord. No. O-09-11, § 1]
It shall be unlawful for any person to discharge any pistol, shotgun, air pistol, air rifle, BB gun, paintball gun or other weapon within the City.
[1]
State law reference: Aiming, discharging firearms, § 1906 of the Penal Law.
[Ord. of 7-16-1973, § 1; Ord. of 8-6-1973, § 1; Ord. of 5-3-1976, § 1; Ord. of 5-16-1983, § 1, 2; Ord. of 10-17-1983; Ord. of 4-7-1986, § 1, 2; Ord. of 6-2-1986, § 2; Ord. of 4-6-1992, § 1]
(a) 
Statement of legislative findings.
(1) 
In order to promote the safety, health, morals and welfare of the people of the City of Poughkeepsie and to promote the safe, sanitary and enjoyable use of the public places of the City of Poughkeepsie, it is necessary to regulate the consumption of alcoholic beverages in public places and to regulate the possession of open containers of alcoholic beverages in public places with intent to consume the same in such public places. The Common Council finds that the consumption of alcoholic beverages in public places and/or the possession of open containers of alcoholic beverages in public places with intent to consume the same in such public places leads to an increase of litter, garbage and debris in the said public places; the Common Council further finds that the consumption of alcoholic beverages in public places and/or the possession of open containers of alcoholic beverages in public places with intent to consume the same in such public places reasonably causes fear, apprehension and unwillingness of the majority of the general public to utilize such public places for pedestrian purposes and for recreation; the Common Council further finds that the consumption of alcoholic beverages in public places and/or the possession of open containers of alcoholic beverages in public places with intent to consume the same in such public places tends to increase the incidents of loitering, disorderly conduct and other offenses in the vicinity of such activities; the Common Council further finds that the consumption of alcoholic beverages in public places and/or the possession of open containers of alcoholic beverages in public places with intent to consume the same in such public places increases the unfavorable phenomenon of urban blight and neighborhood decay and negatively affects property values and the quality of life; the Common Council further finds that the consumption of alcoholic beverages in public places and/or the possession of open containers of alcoholic beverage in public places with intent to consume the same in such public places contributes to juvenile delinquency and the spread of crime.
(2) 
In order to promote and protect the proper governmental interests of the City of Poughkeepsie and its constituent residents, the Common Council of the City of Poughkeepsie does enact this section to prohibit the consumption of alcoholic beverages in public places and to prohibit the possession of open containers of alcoholic beverages in public places with intent to consume the same in such public places.
(b) 
Definitions. Wherever used in this section, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES
Includes alcohol, spirits, liquor, wine, beer and every liquid or solid, patented or not, containing alcohol, spirits, wine or beer and capable of being consumed by a human being.
CONTAINER
Includes any bottle, can or other receptacle suitable for or used to hold any liquid.
PARK
Includes all areas of the public parks of the city except such areas designated by the city as picnic areas, golf courses and restaurants.
PUBLIC PLACES
Includes all areas of the public parks of the City of Poughkeepsie, such areas designated by the city as picnic areas, golf courses, highways, roads, streets, sidewalks and publicly owned and maintained malls.
(c) 
Consumption. No person shall consume alcoholic beverages in the public places of the City of Poughkeepsie.
(d) 
Open container. No person shall have in his or her possession any open container containing an alcoholic beverage in any public place with the intent to consume the same in such public place of the City of Poughkeepsie. There shall be a rebuttable presumption that there is intent to consume an alcoholic beverage where the manufacturer's seal on the container is broken, the container is less than full or the person is intoxicated.
(e) 
Exemption. This section shall not apply to persons participating in organized functions within the parks of the City of Poughkeepsie if such organized functions are formally approved, in writing, by the City of Poughkeepsie Recreation Department and if such formal approval contains permission for the consumption of alcoholic beverages.
(f) 
Applicability. This section is not applicable to any undertaking or activity regulated by the New York State Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission or regulated by any other state statute.
[Ord. of 4-6-2004, § 1]
(a) 
No person shall urinate or defecate in a public place except in a rest room facility. For the purpose of this section, "public place" shall mean any place to which the public or a substantial group of persons has access, and includes, but is not limited to, streets, sidewalks, alleys, parking areas, municipal parking ramps, garages, other transportation facilities, schools, pools, places of amusement, parks, playgrounds, together with hallways, lobbies and other portions of apartment houses and hotels not constituting rooms or apartments designed for actual residence or any other public facility or ground, whether vacant or improved.
(b) 
Any person violating this section shall, upon conviction, be subject to a fine of not more than $250 or imprisonment for a term not to exceed 15 days, or both.
[1]
Editor's Note: Former Section 14-20, Water meters, broken seal prohibited, adopted as §§ 1 and 2 of an Ord. of 2-19-1976, was repealed by an Ord. of 9-7-1993, § 8.
[Ord. of 11-21-1977, § 1]
When appropriate signs giving notice thereof are erected, bicycling and skateboarding at the following parking facilities, including ramps and roadways leading to and from such parking facilities, shall be prohibited at all times:
Academy Street parking lot
Cannon-Church Street parking lot
Cannon Street parking deck
City Hall garage
Crannell Street parking lot
Financial Plaza garage
Garden-Mill Street parking lot
Lafayette-Washington Street parking lot
Liberty Street parking lot
Mill-Conklin Street parking lot
North Clinton-Smith Street parking lot
North Hamilton-Catherine Street parking lot
North Hamilton-Mill Street parking lot
South Hamilton Street-Cannon Street parking lot
[Ord. No. O-07-22, § 1]
It shall be unlawful for any person to lay, place or hang clothes, rags or fabrics of any kind in the front yard, side yard or on the front porch of any property for the purpose of drying, airing or otherwise. This shall not apply to the lawful display of banners, flags or other decorative displays or in the event a permit has been issued pursuant to Section 12-84 of this Code. Violation of this section shall be punishable by a fine of not less than $25 and not more than $100.
[1]
Editor's Note: Former Section 14-22, Motor vehicles prohibited in Eastman Park on tracks, paths; penalty, added by an ordinance of 4-3-1979, § 1, 2, was renumbered as Section 15-20 by an ordinance of 7-11-1996, § 4.
[Ord. of 8-19-1980, § 1; amended by Ord. of 8-1-1983, § 1; Ord. of 5-5-1986, § 2; 5-4-2020 by Ord. No. O-20-2]
(a) 
It is hereby declared by the Common Council that playing in the streets of the City of such games as baseball, softball, stickball, Frisbee, roller skating, football, soccer, hockey, basketball and similar game-playing activities constitute a public nuisance and a hazard both to the persons and property of users of said public streets and to those playing in said public streets. This section is remedial in nature and is designed to protect the public safety, health and welfare.
(b) 
It shall be unlawful for any person to play upon any City street, or to place on any city street a soccer goal, hockey goal, basketball hoop or any other sports equipment. Furthermore, no person shall place on their own property any basketball hoop, soccer goal, hockey goal or other sports equipment in an area where the playing of such game creates a public nuisance or hazard to the persons and property of users of the public streets and/or sidewalks in the City.
[Ord. of 11-16-1987, § 1; Ord. of 9-16-1991, § 1, 2 and 3]
(a) 
Legislative purpose. The city recognizes the need for externally audible burglar alarms as a protection against and as a deterrent to the burglary of structures located in the City. The City declares, however, that the reasonable objectives of externally audible burglar alarms are accomplished when the sound associated with their operation persists for not more than 20 minutes. The operation of externally audible alarms for more than 20 minutes does not serve any legitimate objective or purpose. The sound associated with the operation of an externally audible burglar alarm becomes unreasonable after 20 minutes of operation and constitutes a public nuisance.
(b) 
Definitions. For the purposes of this section, the following terms shall have the meanings respectively ascribed:
EXTERNALLY AUDIBLE BURGLAR ALARMS
Any warning device designed to produce an audible sound when triggered by the unauthorized entry into or tampering with the structure to which it is affixed.
OPERATION
The continuous or intermittent emission of a sound from an externally audible burglar alarm.
OWNER/LESSEE
Any natural person, partnership, corporation, association or other legal entity.
SOUND
The noise produced by a horn, siren, bell, buzzer or any other device the principal purpose of which is to create a noise to attract attention or to give warning.
(c) 
Permit required. No person shall affix an externally audible burglar alarm to or install an externally audible burglar alarm on or within any structure within the City or cause the same to be done without first securing a permit from the City. Applications for permits shall be made by the owner or lessee or person employed in connection with the proposed work. Every person desiring to obtain said permit shall file with the City Chamberlain a written application upon a blank form prepared and furnished by the City. An application must be accompanied with a fee of $2 before a permit is issued.
(1) 
Such application shall contain the following information:
a. 
The name, residence address and telephone number of the owner/lessee of the premises.
b. 
The name, address and telephone number of any one other person other than the owner/lessee who is authorized to respond to an emergency and open the building where the alarm system is installed to reset the alarm.
c. 
In the case of a business location, the owner/lessee shall provide the names of at least three persons to contact in case of an emergency and who have access to the building to reset the alarm.
d. 
A statement that the external audible burglar alarm is capable of and shall automatically terminate its operation within 20 minutes of its being activated.
(2) 
The owner/lessee shall update said form as necessary so that the city has current information as requested by Subsections (c)(1)a through c of this section.
(d) 
Violation and penalties. It shall be unlawful for the owner/lessee having possession or custody of any structure to which an externally audible burglar alarm is connected or affixed to permit to suffer or allow the operation of that externally audible burglar alarm for a period in excess of 20 minutes. Such operation constitutes a public nuisance. In addition to any other penalty permitted or allowed under the laws of the State of New York, any person convicted of a violation of this section shall pay a fine of $50 for the first offense, $100 for the second offense and $200 for each offense thereafter.
[Ord. of 9-16-1991, § 1]
(a) 
Legislative purpose. The city recognizes the need and legitimate purpose of burglar alarm systems in buildings and structures connected directly to the City of Poughkeepsie Police Department so as to trigger a response and investigation by the City Police Department. The City finds, however, that there have been frequent false alarms to the City Police Department because of alarm malfunctions. This has resulted in the unnecessary response by the City Police Department to alarms and needless waste of police resources which are necessary to protect the public safety, health and welfare. This section is designed to remedy the problem of false alarms to the City Police Department.
(b) 
Definitions. For purposes of this section, the following terms shall have the meanings respectively ascribed:
ALARM SYSTEM
Any mechanical or electrical device or system which is designed or used for the detection of any unauthorized entry into a building, structure or facility or used for mechanically or electronically alerting others to the commission of an unlawful act, whether installed within or without the building. This system produces a signal, message or warning directly to the City Police Department or to some other location which is then reported, referred, telephoned, transmitted or in some other manner communicated to the City Police Department by any method whatsoever, including but not limited to the owner of a business or his/her employee or representative, an alarm company or its representative, an answering service or any other person reacting to or responding to said signal, message, warning or any audible alarm which requires immediate investigation and response by the Department. Said "alarm system" shall include but not be limited to telephonic alarm systems which are defined to mean any mechanism, equipment or device which is designed to operate automatically through the use of public telephone facilities to transmit a signal, message or warning to another location.
FALSE ALARM
The activation of the alarm system because of but not limited to mechanical failure, malfunction, improper installation or negligence by a person or when activation results in a response by the City of Poughkeepsie Police Department where an emergency does not exist. "False alarms" do not include alarms caused by hurricanes, tornadoes or other violent weather conditions.
PERSON
A natural person, firm, partnership, association or corporation or representative or agent of said entities who is the owner or lessee of an alarm system.
(c) 
Permit required. No person shall install an alarm system on or within any structure within the City or cause the same to be done without first securing a permit from the City. Applications for permits shall be made by the owner or lessee or person employed in connection with the installation of the alarm system. Every person desiring to obtain said permit shall file with the City Chamberlain a written application upon a blank form prepared and furnished by the city. An application must be accompanied with a fee of $2 before a permit is issued.
(1) 
Such application shall contain the following information:
a. 
The name, residence address and telephone number of the owner/lessee of the premises.
b. 
The name, address and telephone number of any one other person other than the owner/lessee who is authorized to respond to an emergency and open the building where the alarm system is installed to disconnect or reset the alarm.
c. 
In the case of a business location, the owner/lessee shall provide the names of at least three persons to contact in case of an emergency and who have access to the building to reset the alarm.
d. 
Name, address and telephone number of the installer of the system and company who will monitor the alarm system and report alarms to the Police Department.
(2) 
The owner/lessee shall update said form as necessary so that the city has current information as requested by Subsection (c)(1) a through d of this section.
(3) 
All persons operating or maintaining an existing alarm system must obtain a permit within 90 days after the effective date of this section.
(d) 
Penalties.
(1) 
The failure of any person to comply with the provisions of this section requiring the filing for and obtaining a permit shall result in a fine in the amount of $50.
(2) 
Penalties for false alarms.
a. 
Upon the fourth false alarm in any one calendar year, a person shall be subjected to a fine of $50 for that false alarm, $100 for the fifth false alarm and $200 for each false alarm thereafter.
b. 
Written notice by certified mail through the United States Postal Service shall be sent from the Chief of Police to the person who is the owner or lessee of the alarm system upon the third false alarm in any one calendar year stating that fines in the amounts of $50 to $200 will be payable for subsequent false alarms.
(3) 
Violators shall be prosecuted and penalties shall be collected in the manner prescribed by law or ordinance effective in the City of Poughkeepsie, including the right of a police officer of the City of Poughkeepsie to issue an appearance ticket for City Court for a violation of this section. A violation of this section is punishable by a fine as set forth in Subsection (d)(1) and (2) of this section.
Where a tendered payment is made to any account owing to the City of Poughkeepsie and the tendered payment was by check or other written order which was returned for insufficient funds, there shall be a service charge of $15 to be added to the account owing to the City of Poughkeepsie. Said service charge shall be collected in the same manner prescribed by law for the collection of the account for which the check was tendered. The City shall require future payments to be tendered in cash or by certified or cashier's check where a tendered payment was dishonored and returned for insufficient funds.
[1]
Editor's Note: Former § 14-27, Registry of property managers and property management companies, was amended and renumbered as § 6-14 by Ord. of 4-4-2005. See now § 6-14, Registry of property managers and property management companies.
[Ord. of 12-4-1997, § 1]
There shall be a fee of $10 charged for the processing of each fingerprint card by the Police Department. However, individuals making application for taxicab driver's licenses pursuant to Sections 18-24 to 18-27 of this Code shall only be required to may the fee as set forth in Section 18-31 of this Code.