This article shall be known and may be cited as the "Ordinance
Regulating Burglar and Holdup Alarm Systems and Users."
The purpose of this article is to reduce the number of false
alarms and promote the responsible use of alarm devices, thereby improving
the members of the Police Department who must respond to such alarms.
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
ALARM SYSTEM
Any device or assembly of equipment arranged to signal, audibly
or visibly, the presence of a hazard requiring urgent attention and
to which police and fire personnel are expected to respond. In this
article, the term "alarm system" shall include the terms "automatic
holdup alarm system," "burglar alarm system," "holdup alarm system"
and "manual holdup alarm system." 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 article.
ALARM USER
Any person on whose premises an alarm system is maintained
within the City of Norwalk, except alarm systems on motor vehicles
or proprietary alarms. 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 system is an alarm user. Also excluded
from this definition and from the coverage of this article 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 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 article.
AUTOMATIC DIALING DEVICE
An alarm system which automatically sends over regular telephone
lines, by direct connection or otherwise, a prerecorded voice message
or a coded signal indicating the existence of the emergency situation
that the alarm system is designed to detect.
BURGLARY ALARM SYSTEM
An alarm system signaling an entry or attempted entry into
the area protected by the system.
CENTRAL STATION
An office to which remote alarm devices are connected where
operators monitor those signals and relay information to the Police
Department.
CITY
The City of Norwalk, County of Fairfield, Connecticut.
FALSE ALARM
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 alarms" shall not
mean alarms transmitted because of a watermain break or similar causes
that occur outside of the protected property. "False alarms," as defined
in this article, also do not include those alarms that are transmitted
with a criminal, malicious or mischievous intent.
MANUAL HOLDUP ALARM
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.
PERSON
Any individual, firm, partnership, association, corporation,
company or organization of any kind.
[Added 4-26-2016]
Central stations are required to call the alarm user before
calling the Police Department.
Permission is not required to test or demonstrate alarm devices
not transmitting signals directly to the Police Department. If such
signals are to be relayed to the Police Department, permission from
the head of the affected department or his designee must first be
obtained.
For the purpose of this article, the following definitions shall
apply.
ALARM DEVICE
Any device which, when activated by a criminal act, fire
or other emergency calling for Police or Fire Department response,
transmits a signal to the Police or Fire Department; transmits a signal
to a person who relays information to the Police or Fire Department;
or produces an audible or visible signal to which the Police or Fire
Department is expected to respond. Excluded from this definition and
the scope of this article are devices which are designed to alert
or signal only persons within the premises in which the device is
installed.
ALARM USER
The owner of any premises in which an alarm device is used, provided that an occupant who expressly accepts responsibility for an alarm device by registration pursuant to §
11A-14 shall be deemed the "alarm user."
AUTOMATIC DIAL ALARM
A telephone device or attachment that mechanically or electronically
selects a telephone line to the Police or Fire Department and reproduces
a prerecorded voice message to report a criminal act, fire or other
emergency calling for Police or Fire Department response.
CENTRAL STATION
An office to which remote alarm devices transmit signals
where operators monitor those signals and relay information to the
Police and Fire Departments.
CONTRACTOR
Any person, firm or corporation in the business of supplying
and installing alarm devices or servicing the same.
FALSE ALARM
Any activation of an alarm device to which the Police or
Fire Department responds and which is not the result of an actual
emergency.
The Chief of the Norwalk Police Department and the Chief of
the Norwalk Fire Department shall jointly designate an Alarm Administrator
for alarm devices who shall have the powers and duties granted under
this article.
On or after 90 days of the effective date of this article:
A. No person, firm or corporation shall install an alarm device without
first providing the Alarm Administrator with the name, address and
phone number of the owner of the premises wherein an alarm device
is to be installed. An occupant of such premises, other than the owner,
can accept responsibility for an alarm device used on the premises
by executing a written acceptance form and filing the name with the
Alarm Administrator.
B. Each alarm user shall register his alarm device or devices with the
Alarm Administrator prior to use of the alarm device.
C. Each user of an existing alarm device or contractor acting on behalf
of an alarm user shall register the alarm device with the Alarm Administrator.
Each central station which plans to transmit signals to the
Norwalk Police or Fire Department must register with the Alarm Administrator
before doing so.
There shall be a registration fee of $10 for each registration under §§
11A-16,
11A-17 and
11A-18.
Any person who performs or causes to be performed any of the
following acts shall be subject to a penalty not to exceed $75 for
each such act:
A. Failure to register an alarm device, central station or contractor
or give notice of changes in registration information within the required
times and as required by this article.
B. Use of an automatic dial alarm device.
C. Installation of an alarm device without first providing the Alarm
Administrator with the name, address and phone number of the owner
of and the alarm user at (if different) the premises wherein the alarm
device was installed. Each thirty-day period following the imposition
of a penalty that a violation remains uncorrected or that a penalty
remains unpaid shall constitute a separate violation.
[Amended 4-26-2016]
Hearings and appeals shall be governed by Section 7-152c of
the Connecticut General Statutes, as may be amended from time to time.
The Alarm Administrator, Norwalk Police Department and Norwalk
Fire Department shall, with respect to each false alarm, compile information
concerning the alarm devices involved, contractors and addresses of
false alarms and any other information that may be evaluated to determine
relative reliability of different types of alarm devices, and particular
contractors and the frequency of false alarms attributable to different
categories, addresses and contractors.
Notwithstanding the provisions of this article, the City of
Norwalk, its departments, officers, agents and employees shall be
under no obligation whatsoever concerning the adequacy, operation
or maintenance of any alarm device or of the alarm-monitoring and
responding facilities of the Norwalk Police and Fire Departments.
No liability whatsoever is assumed for the failure of such alarm devices
or monitoring facilities or for the failure to respond to any alarms
or for any other acts or omission in connection with such alarm devices.
Each alarm user shall be deemed to hold and save harmless the City,
of Norwalk, its departments, officers, agents and employees from any
and all liabilities and responsibilities in connection any alarm device,
including the use, installation and or operation of any alarm device,
regardless of registration status.
Charges for contractor registration, charges for false alarms,
appeal fees and penalties for violations and late charges shall be
collected by the Alarm Administrator and placed in the general fund.
The failure to pay any charge, suspension, violation or penalty within
30 days from date of imposition shall cause a late charge of $25 to
be due and payable for each thirty-day period during which an outstanding
balance is due.
The City of Norwalk, upon authorization of the Alarm Administrator,
may institute civil proceedings to enforce the provisions of this
article.
The provisions of this article shall not apply to alarm devices
on premises owned or controlled by the City of Norwalk, including
the Norwalk Board of Education, the State of Connecticut or the government
of the United States nor to alarm devices installed in a licensed
motor vehicle, trailer or boat.