[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Council of the Township
of Mount Laurel 12-19-2011 by Ord. No. 15-2011.[1] Amendments noted where applicable.]
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance also repealed former Ch.
58, Alarm Systems, adopted 5-20-1985 by Ord. No. 1985-2, as amended.
The purpose of this chapter is to establish regulations concerning
false alarms within the Township of Mount Laurel and to provide penalties
for violation of any of the provisions set forth herein.
For the purpose of this chapter, certain words and phrases are
defined as follows:
Any mechanical, electrical or electronic device which is
designed or used for the detection of an unauthorized entry into a
building, structure or facility or for alerting others about the commission
of an unlawful act within a building, structure or facility or for
alerting others about the existence of any other condition requiring
response of police, fire and EMS personnel and which emits and/or
transmits an audible and/or visual signal or message when actuated.
Alarm systems include, but are not limited to, direct-dial telephone
devices, audible alarms, central station alarms, visual alarms and
subscriber alarms.
A device that emits an audible signal from the premises that
it is designed to protect.
A service that monitors the operation of an alarm system
and relays information to the Mount Laurel Township Police Department
and/or other emergency number when the system is activated.
An alarm signal requiring response by the Mount Laurel police,
fire or emergency medical services where an emergency situation does
not in fact exist. An alarm that has been activated by an external
source that is beyond the reasonable control of the subscriber shall
not be considered false.
Mount Laurel Division of Police.
Township of Mount Laurel.
A rotating or flashing light that, when activated, is intended
to alert the observer that the premises on which it is affixed has
been illegally entered.
A.
Audible alarms must be silenced within 30 minutes after a designated
responsible person is notified to do so by the police, or the alarm
may be equipped with a timing device that will automatically silence
the audible alarm within 30 minutes after it is actuated.
B.
Upon the activation of an alarm system, there shall be a mandatory
delay of at least 15 seconds before the transmission of a signal to
the central station to enable the user to abort the signal in the
event that it was triggered inadvertently. This delay shall not be
applicable to a robbery (holdup) or medical emergency alarm.
Any person, entity, firm, corporation or other group that is
found guilty of violating any of the provisions of this chapter shall
be subject to a fine as follows. Each incident shall be considered
as a separate violation.
A.
Any person or entity whose alarm system generates a fourth false
alarm in any calendar year shall, upon issuance of a special complaint
by the Division of Police, pay a fine of $50, which, upon a guilty
plea, may be paid through the Violations Bureau of the Municipal Court.
B.
Any person or entity whose alarm system generates a fifth false alarm
in any calendar year shall, upon issuance of a special complaint by
the Division of Police, pay a fine of $150 which, upon a guilty plea,
may be paid through the Violations Bureau of the Municipal Court.
C.
Any person or entity whose alarm system generates a sixth false alarm
in any calendar year shall, upon issuance of a special complaint by
the Division of Police, pay a fine of $250, which, upon plea of guilty,
may be paid through the Violations Bureau of the Municipal Court.
D.
Any person or entity whose alarm system generates a seventh or more
false alarms in a calendar year shall, upon issuance of a special
complaint by the Division of Police, be required to appear in Municipal
Court and be subject to a fine of up to $1,000 for each violation.
