As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
ALARM DEVICE
Any alarm device or system which transmits its alarm signal
from the location of the alarm to the police radio dispatch center,
other police dispatch facility or central station by any means except
a direct dial alarm device, as defined in this section.
ALARM SYSTEM
An intrusion, burglar, holdup or similar system which is
designed to summon or cause a response by the Police Department, or
that gives a signal, either visual, audible, or both, on the exterior
portion of the property, but does not leave that structure by wire,
radio waves, or other transmission to a control receiving location.
ALARM USER
The person, partnership, corporation or other entity of any
kind that owns or is in control of any building, structure or facility
or portion thereof wherein an alarm system is in operation.
AUDIBLE ALARM DEVICE
Any alarm device which produces an audible signal at the
premises where it is installed, whether by means of horns, bells,
sirens or other mechanisms, thereby notifying persons within audible
range of the signal that police should be notified. (Smoke detectors
or fire detectors located in individual residences or businesses are
expressly excluded from this category of audible alarm device.)
CENTRAL ALARM STATION
Any facility that is manned at all times by trained operators
employed to receive, record and validate alarm signals and to relay
information about validated signals to the police radio dispatch center
when appropriate.
DIRECT DIAL ALARM DEVICE
Any device which, when activated, transmits a prerecorded
message or other signal by telephone directly to the police radio
dispatch center, requesting a police or fire response.
FALSE ALARM
Any alarm signal originating from an alarm device, alarm
system or audible alarm device to which the police respond and which
results from:
A.
False activation, including reporting a robbery where no actual
or attempted robbery has occurred, or reporting a burglar alarm where
there is no evidence to substantiate an attempted or forced entry
to the premises.
B.
Alarm malfunction, including mechanical failure or electrical
failure.
C.
Alarm triggered by negligence, including overly sensitive settings.
[Amended by Ord. No. 02-57; 4-6-2015 by Ord. No.
15-6]
A. No person shall install or cause, continue, maintain or permit the
operation of a direct dial alarm device, except:
(1) Direct dial alarm devices used by the physically handicapped.
(2) Direct dial alarm devices used by departments and divisions of the
City of Watertown.
B. In the event any alarm or warning signal is audible to others not
on the premises where the audible alarm device is maintained, the
alarm user shall terminate or cause the audible alarm to be terminated
no later than 30 minutes after the activation of said audible signal.
C. Upon installation of a new alarm system, the alarm user will be given
a thirty-day grace period, during which time no response fees will
be imposed. This grace period allows for proper installation and necessary
adjustments of said alarm system.
Any person who shall violate any provision of this chapter shall be subject to a penalty as provided in §
1-4 of this Code. Each violation and each day a violation continues or occurs shall constitute a separate offense. This action shall not preclude the City from maintaining any appropriate action to prevent or remove a violation of this chapter.