[Adopted as Art. 10, § 30, of the Town Bylaws]
For the purpose of this bylaw, the following terms, phrases,
words and their derivations shall have the meanings 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.
An assembly of equipment and devices or a single device such
as solid-state unit which plugs directly into a 110-volt AC line,
arranged to signal the presence of a hazard requiring urgent attention
or an incident to which police customarily or reasonably are expected
to respond. Fire alarm systems and alarm systems which monitor temperature,
smoke, humidity or any other condition not directly related to the
detection of an unauthorized intrusion into a premises or an attempted
robbery at a premises are specifically excluded from the provisions
of this bylaw.
The activation of an alarm system through mechanical failure,
malfunction, improper installation or negligence of the user of an
alarm system or of his employees or agents.
Any signal or oral communication transmitted to the Police Department
requesting or requiring, or resulting in a response on the part of
the Police Department when in fact there has been no unauthorized
intrusion into a premises and/or no attempted robbery, or burglary,
or attempt thereat.
|
For purposes of this definition, activation of alarm systems
by Acts of God, including but not limited to power outages, hurricanes,
tornadoes, earthquakes and similar weather or atmospheric disturbances,
shall not be deemed to be a false alarm.
|
A.Â
Every alarm system user shall submit to the Chief of Police the names
and telephone numbers of at least two persons who are authorized to
respond to an emergency transmitted by the alarm system, and who can
open the premises wherein the alarm system is installed and reset
the alarm system. Users who subscribe to a private monitoring service
shall supply said information to said service.
B.Â
All audible alarm systems installed after the effective date of this
bylaw which use an audible horn or bell shall be equipped with a device
that will shut off such horn or bell within 15 minutes of the activation
of the alarm system.
C.Â
Any alarm system emitting a continuous and uninterrupted signal for more than 15 minutes which cannot be shut off or otherwise curtailed due to the absence or unavailability of the alarm user or those persons designated under Subsection A of this section, and which disturbs the peace, comfort, or repose of a community, a neighborhood, or a number of inhabitants of the area where the alarm system is located, shall constitute a public nuisance.
(1)Â
Upon receiving a complaint of such a continuous and uninterrupted signal, the Chief of Police shall endeavor to contact the alarm user, or members of the alarm user's family, or those persons designated by the alarm user under Subsection A of this section in an effort to abate the nuisance. If such efforts do not result in the silencing of the alarm within 30 minutes of its activation, or such other reasonable time as determined by the Chief or his designee, the Police Chief may, at the expense of the owner, order its deactivation using whatever means may be appropriate to the occasion.
(2)Â
The
Police Chief shall cause to be recorded the names and addresses of
all complainants, and the time of each complaint.
Upon receipt of three or more false alarms within a calendar
year:
A.Â
The Police Chief may:
(1)Â
Order the user to discontinue the use of the alarm;
(2)Â
Disconnect any direct connections to the Police Department; and/or
(3)Â
Order that further connections to the communications console in the
Police Department will be contingent upon the user equipping any alarm
system with a device that will shut off any audible horn or bell within
15 minutes after activation of the alarm system.
B.Â
The user shall be assessed $50 as a false alarm service fine for each false alarm in excess of three occurring within a calendar year. If a user has not complied with § 109-2A and has failed to register with the Chief of Police the required information or has failed to provide a private monitoring service with the required information, then said user shall be required to pay such fine upon their first false alarm and for each subsequent false alarm. A grace period of 30 days shall apply to the first offense, and if said user files the appropriate information with the Chief of Police or provides proof that they have filed the appropriate information with their private monitoring service within said thirty-day period, then the fine shall be waived. All fines assessed hereunder shall be paid to the Town Treasurer for deposit to the general fund.
