[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Trustees of the Village
of Lake George 11-17-2014 by L.L. No. 8-2014. Amendments noted where
applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Fire prevention — See Ch. 106.
The purpose and intent of this chapter of the Village of Lake
George Code is to provide for fines for false alarms relayed to the
Village of Lake George Fire Department. The Village of Lake George
Fire Department has experienced an increase in false alarms related
to structures where no local person is available to contact relative
to such false alarm. Such increase in frequency puts firefighters
and EMS personnel at risk and unnecessarily burdens such personnel
and the budgets of such organizations.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
Any apparatus or equipment whereby upon the triggering of
such apparatus or equipment an emergency message or signal is sent,
directly or indirectly, to the Village of Lake George Fire Department
or other EMS, police or security forces.
Any emergency message or signal which is transmitted, directly
or indirectly, to the Village of Lake George Fire Department or other
EMS, police or security forces, which is not the result of an actual
fire or health emergency or crime in progress. An activated alarm
signal which is promptly followed by a good faith call to dispatch
personnel that the message or signal may be disregarded shall not
constitute a false alarm.
No person or entity shall use an alarm system in the Village
of Lake George except in accordance with this chapter and other applicable
laws or regulations. Each person or entity using an alarm system shall:
A.
Include a disabling mechanism for such alarm system to be automatically
disabled immediately after 15 minutes of continuous system operation;
B.
For non-owner-occupied structures where the owner thereof does not
reside in the Village or Town of Lake George, the owner shall designate
a local agent who can be contacted by local authorities for the disabling
and reporting on all alarms from such system.
Each person or entity using an alarm system in the Village of
Lake George shall complete and maintain an alarm system form in such
form and substance as shall be required by the Board of Trustees.
Such form shall include, but not be limited to, emergency contact
information for the owner and tenants. Effective within 90 days from
the date of the adoption of this chapter, all owners or tenants of
real property in the Village of Lake George where an alarm system
is used shall file with the Village such alarm system form.
Any person or entity using or occupying property in the Village
of Lake George having an alarm system subject to the provisions of
this chapter shall pay to the Village of Lake George for each and
every false alarm as follows:
A.
First false alarm in each prior twelve-month period: no charge.
B.
Second false alarm in each prior twelve-month period: no charge.
C.
Third false alarm in each prior twelve-month period: $100.
D.
Fourth false alarm in each prior twelve-month period: $200.
E.
Fifth false alarm in each prior twelve-month period and for every
false alarm thereafter: $350 plus $100 for each false alarm beyond
five within each prior twelve-month period.
A violation of this chapter, including but not limited to failure
to pay the fee set forth above for false alarms, is hereby declared
to be an offense punishable by a fine not less than $250 for each
and every week the violation exists or imprisonment for a period not
to exceed six months, or both, for the conviction of a first offense.
Conviction of a second offense, both of which were committed within
a period of five years, is punishable by a fine of not less than $500
for each and every day the violation exists or imprisonment for a
period not to exceed six months, or both. Conviction for a third or
subsequent offense, all of which were committed within a period of
five years, is punishable by a fine of not less than $750 for each
and every day the violation exists or imprisonment for a period not
to exceed six months, or both.
If any clause, sentence, paragraph, subdivision, section, or
part of this chapter or the application thereof to any person, individual,
corporation, firm, partnership, entity, or circumstance shall be adjudged
by any court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid or unconstitutional,
such order or judgment shall not affect, impair or invalidate the
remainder thereof but shall be confined in its operation to the clause,
sentence, paragraph, subdivision, section, or part of this chapter
or in its application to the person, individual, corporation, firm,
partnership, entity, or circumstance directly involved in the controversy
in which such order or judgment shall be rendered.
This chapter shall take effect upon filing in the office of
the New York State Secretary of State or as otherwise provided by
law.
