[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:
ALARM SYSTEM
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.
FALSE ALARM
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.