For the purpose of this chapter, the following words and phrases
shall have the following meanings:
ALARM SYSTEM
Any assembly of equipment and/or devices that are designed
to be activated either manually or automatically for the purpose of
drawing attention to the presence of a hazard, intruder, or situation,
criminal or otherwise, to which the police are expected to respond.
ALARM USER
Any person or business on whose premises an alarm system
is installed and maintained within the Town of South Hadley, except
for alarm systems that are installed in motor vehicles. Municipal
buildings are hereby excluded from the provisions of this bylaw.
FALSE ALARM
The activation of an alarm system or any signal or communication
transmitted to the Police Department requesting, requiring, or resulting
in a response from the police when, in fact, there has been no unauthorized
entry or intrusion into the premises, and there has been no attempted
robbery or burglary at the premises. Excluded from this definition
shall be the activation of an alarm system by power outages, utility
companies, motor vehicle accidents, severe storms and general maintenance
and/or repairs to the alarm systems when the Police Department has
been notified in advance of potential alarm activation.
All alarm systems that emit an audible signal shall be equipped
with a device for limiting the length of the audible signal to 15
minutes.
[Amended 5-10-2017 ATM by Art. 13]
After the Police Department has recorded three separate false
alarms, be they audible or otherwise, within a calendar year, the
alarm user shall be assessed the following fees by the South Hadley
Police Department:
A. For the fourth false alarm within that calendar year: $25.
B. For the fifth and subsequent false alarm(s) within that calendar
year: $50.