[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Trustees of the Village
of Chestnut Ridge 6-15-1989 by L.L. No. 4-1989. Amendments noted where applicable.]
The Police Department of the Town of Ramapo has advised the
Board of Trustees of the Village of Chestnut Ridge that there are
large numbers of false alarms emanating from burglar and fire alarm
systems installed on private property and which automatically are
communicated to the Police Department of the Town of Ramapo. These
false alarms unnecessarily require that the police respond in an emergency
fashion to signals that should not have been activated, depriving
other residents of the services of the police. It is not the intent
of this chapter to discourage the use of automated equipment, but
rather to encourage the use of properly maintained and well-functioning
equipment.
For the purposes of this chapter, the following terms shall
have the following meanings:
A mechanical, electrical, or electronic device which, when
activated, will transmit a signal which is intended to create a response
from the Police or Fire Department, whether or not the signal generated
be audible, visible or electronic, and whether such signal is automatic
or otherwise.
Any person, firm, corporation or business entity which has
installed and/or receives compensation for service or maintenance
of a burglar or fire alarm device from a resident upon whose property
the device has been installed.
Any person, firm, corporation or business entity upon whose
premises a burglar alarm or fire alarm device is installed or operating.
A signal transmitted to the Police or Fire Department, indicating
that a criminal act or emergency is occurring, when in fact neither
a criminal act or emergency is occurring.
It shall be unlawful for any alarm user and/or alarm installer
to permit or allow, whether intentionally or unintentionally, or whether
due to a malfunction or otherwise, an alarm device to signal a false
alarm.
[Added 10-21-1999 by L.L.
No. 2-1999]
A.
Any alarm device that has been installed on private property is required
to be registered with the Police Department of the Town of Ramapo
within 10 days after such installation except that any alarm device
that is connected to the Police Department, Forty-four Control or
to a service that is connected to the Police Department or Forty-four
Control is not required to be registered. Registration shall include
the following information:
(1)
Name, home address and telephone number of alarm user;
(2)
Business address and telephone numbers of alarm users;
(3)
Name, address and telephone number of any person living within the
Town of Ramapo who is authorized by the alarm user to enter upon his/her
property for the purpose of deactivating the alarm device.
(4)
Name, address and telephone number of the company that owns, leases
rents, installs and/or maintains the alarm device on the property
of the alarm user.
B.
All existing alarm users shall register their alarm device within
90 days after the effective date of this chapter.
[Amended 2-19-1998 by L.L. No. 4-1998; 10-21-1999 by L.L. No. 2-1999; at time of adoption
of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]
A.
Any alarm use or alarm installer who is found guilty of a violation of § 107-4 of this chapter shall be punished by a fine not to exceed $500 for each violation.
B.
An excessive amount of false alarms in any calendar year shall constitute
a violation of this section. For purposes of this section, the term
"excessive" shall mean more than two false alarms in a calendar year
(January 1 through December 31). An appearance ticket charging a violation
of this section may be issued by the Village of Chestnut Ridge Fire
Inspector. The fine schedule for a conviction under this section shall
be as follows:
(1)
A fine of $300 for three false alarms.
(2)
A fine of $600 for four false alarms.
(3)
A fine not to exceed $2,000 for a conviction of having more than
five false alarms in a calendar year.
(4)
A fine not to exceed $3,000 for a conviction of having more than
six false alarms in a calendar year.
(5)
A fine not to exceed $4,000 for a conviction of having more than
seven false alarms in a calendar year.
(6)
A fine not to exceed $5,000 for a conviction of having more than
eight false alarms in a calendar year.
(7)
A fine not to exceed $6,000 for a conviction of having more than
nine false alarms in a calendar year.
(8)
A fine not to exceed $10,000 for a conviction of having more than
10 false alarms in a calendar year.
(9)
A fine not to exceed $11,000 for a conviction of having more than
11 false alarms in a calendar year.
(10)
A fine not to exceed $12,000 for a conviction of having more
than 12 false alarms in a calendar year.
(11)
A fine not to exceed $13,000 for a conviction of having more
than 13 false alarms in a calendar year.
(12)
A fine not to exceed $14,000 for a conviction of having more
than 14 false alarms in a calendar year.
(13)
A fine not to exceed $15,000 for a conviction of having more
than 15 false alarms in a calendar year.
The Code Enforcement Officer of the Village of Chestnut Ridge
shall have the right and authority to issue an appearance ticket for
the violation of any provision or section of this chapter.
