[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Committee of the Township
of Fairfield 7-15-2003 by Ord.
No. 513-2003. Amendments noted where applicable.]
It is necessary to prevent unnecessary and costly response by
the New Jersey State Police or fire and/or ambulance personnel to
false alarms by audible alarms and automatic protection devices.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
Any device, bell, horn or siren which is attached to the
interior or exterior of a building and emits a warning signal audible
outside the building, and is designed to attract attention when activated
by a criminal act or other emergency, requiring police or emergency
personnel to respond.
An electrically operated instrument composed of sensory apparatus
and related hardware which automatically transmits an alarm or prerecorded
voice message upon receipt of a stimulus from a sensory apparatus
that has detected a physical force or condition inherently characteristic
of an intrusion.
Any signal activated by an automatic protection device, an
audible alarm or any other kind of direct or indirect signal which
is not the result of a burglary, robbery, fire or similar emergency.
An alarm that has been activated by an external source that is beyond
the reasonable control of the subscriber shall not be considered false.
A natural person, association, corporation, firm, partnership,
trust or other legal entity.
A.
Owners or lessees must equip audible alarms with a timing mechanism that will disengage the audible alarm as provided in § 326-9E of this Code.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General
Provisions, Art. II)]
B.
The sensory mechanism used in connection with an automatic protection
device must be adjusted to suppress false indications of intrusion
so that the device will not be activated by impulse due to fleeting
pressure changes in water pipes, short flashes of light, the rattling
or vibrating of doors or windows, vibrations to the premises caused
by the passing of vehicles or any other force not related to genuine
alarms.
C.
All components comprising an audible alarm or an automatic protection
device must be maintained by the owner or lessee in good repair to
ensure maximum reliability of operation.
D.
Failure of a person to repair or replace an audible alarm or an automatic
protection device within 30 days of written notice to do so by the
Code Enforcement Officer or other individual so designated by the
Township Committee shall be deemed in violation of the provisions
of this chapter.
Any person who owns or controls an audible alarm or an automatic
protection device in the Township of Fairfield which causes more than
three false alarms in any given calendar year shall be deemed in violation
of the provisions of this chapter for the fourth false alarm or any
subsequent false alarms in such calendar year and shall be subject
to the following penalties:
A.
First offense (four false alarms in the same calendar year): administrative
penalty of $50 to be assessed by the Code Enforcement Officer or other
individual so designated by the Township Committee. Failure to pay
within 30 days of assessment shall be a violation of this chapter
subject to a fine of $100.
B.
Second offense (five false alarms in the same calendar year): administrative
penalty of $100 to be assessed by the Code Enforcement Officer or
other individual so designated by the Township Committee. Failure
to pay within 30 days of assessment shall be a violation of this chapter
subject to a fine of $200.
C.
Third and subsequent offenses (six or more false alarms in the same
calendar year): administrative penalty of $150 per subsequent offense
to be assessed by the Code Enforcement Officer or other individual
so designated by the Township Committee. Failure to pay within 30
days of assessment shall be a violation of this chapter subject to
not less than $300 and no more than $500 for each offense.
D.
Any person assessed an administrative penalty may request a hearing
before the Code Enforcement Officer or other individual so designated
by the Township Committee.
The provisions of this chapter shall not apply to alarm devices
on property owned by the State of New Jersey, the County of Cumberland,
the Township of Fairfield, the Township of Fairfield Board of Education
or any agency or department thereof.
The law enforcement/fire entity responding to any false alarms
as defined herein shall furnish a report to the Township detailing
same.
