[Adopted 12-16-1996 STM
by Art. 9]
FIRE ALARM SYSTEM MALFUNCTION
The transmittal of a fire alarm which is caused by improper
installation of a fire alarm system, a mechanical defect, lack of
maintenance, or other reason that will cause a fire alarm to sound,
even though there is no actual fire or situation that reasonably could
evolve into a fire.
FIRE ALARM SYSTEM OWNER
An individual or entity who owns the business or building
with a fire alarm, or is responsible for the maintenance of a Fire
Alarm System equipped to send fire alarms to the Swansea Fire Department,
central station or an alarm receiving company.
FIRE ALARM SYSTEMS
Any heat activated, smoke activated, flame energy activated,
or other such automatic device capable of transmitting a fire alarm
signal to either the fire department, central station, or alarm monitoring
company.
FIRE CHIEF
The Chief of the Swansea Fire Department.
RADIO MASTER BOX
A radio Transmitting box capable of transmitting a fire alarm
signal to the Swansea Fire Department by zone and by radio waves.
RADIO MASTER BOX OWNER
The individual or entity who has his/her business fire alarm
system is equipped to send fire alarm signals directly to the Swansea
Fire Department.
Whenever an alarm system or equipment is disconnected, removed,
or substantially altered, the owner or user shall notify the Swansea
Fire Department in writing so that an appropriate notation may be
made on the permit. An approval by the head of the Swansea Fire Department
is required before any work is started.
The following acts and omissions shall constitute a violation
of these regulations. The responsible person or party shall be punished
by a fine of not less than $50 per offense as follows. Each day in
which a violation occurs may be considered a separate offense.
A. Failure to follow an order issued by the Fire Chief to disconnect
an alarm system from the municipal radio box, or to disable a telephone
dialer arranged to dial the digital alarm console or the special alarm
telephone numbers.
B. One year after the effective date of these regulations, using a telephone
dialing device arranged to dial a Swansea Fire Department number without
authorization under this bylaw.
C. Failure to pay two or more consecutive fees assessed under §
105-9 of these regulations, within 60 days from the date of the second assessment.
D. Failure to comply with the requirements set forth in §§
105-3 through
105-10 of these regulations.
E. Continued transmission of false alarms caused by the user's
negligence or system malfunctions on the user premises which is under
the user's control, and where no effort is made to correct the
condition.
The provisions of this ordinance are severable. If any provision
of this ordinance or its application to any person or circumstance
is held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect the remaining provisions
or applications of this ordinance.
[Adopted 3-15-2004 STM
by Art. 20]
It is determined that the number of false alarms being made
to the Swansea Police Department hinders the efficiency and lowers
department morale. This situation constitutes a danger to the general
public, homeowners, businesses and the police. The adoption of this
bylaw will reduce the number of false alarms and promote responsible
use of alarm devices in the Town of Swansea.
No alarm device or system shall be connected to, or use, any
telephone line in the police department, except those lines authorized
by the Chief of Police.
Each subscriber is required to maintain all components of their
alarm system in good working order at all times to ensure that the
sensory mechanism is adjusted to suppress false indications of hold-ups
or intrusions of fire or smoke conditions so that the alarm system
will not be activated by impulses due to short flashes of light, wind,
noise, vehicular noise or other forces unrelated to genuine alarms.