[Ord. #2001-18, § 2A-1]
The purpose of this chapter is to provide standards and regulations
for various types of intrusion, burglar and other emergency alarm
equipment which produce a visual or audible signal or function by
direct line, radio, telephone, computer or by any other means, requiring
a response by the Police Department or other municipal or state agencies.
[Ord. #2001-18, § 2A-2]
The provisions of this chapter shall apply to alarm businesses
and to any person who operates, maintains or owns any alarm device,
dial alarm or local alarm designed to produce a visual or audible
signal of an emergency and designed to summon or alert the police
or other municipal or state agencies in response thereto.
[Ord. #2001-18, § 2A-3]
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
Equipment or a device or an assembly of equipment and devices
to signal the presence of an emergency or hazard requiring urgent
attention and to which the Police Department or other state or municipal
agency may be expected to respond. In this chapter the term "alarm
system" shall include the term "alarm device," "local alarm," and
"dial alarm," and "modem alarm".
The designated representative of the Public Safety Director
to perform a function required or permitted by this chapter under
the supervision of the Public Safety Director.
Any type of alarm system using telephone lines transmitting
an alarm directly to the police agency providing warning of intrusion
or other peril.
Any alarm or signal of an alarm actuated by inadvertence,
negligence, intentional or unintentional act of a person other than
an intruder; and including alarms caused by mechanical failure, malfunctioning
or improper installation of the alarm system and related equipment.
Any alarm system which when activated produces a signal not
connected to a central system which when activated produces a signal
not connected to any central station, i.e. store burglar alarms actuating
bell devices providing warning of intrusion or other peril. The term
"local alarm" shall not include an alarm system solely connected to
a registered motor vehicle. The term "local alarm" shall also not
include equipment designed to signal solely within a building or series
of buildings, if owned by the same person on which it is located,
and which does not emit signals, visible or audible, to persons outside
such building or buildings.
Any natural person or individual or any firm, partnership,
association, limited partnership, sole proprietorship, corporation
or any other business entity.
The Police Department of Plumsted Township.
The Public Safety Director of Plumsted Township.
The Township Administrator of Plumsted Township.
Written notice used herein shall mean by certified mail,
return receipt requested.
[Ord. #2001-18, § 2A-4]
A.
All dial alarms shall be coded to dial a separate special number
other than the general police number.
B.
All dial alarms shall be capable of being disconnected to allow a
call to police headquarters in the event of a false alarm.
C.
Owners of dial alarms shall be governed by false alarms procedures
and penalties set forth in this chapter.
D.
If any person has any dial alarm hereafter shall be found to be dialing the general police number rather than the special number, the Public Safety Director shall send the person in whose name the telephone is listed a written notice requiring compliance with this chapter. If the occupant or telephone subscriber fails to comply within thirty (30) days after service of said notice, said failure shall constitute a violation of this chapter and the person shall be liable to the penalties as set forth under Section 2A-7 hereof. Each and every day that this chapter is not complied with shall constitute a separate offense.
E.
The sensory mechanism of dial alarms shall be adjusted so as to suppress
false indications and not be actuated by impulses due to pressure
changes in water pipes, short flashes of light, wind, noises, rattling
or vibration of doors or windows or other forces unrelated to general
alarms.
F.
All components of dial alarms shall be maintained by the owner in good repair. On failure to comply with the operational requirements, the owner of a dial alarm shall disconnect until the operational requirements are reestablished. If upon written notice from the Public Safety Director, the owner of a dial alarm shall fail to disconnect said alarm within ten (10) days, such action shall constitute a violation of this chapter and said person shall be liable for the penalties set forth in Section 2A-7 hereof.
G.
Each alarm owner and/or user agrees to indemnify and hold harmless
the Township of Plumsted and its agents, servants and employees from
and against all claims, suits, damages, cost, and expenses and to
release the Township of Plumsted and its agents, servants and employees
from any and all liability or damages in any way resulting from or
arising out of or connected with the installation, operation or maintenance
of an alarm system or any act or omission connected therewith.
[Ord. #2001-18, § 2A-4]
A.
If in the event of the occurrence of three (3) false alarms in a
calendar year, the alarm user shall within three (3) days after written
notice to do so, complete a written report to the Public Safety Director
setting forth the cause of the false alarms, the corrective action
taken, a statement by an alarm service company and such other information
as the Public Safety Director may reason-ably require.
B.
Service fees.
(1)
A written notice by the Public Safety Director shall be given upon
the third occurrence of a false alarm in a calendar year. The Public
Safety Director shall have the authority to assess a service fee against
the alarm user, in an amount set by resolution of the Township of
Plumsted Township Committee.
(2)
Service fees shall be payable to the Township of Plumsted within
thirty (30) days of service of written notice of fourth, fifth, or
subsequent false alarms.
[Ord. #2001-18, § 2A-6]
Any person testing an alarm system covered by the provisions of this chapter shall notify the police headquarters immediately prior to and after the testing is complete. Failure to do so shall constitute a violation herein and subjects such person to such penalties as set forth in Section 2A-7 hereof.
[Ord. #2001-18, § 2A-7]
Any person violating or failing to comply with any of the provisions
of this chapter shall upon conviction thereof, be punish-able by a
fine of not less than one hundred dollars ($100.) nor more than one
thousand dollars ($1,000.) in addition to the fees for each and every
false alarm fee due and payable that exceed three (3) in a calendar
year, and/or by imprisonment for a term not to exceed ninety (90)
days, or any combination of fine, imprisonment and community service
as determined in the discretion of the Municipal Court Judge. The
continuation of such violation for each successive day shall constitute
a separate offense, and the person or persons allowing or permitting
the continuation of violation may be punished as provided above for
each separate offense.
