[Ord. No. 1901-03 § II]
The Mayor and Township Council find that alarm systems that
do not contain automatic cutoff systems permit the continuing emission
of loud alarm signals without termination exist within the Township
of West Orange. In the event of the unavailability of those able to
control and terminate the alarm, persons in the vicinity are exposed
to these loud noises for lengthy, indefinite periods without means
of obtaining relief; that this condition is inimical to the public
health and welfare and to the well-being of persons within the Township;
and that lengthy emission of alarm signals is not necessary to the
legitimate purposes of the property owner or occupant. The Mayor and
Township Council further find that many residents and commercial entities
have installed burglar, robbery, panic, fire, medical and other electronic
devices within their properties and/or vehicles and that false alarms
from these devices requiring Police, Fire, and EMS response cause
unnecessary expense to the Township and the unproductive diversion
of emergency personnel and equipment from their public safety function
within the Township.
[Ord. No. 1901-03 § II]
The purpose of this section is to provide standards and regulations
for various types of emergency alarm systems that require response
by governmental emergency service agencies.
[Ord. No. 1901-03 § II]
The provisions of this section shall apply to any person who
operates, maintains, or owns any alarm device designed to summon governmental
emergency services to any location in response to an alarm signal.
All fire alarm devices shall conform to the National Fire Protection
Association Codes.
[Ord. No. 1901-03 § II]
For purposes of this section:
AUDIBLE ALARM
Shall mean a device that emits an audible signal from a premises
or vehicle that it is designed to protect.
CENTRAL STATION ALARM
Shall mean any type of alarm that is received by telephone
at the Township's Emergency Communications Center from a subscriber's
designated alarm company.
FALSE ALARM
Shall mean any alarm actuated by inadvertence, negligence,
or unintentional act of someone other than a person committing a criminal
act, and shall include alarms caused by malfunctioning of any type
of alarm system or other relevant equipment.
INTENTIONAL FALSE ALARM
Shall mean any type of alarm that is purposely or knowingly
activated when a true emergency does not exist.
PERSON
Shall mean any natural person, partnership, corporation,
association, or other legal entity.
SATISFACTORY REASON
Shall mean that the emergency service responder is satisfied
that the alarm condition was caused by a circumstance beyond the control
of the alarm subscriber, including but not limited to weather disturbances,
nearby construction, etc.
[Ord. No. 1901-03 § II]
The Township Administration, Director of Police or Township
of West Orange Fire Prevention Bureau may promulgate rules and regulations
supplementing this section in order to provide for record keeping
and efficient management of the system; provided that the Township
Council shall first approve the rules or any changes thereto by appropriate
resolution.
[Ord. No. 1901-03 § II;
amended 7-11-2023 by Ord. No. 2765-23]
a. False Alarms.
1. For the first false alarm without satisfactory reason in any twelve-month
period, a written warning shall be issued.
2. For the second false alarm without satisfactory reason in the same
twelve-month period, a fine prescribed by Resolution shall be paid
to the Township.
3. For the third or subsequent false alarm without satisfactory reason
in the same twelve-month period, a fine prescribed by Resolution shall
be paid to the Township.
4. When deciding to issue a summons for violations of this section,
the emergency service worker should consider the time period between
activations in order to allow the alarm subscriber time to effect
repairs to the systems.
b. Other Violations and Penalties. Any person violating any of the provisions of this section, except as set forth in Subsection
a above shall, for each offense, be liable to the penalty, upon conviction, as stated in Chapter
1, §
1-5. Each incident shall be considered a separate violation.