[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Commissioners
of the Township of Long Beach 3-4-2019 by Ord. No. 19-05C. Amendments noted where
applicable.]
This chapter is enacted in order to address false alarms to
protect the public health, welfare, and safety. This chapter regulates
alarm systems and is in addition to the criminal regulations relating
to the false and baseless reporting of fire, explosion, crime, catastrophe,
emergency, or any other related incident, as set forth in N.J.S.A.
2C:33-3.
For the purposes of this chapter, the following words shall
have the meanings given herein.
Any device designed, when actuated, to produce or emit a
sound or transmit a signal or message for the purpose of alerting
others to the existence of an emergency situation requiring immediate
investigation by private company, police, fire, or other party, except
that this definition shall not include residential, battery-operated
smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors not connected with an outside
source or location.
An alarm signal eliciting a response by private company,
police, fire, or other party when a situation requiring a response
by the Police Department and/or the Fire Department does not in fact
exist.
The volunteer fire companies located on Long Beach Island
and that service the Township.
The Chief of Police or his/her designee shall be responsible
for the enforcement of this chapter and the performance of any administrative
duties regarding the regulation of alarm systems.
A.
No person owning, using, or possessing an alarm system shall cause
or permit the giving of false alarms, whether intentional, accidental,
or otherwise.
B.
Pursuant to N.J.A.C. 5:18 of the Uniform Fire Code, the Fire Official
is required to cause an investigation to be made of every reported
fire alarm. In the case of false fire alarms which summon the Fire
Department, the Fire Official shall cause an investigation to be made
and shall keep a record of such false alarms on file. Such record
shall be prima facie evidence of the contents thereof. In the case
of false alarms which summon the Police Department, the Police Chief
shall cause an investigation to be made and shall keep a record of
such false alarms on file. Such record shall be prima facie evidence
of the contents thereof.
C.
The Township Alarm Administrator shall compile, document, and keep
a written record of all false alarms that summon an investigation.
D.
After two false alarms at the same property within any calendar year,
the Township Alarm Administrator shall charge the owner and/or lessee
of the property such penalties and fees as outlined in this chapter.
A.
B.
Prior false alarms shall only count towards the total count for purposes of Subsection A above if the prior false alarms occurred within the same calendar year at the same property.
C.
Municipal Court appearances for six or more false alarms within a
calendar year shall be required. Municipal Court appearances for three
to five false alarms within a calendar year shall be at the discretion
of the Township Alarm Administrator.
