[HISTORY: Adopted by the Annual Town Meeting of the Town of Raynham 5-20-1985 by Art. 45. Amendments noted where applicable.]
[Amended 5-16-2022 ATM by Art. 26]
It is determined that the number of false alarms being made to the Police Department hinders the efficiency of the Department and lowers the morale of Department personnel. 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 the responsible use of alarm devices in the Town of Raynham.
As used in this bylaw, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
AUTOMATIC DIALING DEVICE
Refers to an alarm system which automatically sends over regular telephone lines, by direct connection or otherwise, a prerecorded voice message or coded signal indicating the existence of the emergency situation that the alarm system is designated to detect.
BURGLAR ALARM SYSTEM
An assembly of equipment and devices or a single device such as a solid-state unit which plugs directly into a 110-volt AC line, arranged to signal the presence of a hazard requiring urgent attention and to which police are expected to respond. Fire alarm systems and alarm systems which monitor temperature, smoke, humidity or any other condition not directly related to the detection of an unauthorized intrusion into a premises or an attempted robbery or larceny at a premises are specifically excluded from the provisions of this bylaw. The provisions of § 145-4 of this bylaw shall apply to all users.
FALSE ALARM
The activation of an alarm system through mechanical failure, malfunction, improper installation or negligence of the user of an alarm system or his employees or agents; any signal or automatic dialing device transmitted to the Police Department, requesting or requiring or resulting in a response on the part of the Police Department when in fact there has been no unauthorized intrusion, robbery, burglary, larceny, or attempted threat. For the purposes of this definition, activation of alarm systems by acts of God, including but not limited to power outages, hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, and similar weather or atmospheric disturbances, or alarms activated while there is an on-duty police officer present shall not be deemed to be a false alarm.
A. 
Every alarm user shall submit to the Police Chief the names and telephone numbers of at least two other persons who are authorized to respond, after notification by the Police Department, to an emergency signal transmitted by an alarm system and who can open the premises wherein the alarm system is installed. It shall be incumbent upon the owner of said premises to immediately notify the Raynham Police Department of any changes in the list of authorized employees or other persons to respond to alarms.
B. 
All alarm systems installed after the effective date of this bylaw which use an audible horn or bell shall be equipped with a device that will shut off such bell or horn within 15 minutes after activation of the alarm system. All existing alarm systems in the Town of Raynham must have a shutoff device installed within six months of passage of this bylaw.
C. 
Any alarm system emitting a continuous and uninterrupted signal for more than 15 minutes between 7:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. which cannot be shut off or otherwise curtailed due to the absence or unavailability of the alarm user or those persons designated by him under Subsection A of this section, and which disturbs the peace, comfort, or repose of a community, a neighborhood, or a considerable number of inhabitants of the area where the alarm system is located, shall constitute a public nuisance. Upon receiving complaints regarding such a continuous and uninterrupted signal, the Police Department shall endeavor to contact the alarm user, or members of the alarm user's family, or those persons designated by the alarm user under Subsection A of this section in an effort to abate the nuisance. The Police Chief shall cause to be recorded the names and addresses of all complainants and the time each complaint was made.
D. 
No alarm system which is designated to transmit emergency messages or signals of intrusion to the Police Department will be tested until the Police Dispatcher has been notified.
E. 
The provisions of this bylaw shall not apply to alarm devices on premises owned or controlled by the Town, nor to alarm devices installed in a motor vehicle or trailer.
F. 
Every business establishment within the Town of Raynham, whether alarmed or not, shall provide written notice to the Chief of Police listing the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of at least two persons who may be reached at any time, day or night, and who are authorized to respond to any emergency which has caused the police to be dispatched to said premises. Such notice shall be submitted during the first month of each year and shall be kept current at all times, reflecting any changes in authorized personnel. Owner-residents shall be excluded from this subsection.
A. 
The user shall be assessed $100 as a false alarm fine for each false alarm in excess of six occurring within a calendar year. The Police Chief shall notify the alarm user either by certified mail or by service in hand by a police officer of such violation, and said user shall submit payment with 15 days of said notice to the Town Treasurer/Collector for deposit to the general fund.
[Amended 5-16-2022 ATM by Art. 26]
B. 
The owner of a system which occasions 10 or more false alarms within a calendar year or fails to pay the fine after said notice may be ordered to disconnect and otherwise discontinue the use of the same by the Board of Selectmen after a public hearing.
C. 
Failure to comply with § 145-3A, B, C, D or F shall constitute violations of this bylaw punishable by fines of up to $100.
[Amended 5-16-2022 ATM by Art. 26]