[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town of Kingston 1988 ATM by Art. 17 (Ch. 9, Art. 2, of the General Bylaws); amended 1992 ATM by Art. 21; 1993 ATM by Art 29. Subsequent amendments noted where applicable.]
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
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 and/or fire personnel are expected to respond. The provisions of § 105-2 of this bylaw shall apply to all users. Alarm systems which monitor temperature, smoke, humidity and any other condition not directly related to the detection of an unauthorized intrusion into a premises or an attempted robbery or a fire at a premises are specifically excluded from the provisions of this bylaw.
[Amended 5-11-2024 ATM by Art. 29]
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.
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 Fire or Police Department requesting or requiring or resulting in a response on the part of the Fire or Police Department when in fact there has been no unauthorized intrusion, robbery or burglary, attempted threat, or fire, smoke, heat or health emergency. For the purposes of this definition, activation of alarm systems for the purposes of testing with prior approval by the Fire or Police Department, or by an act of God, including but not limited to power outages, hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, and similar weather or atmospheric disturbances, shall not be deemed to be a false alarm.
A. 
Every alarm user shall submit to the Police Chief and/or Fire Chief his name, address and telephone number, and the names and telephone numbers of at least two other persons who are authorized to respond, after notification by the Police or Fire 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 Kingston Police Department and Fire Department of any change in the list of employees or other persons authorized 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 alarms within the Town of Kingston 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 continued 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 to the Police or Fire Department will be tested until the Police or Fire Department has been notified.
E. 
The provisions of this bylaw shall not apply to premises owned or controlled by the Town, nor to alarm devices installed in a motor vehicle or trailer.
The user shall be assessed $50 as a false alarm service fee for each false alarm in excess of three occurring within a calendar year. The Police Chief or Fire Chief shall notify the alarm user pursuant to the provisions contained in MGL c. 40, § 21D, as amended. Said user shall submit payment within 21 days of the date of said notice to the Town Clerk for deposit to the general fund.