[Ord. #05-17, S 2]
The purpose of this Chapter 17 is to:
a. 
Create standards, procedures and controls for all types of intrusion, burglar, fire and other emergency alarm devices (as defined hereinbelow), which are designed to summon assistance from the police department, fire department, or any other municipal emergency department, agency, service, or official;
b. 
Reduce the increasing number of false alarms generated within the township, directly or indirectly, reported to and responded to by employees, agents or officers of the township, or by any volunteer emergency services of the township.
[Ord. #05-17, S 2; amended 10-21-2024 by Ord. No. 2024-016]
As used in this chapter, the following terms have the meanings indicated:
ALARM ACTIVATION
Shall mean any signal or message received by, or made known to, the emergency services (as defined hereinbelow), and to which they respond, when such signal or message was directly or indirectly brought about or produced by an alarm device.
ALARM ADMINISTRATOR
Shall mean an employee of the Bedminster Township Police Department responsible for implementing the provisions of this chapter with full authority and discretion to enforce this chapter. He/she shall prepare all documents and establish all rules and regulations as is necessary to ensure efficient record keeping and management of the provisions hereof. He/she shall have the power to issue summons in accordance with this chapter.
ALARM BUSINESS
Shall mean any licensed business, firm, corporation, or other commercial entity which is in the business of owning or operating, maintaining, installing, leasing, or selling alarm devices or a system of alarm devices, which business, firm, corporation or other commercial entity is an owner, operator, provider of maintenance service, installer or lessor or seller of said alarm devices or a system of alarm devices.
ALARM DEVICE
Shall mean any device or mechanism used or designed for detection and warning of unauthorized entry or actions, fire, smoke, carbon monoxide, flood, or other perils, including local alarms.
EMERGENCY SERVICES
Shall mean agencies, both paid and volunteer, that respond to an emergency or call for service due to an alarm, which shall include, without limitation, the Bedminster Police Department, the Far Hills-Bedminster Volunteer Fire Department, the Pottersville Volunteer Fire Department, the Far Hills-Bedminster First Aid Squad, any neighboring emergency service entity responding on behalf of any township emergency service, and any agency providing service for the benefit of any township emergency service.
FALSE ALARM
Shall mean any alarm activation which was not the result of criminal activity or other emergency.
LOCAL ALARM
Shall mean any alarm device, which, when activated, does not produce an audible/visible signal beyond the boundaries of the premises, designed to notify persons within audible or visible range of the signal that a criminal act or other emergency is occurring or has occurred.
MEDICAL ALARM DEVICE
Shall mean a device that allows a person to call for help in an emergency medical situation.
[Amended 10-21-2024 by Ord. No. 2024-016]
Except as otherwise provided herein, it shall be unlawful for any individual (including medical alarm devices), partnership, corporation, limited liability company, or any other entity to operate or maintain an alarm device, not including local alarms, without registering the alarm device with the Township. Locations with multiple buildings/separate alarms shall register each alarm.
[Ord. #05-17, S 2; amended 10-21-2024 by Ord. No. 2024-016]
Any individual, partnership, corporation, limited liability company, or other entity that owns, operates, or maintains an alarm device shall register same with the alarm administrator by completing the required registration forms. The registration forms shall indicate:
a. 
The name, address and telephone number of the owner and user of the alarm device.
b. 
The location of the alarm device(s) within the building.
c. 
The name and address of the installer of the alarm device.
d. 
The name and phone number of the alarm company.
e. 
The alarm owner's account numbers.
f. 
The phone number of the central alarm station.
g. 
The specific type of alarm device.
h. 
A list of two names and telephone numbers of persons to be contacted in the event of an alarm, other than the applicant, who have sufficient knowledge of the alarm system.
i. 
Any other information deemed necessary by the alarm administrator.
j. 
All information shall be held in strict confidence, and shall not be subject to the New Jersey State Open Public Records Act ("OPRA"), N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1, et seq.
k. 
Alarm registration form shall be accompanied by a filing fee per Subsection 17-3.3.
[Ord. #5-17, S 2; Ord. #2010-017, S 2; amended 10-21-2024 by Ord. No. 2024-016]
Existing alarms registered prior to January 1, 2025, are exempt from paying a filing fee. New alarm registrations after January 1, 2025, shall pay a one-time $50 filing fee. New alarm registrations include a new owner, tenant or structure on a property. Personal medical alarm devices are exempt from filing fees.
[Ord. #05-17, S 2; amended 10-21-2024 by Ord. No. 2024-016]
The alarm registration/permit will remain valid until there is a change in property ownership or use.
[Former § 17-3.5, Waiver of Fee, was repealed 10-21-2024 by Ord. No. 2024-016. Prior history includes: Ord. #05-17, S 2.]
[Former § 17-3.6, Fees Not Pro-Rated, was repealed 10-21-2024 by Ord. No. 2024-016. Prior history includes: Ord. #05-17, S 2.]
[Ord. #05-17, S 2; amended 10-21-2024 by Ord. No. 2024-016]
Upon registration hereunder, a decal will be issued, which exhibits a registration number whereby the property owner is to display on the front door or primary entrance, or closest visible location thereto, so that it is visible to emergency services upon arrival to the premises.
[Ord. #05-17, S 2]
Upon registration hereunder, the registrant hereby agrees to hold harmless the township and its departments, agencies and officials from any liability or damages suffered as a result of or arising out of improper or faulty installation, operation or maintenance of any alarm device of the registrant. No action taken by the township, or its emergency services, pursuant to the provisions of this chapter shall create any liability upon the township, emergency services, or any other township department, agency or official by reason of any failure of any alarm device or any failure to respond to any emergency or any act or omission or commission in connection with any alarm device.
[Ord. #05-17, S 2]
The property owner shall provide his or her alarm company/central station and the alarm administrator with written notice of any change in the information provided in the registration application within 10 business days of the change.
[Ord. #05-17, S 2]
Any building, commercial or residential, in which an alarm device is installed, shall display the assigned 911 system number (official street address number or name), in such a manner that the number/name is easily visible from the road.
[Ord. #05-17, S 2; amended 10-21-2024 by Ord. No. 2024-016]
This Section 17-3 shall not apply to local alarms; but all other sections of this chapter shall apply to same.
Former § 17-3.13, Registration of Alarm Agents and Alarm Businesses, was repealed 10-21-2024 by Ord. No. 2024-016. Prior history includes: Ord. #05-17, S 2.
[Ord. #05-17, S 2; amended 10-21-2024 by Ord. No. 2024-016]
For false alarms within any 12 month period (e.g., January 1 — December 31), the following penalties/summons will apply:
a. 
For the first false alarm, a written notice from the alarm administrator confirming the false alarm shall be issued.
b. 
For the second false alarm, a written notice from the alarm administrator confirming the false alarm shall be issued.
c. 
For the third false alarm, a fine not to exceed $100 shall be imposed.
d. 
For the fourth false alarm, a fine not to exceed $300 shall be imposed.
e. 
For the fifth false alarm, a fine not to exceed $500 shall be imposed.
f. 
For any false alarm in excess of five, the registered owner of the alarm device, or their designated representative, shall be issued a summons, be required to make a court appearance, and be subject to a fine of not less than $500 and not to exceed $1,250, or such other relief the court may deem appropriate.
[Ord. #05-17, S 2; amended 10-21-2024 by Ord. No. 2024-016]
Fines under this Section may be joint and several against all persons owning an alarm device and any alarm business or occupant of a premises in which an alarm device is installed.
[Ord. #05-17, S 2]
Any violations of any section of this chapter for which there is no prescribed penalty shall result in one or more of the following at the discretion of the Judge of the Municipal Court of the Township of Bedminster: a fine not to exceed $1,250, imprisonment for a period not to exceed 90 days, or community service not to exceed 90 days.
[Ord. #05-17, S 2]
All alarm devices shall be installed and maintained in accordance with all applicable municipal and governmental laws, ordinances and requirements.
[Ord. #05-17, S 2]
Upon notification by emergency services that an alarm device was activated, the owner or designated representative of the premises from which the alarm was received shall promptly report to the alarm device location, if so requested. Noncompliance with this provision may result in notification by the township to the premises owner of discontinuance of response to future alarms from the subject premises.
[Ord. #05-17, S 2]
For any audible sounding alarm device that continuously or constantly sounds, disturbing the quality of life for neighbors, and there is no key holder available or other means to disconnect the audible system, the police department may authorize an alarm device vendor, locksmith and any other appropriate contractor to disconnect the audible alarm device. Any and all expenses incurred shall be the responsibility of the alarm device owner. Should it be impossible to disconnect the alarm device, a reduced response to the sounding alarm by the appropriate emergency service will be performed without liability to the township or the township's emergency service.
[Ord. #05-17, S 2]
If emergency service responds to an alarm or any emergency call and has reasonable belief that someone inside the building or on the property is in need of emergency services, forced entry is permitted. The property/alarm owner will be responsible for the damages caused during entry, if any.
[Ord. #05-17, S 2]
It is understood that this chapter does not supersedes or preclude any penalties, rule or regulations promulgated by the State Fire Code, N.J.A.C. 5:70-1, et seq. and the Uniform Construction Code, N.J.A.C. 5:23-1, et seq., and should this section be found to conflict with the State Fire Code or the Uniform Construction Code, the State Fire Code and/or Uniform Construction Code will take precedence.
[Ord. #05-17, S 2]
If the alarm administrator has reason to know that a registered alarm device is not working properly, the alarm administrator shall notify the township fire official that such alarm is not working properly.
[Ord. #05-17, S 2]
Alarm devices that use or are connection to an automatic phone number dialing device to deliver recorded messages concerning emergency or other conditions directly to township owned or emergency services' phone number, not administered through an alarm business and/or alarm agent, including, but not limited to any Bedminster Township Police Department phone number, are prohibited.
[Added 10-21-2024 by Ord. No. 2024-016]
Whenever the alarm device is permanently disabled, or terminated, the alarm owner shall provide written notice to the alarm administrator within 10 business days.
[Added 10-21-2024 by Ord. No. 2024-016]
Any person testing an alarm system covered by this chapter shall notify the police and/or fire department immediately prior to, and immediately after the testing is complete. Failure to do so shall constitute a violation of this chapter and subject the person to penalties set forth herein.
[Added 10-21-2024 by Ord. No. 2024-016]
Alarm devices shall have adequate battery back up power for when there is an interruption in commercial power, so as not to activate the alarm.