The purpose of this article is to regulate false alarms at commercial
and industrial property.
For purposes of this article, the following terms, when used
herein, shall have the meanings indicated:
ALARM SYSTEM
A device or devices designed or arranged to signal the existence
of a hazard requiring the urgent response of public safety personnel.
These systems include intrusion alarms or other alarms which require
an emergency response by public safety personnel.
ALARM USER
Any person, who owns, possesses, controls, or otherwise exercises
dominion over commercial or industrial property upon which an alarm
system is placed.
FALSE ALARM
The activation of an alarm system requiring an urgent response
by the Public Safety Department where there is no immediate threat
to life, safety, or property in, on or about the property from which
the signal originated. A "false alarm" shall not include alarms caused
by tornados, earthquakes, lightning, or other conditions beyond the
control of the user.
UNKNOWN ALARM
The activation, due to causes that cannot be determined,
of an alarm system requiring an urgent response by the Public Safety
Department where there is no immediate threat to life, safety, or
property in, on or about the property from which the signal originated.
Owners of residential property shall be exempt from this article
and the fees established by Township resolution.
The Township Board shall, by resolution, establish a fee schedule
for false and unknown alarms based upon frequency of false and unknown
alarms during the calendar year.
If an alarm user fails to pay an invoice received under this
article for a false alarm response charge or unknown alarm response
charge within 30 days, the Township may cause the costs reflected
by the invoice to be assessed against his property serviced by the
alarm system as a special assessment or bring suit against the alarm
user to recover such costs.