This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Alarm System Local
Law of the Town of Esopus."
The Town Board of the Town Esopus is concerned that a large number of
audible burglar and fire alarm signals transmitted from locations in the Town
of Esopus are activated automatically as the result of defective or malfunctioning
equipment or are caused by the negligence of the owner or occupant of the
premises to which the Police or Fire Departments is required to respond as
the result of the signal and where an emergency condition is found not to
exist, resulting in an unnecessary use of the personnel and resources of the
departments. The Town Board believes that the imposition of a scale of penalties
for repeated false alarms will encourage property owners and occupants to
use care in the use of their alarm equipment and to maintain the equipment
in proper condition and that a registration record will facilitate notification
to alarm owners of possible violations of this chapter.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings
indicated:
FALSE ALARM
The activation of an audible alarm system or of a signal transmitted
to a police or fire department, giving notice of fire, unlawful entry or other
damage to or intrusion upon property within the Town of Esopus where, upon
response by the Fire or Police Department, the condition of fire, unlawful
entry, damage or intrusion upon property is found not to exist. It shall not
be deemed a false alarm where the system or signal is activated by a natural
disaster, such as a hurricane, lightning, thunderstorm, earthquake, or an
interruption in the electrical or telephone services to the premises without
the knowledge or control of the owner or occupant thereof.
The Building Inspector and, in the case of fire alarms, the Fire Chief
or their designated deputies shall have the right to inspect the alarm system,
at the premises on which it is located, upon consent of the owner, occupants
or lessee of the property or, if such consent is not given, upon obtaining
an administrative search warrant from a court of competent jurisdiction. Nothing
set forth in this chapter shall be deemed or intended to restrict the ability
of the Building Inspector or Fire Chief to inspect the alarm system on the
subject premises without consent or without a warrant in case of an emergency.
This chapter shall take effect upon filing with the Secretary of State.