[Adopted 4-6-1992; amended in its entirety 9-18-2006 (Ch. 78 of
the 1990 Code)]
The purpose of this article is to reduce needless
alarms to which the Wethersfield Police Department and the Wethersfield
Volunteer Fire Department respond to as a result of the activation
of burglar, holdup, panic and fire alarms that automatically summon
the Police Department or the Fire Department either via a central
station, the Wethersfield Police Department or automatic dialers.
As used in this article, the following terms
shall have the meanings indicated:
ALARM SYSTEM
An assembly of equipment and devices arranged to signal the
presence of a hazard requiring urgent attention and to which the Police
or Fire Department is expected to respond. In this chapter, the term
"alarm system" shall include but not be limited to the terms "automatic
holdup alarm systems," "burglar alarm systems," "holdup alarm systems,"
"manual holdup alarm systems," "audible alarm systems" and "fire alarm
systems." Alarm systems which monitor temperature, humidity or any
other condition not directly related to the detection of an unauthorized
intrusion into a premises or any attempted robbery or a fire or smoke
condition at a premises are specifically excluded from the provision
of this chapter, as are alternative alarm systems designed to notify
of medical emergencies.
FALSE ALARM
The activation of any alarm system to which the Police and/or
Fire Department responds which is not caused by:
A.
Fire, a criminal act or other emergency.
B.
An act of nature, such as an earthquake, tornado
or hurricane.
C.
Circumstances occurring off the protected property
and within the control of the subscriber, his alarm business or his
answering service.
D.
A person motivated solely by criminal, malicious
or mischievous intent.
SUBSCRIBER
A person who buys and/or leases or otherwise obtains an alarm
system and thereafter installs it or has it installed. The term "subscriber"
shall also mean a person who has control of premises in which an operable
alarm system exists, with the ultimate responsibility for the alarm
system being with the property owner.
[Amended 10-7-2019]
Permits for all alarm systems
shall require an annual renewal two years from the date of permit
or registration issuance. Renewals shall be accompanied by a renewal
fee of $25 and filed with the Police Department.
The subscriber in receipt of a violation ticket
may appeal the fine at anytime within five days of the receipt of
said notice by filing an appeals notice at police headquarters. After
review of said appeal, the Police Chief or Fire Chief, in the event
of fire alarm systems, will make a determination as to whether or
not the circumstances surrounding the false alarm justify the waiver
of the fine. The subscriber will be notified in writing as to the
results of the appeal.
[Amended 10-7-2019]
All fines payable under
this article will be made to the Tax Collector and will be due and
payable within 30 days of the day of notice or, if appealed, within
30 days of the date of decision on the appeal. Payments not received
within this period will result in the automatic doubling of the fine.
In addition, if the subscriber subject to the fine is not the property
owner, the Tax Collector shall give the property owner notice of the
subscriber's failure to pay the fine in the allowable period.
The property owner shall have a thirty-day period from the date of
such notice in which to pay the original fine at the original amount.
If not paid within such thirty-day period, the amount of the fine
which the property owner may pay shall be doubled.
The Police Chief will enforce and administer
this article and any rules and regulations promulgated thereunder,
except that the Fire Chief shall have jurisdiction over the fire alarm
systems.
[Adopted 9-4-1990; amended in its entirety 8-15-2005 (Ch. 79 of
the 1990 Code)]
The purpose of this article is to reduce needless
alarms to which the Wethersfield Volunteer Fire Department responds
and to provide standards and regulations for the installation of fire
alarm systems that automatically summon the Fire Department either
via a central station, the Wethersfield Police Department or automatic
dialers.
As used in this article, the following terms
shall have the meanings indicated:
FIRE ALARM SYSTEM
A system of electrical devices and circuits installed, arranged
and maintained to form, transmit and send signals indicating an emergency
requiring immediate action to safeguard life and property from fire,
whether or not required by Town ordinance or by the State of Connecticut
Fire Safety Code.
The administration of this article shall be
by the Division of Fire, and the enforcement shall be by the Fire
Marshal of the Town of Wethersfield.