[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Council of the Town of Charlestown 7-12-1982
by Ch. 131. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Building construction — See Ch. 91.
The purpose of this chapter is to set standards for the use of alarm
systems in the Town of Charlestown, to ease the potential of a patrolman's
being injured while responding to a false alarm and to lessen the burden placed
upon the Police Department as a result of false alarms.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: For related state law, see G.L. 1956 § 5-57-1
et seq.
As used throughout this chapter, the following terms have been given
the meaning therein:
An assembly of equipment and devices or single device, such as a
solid-state unit, which uses electrical energy to signal the presence of a
hazard to which the police are expected to respond immediately as it requires
their immediate attention. Included in the definition shall be "burglar alarm
systems," "holdup alarm systems" and "manual holdup alarm systems," as they
are later defined. Fire alarm systems and alarm systems which monitor temperature,
humidity or any other condition which is not related directly to an unauthorized
intrusion are not included in this chapter. Also excluded from this chapter
are systems which are used to signal a person within the premises in which
the alarm system is located. If the system employs an audible signal emitting
sounds or a flashing light or beacon designed to signal a person outside the
premises that there is an unauthorized intrusion or a holdup attempt, then
that system shall be included with this definition of "alarm systems" and
shall be subject to this chapter.
A telephone answering service which provides as one (1) of its services
the receiving on a continuous basis, through trained employees, emergency
signals from alarm systems, and the relaying of the message to the communications
center of the Police Department.
An alarm system which automatically over its regular telephone lines
sends a prerecorded voice message or coded signal indicating the existence
of an emergency situation that the alarm system is designed to detect.
An alarm system which signals an entry or attempted entry into the
area protected by the system.
The activation of an alarm system through mechanical failure, malfunction,
improper installation, without an unlawful entry or through the negligence
of the owner or lessee of the alarm system or his employees or agents.
An alarm signaling a robbery or attempted robbery.
An alarm system whose signal transmission is initiated by the person
attacked or an observer of the action.
[Amended 6-12-1989 by Ch. 171]
The Chief of the Charlestown Police Department or his designated
agent.
A person who buys, leases or otherwise obtains an alarm system and
contracts or hires an alarm business to service or monitor the system.
Except for those institutions required by law, no individual shall interconnect
any automatic dialing device directly to the Police Department trunk line.
Such devices may be interconnected to a modified central station or an automatic
answering station which notifies the Police Department, with full cost to
be carried by the intermediate service. The alarm user will provide the Police
Department with the names and telephone numbers of at least two (2) persons
who have agreed in writing to cooperate in this program, who can be reached
at any time, who are authorized to respond to an emergency signal transmitted
by an automatic alarm device and who can open the premises where the alarm
is installed. If any such person refuses to cooperate with the Police Department,
such refusal will be considered a violation of this chapter. If either of
the individuals withdraws his agreement, the alarm user will provide the Police
Department with a substitute.
[Added 7-8-2002 by Ord. No. 236]
A.
Every alarm user shall obtain an alarm user's permit
for each system from the Police Chief's Office ninety (90) days after
the effective date of this ordinance or prior to use of an alarm system. This
paragraph excludes systems to signal persons within the premises, or alarms
on motor vehicles unless connected with an alarm system at a premises (other
than a proprietary system). If a system employs an audible signal emitting
sounds or a flashing light or beacon designed to signal persons outside the
premises, it shall be subject to this ordinance.
B.
The alarm user applying for the permit shall use a permit
application form prepared by the Police Department. Each permit shall bear
the signature of the Chief of Police or his designee and shall be for a period
of one (1) year. All permits shall expire on December 31 of each and every
year. The permit shall be physically upon the premises using the alarm system
and shall be available for inspection by the Chief of Police or his designee.
No alarm system will be demonstrated or tested to determine police response
without notification first being given to the Police Dispatcher.
For the first two (2) false alarms per calendar year, there shall be
no fee, but a written warning will be given to the user of the alarm system.
For the third false alarm in that calendar year, the fee will be ten dollars
($10.); for the fourth, thirty dollars ($30.); for all others in that calendar
year, fifty dollars ($50.) each. This fee is imposed whether the Police Department
receives notification of the alarm by direct communication or through an intermediary,
such as an answering service or modified central station. The fee imposed
in this section is waived in the first thirty-day period following installation
of a new alarm system if the Police Chief is informed of the installation
of the system.
The Chief is authorized to require that any private owner or lessee
of any alarm system, which is connected either directly to the Police Station
or reported by an answering service or modified central station, disconnect
the alarm from the station or service until the alarm is working so that it
will not produce a high frequency of false alarms. The Police Chief may require
disconnection if ten (10) such false alarms are received within a twelve-month
period. The Chief may order that the owner or subscriber disconnect the alarm
system, after having given notice to the subscriber or owner, for noncooperation
or for other violation of this chapter.
No person, firm or corporation shall provide a private alarm system
programmed to a central office unless it shall be manned at all times, twenty-four
(24) hours a day, including holidays.
[Added 6-12-1989 by Ch. 171]
Any person who shall violate any provision of this chapter shall, upon
conviction thereof, be punished, for each violation, by a fine of not more
than five hundred dollars ($500.) or by imprisonment for not more than thirty
(30) days. The continuation of a violation of any provision of this chapter
shall constitute, for each day the violation is continued, a separate and
distinct violation hereunder.
