[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Council of the Township of Galloway 2-27-2001 by Ord. No. 1447. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Payment of false alarm fees required prior to issuance of license — See § 241-16.
Noise — See Ch. 253.
Certain words and phrases are used in this chapter which, for the purpose hereof, are defined as follows:
ALARM SYSTEM
Any mechanical or electronic device or system designed or used to detect unauthorized entry into a building, structure or area, or to alert the Police Department, Fire Department or any other agency or person to a potential problem at any location within the Township of Galloway.
FALSE ALARM
Any activation of an alarm device or system which alerts the Police Department, Fire Department, and/or any other agency or person for any reason, other than that which would constitute an actual criminal offense, emergent event, or incidental alarm, by utilizing light, noise, a central alarm monitoring station or any other means.
INCIDENTAL ALARM
Any activation of an alarm device or system in which two or more alarms in close proximity are activated by a related event at approximately the same time.
[Amended 7-13-2010 by Ord. No. 1818]
All owners or lessees of alarm equipment employing the services of a central alarm monitoring station must register with the Township of Galloway prior to the installation of the alarm system or, in the case of existing alarm system, within 60 days from the effective date of this chapter. There shall be no fee charged for registration of alarm systems. Any owner or lessee who fails to register within the prescribed period shall disconnect the alarm system and shall discontinue using the services of any central alarm monitoring station. All owners or lessees not employing the services of a central alarm monitoring station must also register with the Township of Galloway. (Registration will permit the Township of Galloway to contact the owner, lessee or his representatives in the event of an emergency.) Owners or lessees of alarm equipment not using the services of a central alarm monitoring station must comply with §§ 95-3, 95-4, 95-5, 95-10, 95-11 and 95-12.
All alarm equipment suppliers and employees who install, maintain, or service alarm systems or automatic protection devices in the township must have received and, upon request, provide proof of licensure under N.J.S.A. 45:5A-1 et seq. prior to the installation or service of any alarm system in the township.
All alarm equipment suppliers shall make service available on a twenty-four-hour-per-day basis, seven days a week, to repair and correct any malfunction to its alarm system.
At the time of installation, the alarm equipment supplier shall furnish to any buyer or lessee written information as to how repair service may be obtained at any time, including the telephone number of the alarm system supplier or agent responsible for service. The buyer or lessee and the alarm equipment supplier shall be responsible for having the device disconnected or repaired immediately upon notice that the alarm system is not functioning properly.
If an alarm system fails to comply with its operational requirements and the Township of Galloway's Chief of Police has concluded the alarm system should be disconnected in order to relieve the burden of responding to false alarms, the Chief of Police is authorized to require that the owner or lessee or his representative disconnect the alarm system until it is made to comply with the operational requirements. Any notification requesting disconnection of an alarm system shall be by certified mail, with return receipt requested. If disconnection of the defective alarm is not accomplished promptly and the Chief of Police determines the malfunctioning alarm system is repeatedly sending false alarms, the violations and penalties stated herein under § 95-12 will apply.
The owner or lessee of any alarm system shall be permitted five false alarms in each calendar year. After that, such owner or lessee shall be subject to the penalty provision of § 95-12.
[Amended 6-28-2005 by Ord. No. 1609; 7-13-2010 by Ord. No. 1818]
A. 
The failure of any person, company, corporation or organization to comply with the requirements of § 95-11 shall be subject to the following notices, fees and/or penalties:
(1) 
Any owner or lessee of an alarm incurring a fifth false alarm for the calendar year will be subject to a written warning of violation.
(2) 
Any owner or lessee of an alarm incurring their sixth through eighth false alarm for the calendar year will be assessed an administrative fee of $50 per violation.
(3) 
Any owner or lessee of an alarm incurring their ninth through 12th false alarm for the calendar year will be assessed an administrative fee of $75 per violation.
(4) 
Any owner or lessee of an alarm incurring their 13th or subsequent false alarm for the calendar year will be assessed an administrative fee of $125 per violation.
B. 
Payment of an assessed administrative fee is due within 30 days from notification of violation.
C. 
Nothing listed in this chapter shall be construed as to prohibit other sanctions provided herein from being levied against persons, corporations, organizations or businesses who violate § 95-11. Any owner, lessee or user of an alarm system who has not made proper payment on assessed false alarm violation fees may be prosecuted under the provisions in this section of the chapter. The fine for violation of § 95-11 shall, upon conviction in Municipal Court, be subjected to a fine of no more than $2,000, imprisonment for not more than 90 days and/or a period of community service for not more than 90 days. Each day's failure to comply with such provision shall constitute a separate violation.
[Amended 12-13-2016 by Ord. No. 1951-2016]
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Editor's Note: Former § 95-12, Appeal of an assessed false alarm, was repealed 7-13-2010 by Ord. No. 1818. This ordinance also redesignated former § 95-13, Violations and penalties, as § 95-12. See also § 241-16, Payment of false alarm fees required prior to issuance of license.