[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Council
of the Township of Galloway 2-27-2001 by Ord. No. 1447. Amendments
noted where applicable.]
Certain words and phrases are used in this chapter
which, for the purpose hereof, are defined as follows:
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.
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.
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.
Any central alarm monitoring station which monitors
alarm equipment located in the township must register with the Township
of Galloway and thereafter report each alarm connected to it which
originates from the township.
[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.
Alarm equipment which utilizes an audible alarm
must be equipped with a timing device which will limit the period
during which the alarms will sound for a maximum of 15 minutes.
Alarm equipment which utilizes voice recordings
are prohibited from dialing any telephone lines utilized by the Township
of Galloway.
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 doing business
in the township must provide the purchaser or lessee of said equipment
with a copy of this chapter and the forms necessary for registering
with the Township of Galloway.
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]
