[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Trustees of the Village of Montebello 3-18-1992 by L.L. No. 1-1992. Amendments noted where applicable.]
This chapter shall be known as the "Automated Alarm Systems Law of the Village of Montebello."
The Police Department of the Town of Ramapo has reported to the Village Board extraordinary numbers of false alarms emanating from automated alarm systems. These false alarms unnecessarily require that our police and volunteer fire departments respond in an emergency fashion to signals which should not have been created in the first place, depriving the citizens of this Village from the sorely needed services of our emergency forces and expose the police and firemen to unnecessary hazards and risks. Therefore, it is the intent of this chapter to reduce the occurrence of false alarms and provide a mechanism whereby those responsible for the creation of these false alarms to be dealt with in an appropriate fashion. It is not the intent to discourage the use of automated equipment, but rather to encourage the use of automated equipment that fulfills the function it is intended to perform. To facilitate enforcement the Police Department has requested standardized legislation within its jurisdiction. This chapter complies with that request and is enacted by authority of § 20, Subdivision 5, of the Municipal Home Rule Law and all other statutory authority.
For the purposes of this chapter, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
ALARM DEVICE
A mechanical, electrical, or electronic device which when activated, will transmit a signal, which is intended to create a response from either a fire department or police department, or other emergency service, whether or not the signal generated be audible, visible or electronic, and whether such signal be automatic or otherwise.
ALARM INSTALLER
Any person, firm, corporation or business entity which has installed and/or receives compensation for service or maintenance of a burglar or fire alarm device from an alarm user.
ALARM USER
Any person, firm, corporation or business entity, upon whose premises an alarm device is installed or operating.
FALSE ALARM
A signal transmitted to either fire or police departments, or a central alarm station, or an outside audible signal indicating that a fire or criminal act or emergency is occurring, when in fact neither a criminal act or fire or emergency is occurring.
POLICE DEPARTMENT
Police Department of the Town of Ramapo or such department which, at the time, may then be providing police services to the Village.
PREMISES
Any building, dwelling, or residence on which an alarm device has been installed.
A. 
It shall be unlawful for any alarm installer to install an alarm device or system of alarm devices or for an alarm user to own, have or maintain the same on a premises without registering the same with the Police Department within 10 days after the installation of said alarm devices. Said registration shall provide the following information:
(1) 
Name, home address and telephone number of the owner(s).
(2) 
Business address and telephone numbers of the owner(s).
(3) 
Name, address and telephone number of any person living within the Town of Ramapo who shall be deemed to be a caretaker, handyman or person watching the premises for the owner, if there be any such person.
(4) 
Name, address and telephone number of the company which owns, leases, rents, installs and/or maintains the alarm device or system of alarm devices.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. III).
B. 
Each person submitting registration information shall receive an alarm device system registration permit which must be prominently displayed on the premises where the alarm device system is located.
C. 
All existing alarm users must register their alarm device or system of alarm devices within 90 days of the effective date of this chapter.
Any alarm installer contracted to install an alarm device or system of alarm devices must be licensed to perform home improvement pursuant to a license issued by the Rockland County Office of Consumer Protection and must possess a state license issued pursuant to Article 6-B of the General Business Law.
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. III).
It shall be unlawful for any alarm user or alarm installer to permit or allow an alarm device to signal a false alarm whether intentionally or unintentionally, or whether due to malfunction or otherwise.
If an alarm device activates an outside audible signal, such outside audible signal cannot be broadcast for more than 30 minutes after initial activation.
[Amended 5-17-2024 by L.L. No. 1-2024]
A. 
A violation of §§ 42-4 and 42-5 shall be punishable by a fine of not less than $100 nor more than $250.
B. 
Any person convicted of a violation of § 42-6 or 42-7 of this chapter, within one year after the issuance of a warning to such person or to any member of his household or to an agent, shall be subject to the following penalties for all subsequent false alarms occurring after 72 hours after the issuance of said first warning:
(1) 
For initial false alarm: warning only.
(2) 
For first false alarm after warning, within a one-year period after the issuance of a warning: $150.
(3) 
For second false alarm after warning, within a one-year period after the issuance of the initial warning: $250.
(4) 
For each subsequent false alarm after warning, within a one-year period after the issuance of the initial warning: $500.
C. 
If a false alarm occurs one year or more after the initial warning, a second initial warning shall be issued and be considered as an initial false alarm for the purposes of assessing a penalty.
[Amended 5-17-2024 by L.L. No. 1-2024]
The Police Department, Building Inspector, Assistant Building Inspector, Fire Inspector, Code Enforcement Officer, or any other person expressly authorized by the Board of Trustees shall have the power, right and authority to issue an appearance ticket, as the same is defined in Article 150 of the Criminal Procedure Law of the State of New York, for the violation of any section of this chapter.