The purpose of this chapter is to provide uniform standards of control
and regulations for the installation, use and maintenance of burglar, holdup,
medical and/or fire alarm systems within the Town of North Branford; to provide
penalties for noncompliance; and to encourage the installation of protective
alarm systems in all dwellings and commercial structures.
As used in this chapter, 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 Police or Fire Department
personnel are expected to respond. This includes all burglar alarms, fire
alarms, holdup and medical alarms and automatic dialer alarms.
ALARM USER
Any person or company on whose premises any alarm system is maintained
within the Town of North Branford.
AUTOMATIC TELEPHONE DIALING DEVICE
An alarm system which automatically sends, over regular telephone
lines, by direct connection or otherwise, a prerecorded voice message or coded
signal indicating the existence of the emergency situation that the alarm
system is designed to detect. No automatic-type dialer may be installed on
any alarm system after the effective date of this chapter unless equipped
with a device which shall limit the duration of such prerecorded voice message
or coded signal to not more than five (5) minutes.
FALSE ALARM
The activation of an alarm system through mechanical failure, malfunction,
improper installation or the negligence of the owner or lessee of an alarm
system or of his employees or agents. Such terminology does not include, for
example, alarms caused by hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, floods or other
normally infrequent violent conditions or acts of God. Excluded from this
chapter are false alarms that are transmitted with criminal, malicious or
mischievous intent. Such violations will be prosecuted under the applicable
General Statutes of the State of Connecticut.
Any nonconforming automatic-type dialer in use as of the effective date of this chapter may remain in use for more than six (6) months or until sale of the property or until such alarm system device is rendered in conformity with §
108-4B hereof, whichever occurs first.
All alarm systems, as defined in this chapter, which sound an audible
signal which may be heard outside of the protected premises shall be equipped
with a device which shall limit the duration of such audible signal to not
more than thirty (30) minutes in accordance with Sections 22a-67 and 22a-69
of the General Statutes of the State of Connecticut.
The Chief of Police may revoke the privilege of having equipment and
indicators in the communication center of North Branford Police Headquarters
if the owner or lessee and/or alarm equipment supplier fail to comply with
any requirements of this chapter where the alarm system actuates excessive
false alarms and thereby constitutes a public nuisance.
The North Branford Police Department may require removal of the equipment
within seven (7) days from receipt of written notice, exclusive of Saturdays,
Sundays and holidays, at the expense of such owner or lessee and/or alarm
equipment suppliers. Failure to remove said equipment and indicators as specified
shall result in the town doing so at the expense of the person(s) so notified.
In determining whether an alarm is a false alarm, all circumstances
shall be considered. Setting off an alarm may cause a person who was attempting
a break-in to flee. In investigating whether an alarm is false, a careful
check will be made for signs of break-in attempts.