The purpose of this chapter is to provide minimum standards and regulations
applicable to alarm systems and alarm system owners/users, as defined in this
chapter. The responsible usage of alarm systems is the primary goal of this
chapter, and the Town of Simsbury mandates that the following chapter be complied
with in order to enhance the safety of the residents of Simsbury as well as
the safety of Simsbury police officers, firefighters and volunteer ambulance
personnel responding to alarms.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings
indicated:
ALARM BUSINESS
Any business operated for a profit which engages in the activity
of installing, leasing, maintaining, servicing, monitoring, receiving or responding
to alarm systems, including burglar, holdup, panic, fire or medical alert
alarm systems, or which causes any of these activities to take place.
ALARM SYSTEM
Any assemblage of equipment and devices (or a single device, such
as a solid-state unit, that plugs directly into a one-hundred-ten-volt AC
line) arranged to signal the presence of a hazard requiring urgent attention
of the Police Department, the Fire Department or the Volunteer Ambulance Service.
ALARM SYSTEM OWNER/USER
A person who buys and/or leases or otherwise obtains an alarm system
and thereafter installs it or has it installed and contracts with an alarm
business to monitor and/or service the alarm system. The term "alarm system
owner/user" shall also mean a person who has control of premises in which
an operable alarm system is installed.
FALSE ALARM
The activation of an alarm system through the mechanical failure,
improper monitoring, malfunction, improper installation or negligence of the
alarm system owner/user or his employees, agents or family. "False alarms"
do not include activations of alarm systems caused by fire, criminal act or
other emergency; an act of nature, such as an earthquake, tornado or hurricane;
circumstances which are not within the control of the alarm system owner/user;
or failure of telephone company equipment used for the transmitting of alarms
from premises or property to a monitoring location.
FIRE ALARM SYSTEM
Any heat-activated, smoke-activated, flame-activated or other such
automatic device capable of transmitting a fire alarm signal to a central
station operating company. All fire alarms shall be installed, tested, and
maintained in accordance with the Connecticut State Fire Code and applicable
building codes.
FIRE MARSHAL
The person appointed as Fire Marshal by the President of the Simsbury
Fire District, or such person's designee.
INTRUSION ALARM SYSTEM
Any alarm system which transmits an alarm signal to a central station
operating company indicating a burglary, robbery or other intrusion into a
building or which emits or causes to be emitted an audible alarm signal.
MEDICAL ALARM SYSTEM
Any alarm system which transmits an alarm signal to a central station
operating company indicating that a person is in need of medical assistance.
PERSON
Any person, firm, partnership, association, corporation, company
or organization of any kind.
POLICE CHIEF
The Chief of the Police Department of the Town of Simsbury, Connecticut,
or his designee.
POLICE DEPARTMENT
The Police Department of the Town of Simsbury, Connecticut, or any
authorized agent thereof.
RECORDED MESSAGING ALARM SYSTEM
A signaling device that dials a predetermined number when the alarm
system signals an intrusion or attempted intrusion and audibly reports such
an intrusion or attempted intrusion from a recorded message at the premises.
TOWN
The Town of Simsbury, Connecticut.
A violation of any provision of this chapter shall be an infraction
as provided for in Connecticut General Statutes Sections 51-164m and 51-164n.
Pursuant to Connecticut General Statutes Section 51-164p, any violation of
any provision of this chapter shall be punishable by a fine of not more than
$90 for each offense.
Neither the Town of Simsbury nor any fire district within the the town
shall be liable for any defects in operation of any alarm system, for any
failure or neglect to respond appropriately upon receipt of an alarm from
such a source or for any failure or neglect of any person in connection with
the installation, operation, disconnection or removal of equipment, the transmission
of alarm signals or the relaying of such signals or messages.
If any section, clause, provision or portion of this chapter shall be
held to be invalid or unconstitutional by any court of competent jurisdiction,
such holding shall not affect or impair any other section, clause, provision
or portion of this chapter.
This chapter shall take effect July 14, 1994.