As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings
indicated below:
ALARM DEVICE
A.
Any device which, when activated by a criminal act, fire or other emergency
calling for Police or Fire Department response:
(1)
Transmits a signal to the Central Dispatch Center;
(2)
Transmits a signal to a person who relays information to the Central
Dispatch Center; or
(3)
Produces an audible or visible signal to which the Central Dispatch
Center is expected to respond.
B.
Excluded from this definition and the scope of this chapter are devices
which are designated to alert or signal only persons within the premises in
which the device is installed.
ALARM USER
Any individual, partnership, corporation or other form of association
that owns or leases a security alarm system or on whose premises a security
alarm system is maintained for the protection of the premises. This term does
not apply to municipal facilities and establishments.
AUTOMATIC DIAL ALARM
A security alarm system with a device that automatically dials, mechanically
or electronically, the Central Dispatch Center emergency assistance telephone
lines without human activation.
CENTRAL STATION
An office to which remote alarm devices transmit signals where the
operators monitor those signals and relay information to the Central Dispatch
Center or Police or Fire Departments.
CHIEF OF POLICE
The Chief of Police of the Town of Branford or the Chief's designee.
CONTRACTOR
Any person, firm or corporation in the business of supplying and
installing alarm devices or servicing the same.
FALSE ALARM
The activation of an alarm device to which the Police or Fire Department
responds and which the activation is not caused by break-in, a fire or other
emergency. "False alarm" does not include the activation of an alarm device
by violent weather conditions or other extraordinary circumstances beyond
the control of the alarm user.
This chapter, including all registration requirements, shall be administered
by the First Selectman or his designee, who shall be known as the "administrator."
The administrator shall notify the alarm user of any false alarm charge
by mail. Within 30 days of receipt of such notice, the alarm user may file
with the administrator information to show that the alarm was not a false
alarm within the meaning of this chapter. Such information may include documentation
from the alarm user's telecommunications and/or alarm provider that the activation
of the alarm device was caused by malfunctioning equipment.
Each alarm user shall register such alarm device within 60 days of installation.
The form for registration will be available at the office of the Town Clerk
and at police and fire headquarters. After December 31, 1999, an alarm user
who has not registered his or her alarm device may be assessed a fine of $25.
Such fine will be assessed if the Fire or Police Department responds to a
false alarm from an unregistered alarm device. The fine will double if not
paid within 90 days of assessment.
No automatic dial alarm may be installed after September 1, 1997. No
automatic alarm device in use on such date may remain in use after October
1, 1999.
Unless otherwise required by law, no alarm device which produces an
exterior audible signal shall be installed unless its operation is automatically
restricted to a maximum of 10 minutes. Within 60 days of enactment of this
chapter, preexisting alarms which produce an exterior audible sound shall
be retrofitted so that they are automatically deactivated after no more than
10 minutes.
When the administrator determines that the Police or Fire Department
has responded to a false alarm, the administrator shall assess a charge on
the responsible alarm user according to the following schedule:
A. For the first three false alarms within the Town's fiscal
year, provided that the alarm device has been properly registered as defined
in this chapter: no charge.
B. For the fourth and each subsequent false alarm within
the same fiscal year: $50 per occurrence.
C. Registration fee: see §
114-5, Registration.