This chapter shall be known and be cited as the "Alarm Ordinance for the Town of Bethel, Maine."
[Amended 6-11-2003]
The purpose of this chapter is to establish appropriate guidelines for the response to alarms by the Bethel Police Department,[1] Bethel Fire Department, and Bethel Ambulance Department within the Town of Bethel, Maine.
[1]
Editor's Note: The Bethel Police Department was abolished on July 1, 2010. Police services are provided to the Town by the Oxford County Sheriff's Department.
For the purpose of this chapter, certain terms or words used herein shall be interpreted or defined as follows:
ALARM SYSTEM
A system, including any mechanism, equipment or device, designed to automatically transmit or cause the transmission of a signal, message or warning from a private facility (i.e., residential or commercial) to the Oxford County Regional Communications Center, or to cause the activation of an audible device whose purpose or result is to obtain emergency response by the Town's police, fire or ambulance services.
[Amended 6-11-2003; 6-12-2024 ATM by Art. 12]
AUDIBLE ALARM
An alarm system which causes an audible signal to sound at or near the alarm premises for the purpose of obtaining emergency services.
E-911
The system in which the caller, location and phone number of an emergency call can be traced through the Oxford County Regional Communications Center.
[Amended 6-12-2024 ATM by Art. 12]
E-911 HANG-UP
A 911 call that is received by the Oxford County Regional Communications Center whereupon the caller fails to identify himself or herself and/or the nature of the call by hanging up the telephone prior to speaking with members of the dispatch center.
[Amended 6-12-2024 ATM by Art. 12]
NONEMERGENCY 911 CALL
Whereupon a caller either intentionally or inadvertently utilizes the E-911 system for a nonemergency call.
NONEMERGENCY ALARMS
Signals transmitted by an alarm system as a result of human error or equipment malfunction.
OWNER
Any person or persons, firm, association, or corporation owning, renting, in possession of, in control of, or occupying a residence, building or structure equipped with an alarm system as defined in this section.