[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Committee of the Township of Freehold
by Ord. No. O-82-36 (§ 7-12 of the Revised General
Ordinances). Amendments noted where applicable.]
The purpose of this chapter is to provide standards and regulations
for various types of intrusion, burglar, fire and other emergency alarm devices
and equipment, whether they operate by producing a visual or audible signal
and whether by direct line, radio, telephone or other means of activating
a device requiring response thereto by the Police Department, Fire Department
or other agencies serving the municipality.
The provisions of this chapter shall apply to alarm businesses and to any person who operates, maintains or owns any alarm device, dial alarm or local alarm designed to produce a visual or audible signal of an emergency or designed to summon the Police Department, Fire Department or any agency serving the municipality to any location in response to any type alarm signal. The terms of this chapter shall in no way prohibit alarm companies from providing service by private source to other locations within or without the Township, so long as such activity is not connected to the Police Department; except, however, that any person having a premises protected by such an alarm device shall still be responsible for the registration in accordance with § 67-4.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings
indicated:
Any business operated by a person for a profit which engages in the
activity of altering, installing, leasing, maintaining, repairing, replacing,
selling, servicing or responding to an alarm system, or which causes any of
these activities to take place.
The console, panel or collection of devices giving a visual and/or
audio response and located within the confines of the Police or Communications
Department of the Township of Freehold.
Any type of alarm system activating equipment in the alarm console
providing warning of intrusion, fire, smoke, flood or other peril.
Any alarm device or combination of devices installed for one or more
buildings at a location other than the alarm console.
Equipment or a device or an assembly of equipment and devices designed
to signal the presence of an emergency or hazard requiring urgent attention
and to which Police or Fire Department or any other services may be expected
to respond.
Any person designated by the police chief to perform a function required
or permitted by the provision of this chapter. The term "designated representative"
shall be limited to members of the Township Police Department or employees
of the Police Department assigned to and working in the Communications Department.
Any type of alarm using telephone lines transmitting an alarm directly
through the police phone system providing warning of intrusion, fire, smoke,
flood or other peril.
Any alarm or signal of an alarm system actuated by inadvertence,
negligence, intentional or unintentional act of a person other than an intruder,
and shall include, as well, alarms caused by malfunctioning of the alarm device
or other relevant equipment, but shall not include alarms caused by malfunction
of the alarm console or police device.
Any alarm or device which, when actuated, produces a signal not connected
to another source, such as store burglar alarms actuating bell devices.
Any person owning an alarm device or a local alarm within the scope
of this chapter.
The Chief of Police of the Township of Freehold or his designated
representative.
[Amended 12-19-2006 by Ord. No. O-06-46]
A.Â
No person shall install, operate or maintain any alarm
system unless the system has been registered and approved by the Chief of
Police. The Chief of Police may make rules and regulations which interpret
or amplify any provision of this chapter or for the purpose of administering
the provisions of this chapter or making them more effective. No regulation
shall be inconsistent with or alter or amend any provision of this chapter,
and no regulation shall impose any requirements that are expressly or by implication
imposed by any provision of this chapter.
B.Â
The alarm system shall be deemed registered at such time
as the permit is issued. Any person who owns or operates an alarm device or
system, no matter what type, shall make application for a continuance of installation
thereof, in writing, to the Chief of Police, which application shall include,
among other data, the name, type and location of the device; the name, address
and twenty-four-hour telephone number of the alarm installer or person responsible
for its maintenance; a list of a minimum of three persons to be contacted
in the event of an alarm; the person responsible for remitting any fees or
fines assessed under this chapter; and such other information as the Chief
of Police may deem pertinent. Failure to meet these requirements will result
in the denial of a permit to register the alarm.
C.Â
Alarms shall be registered when the occupant or owner of the building in which the alarm is installed shall have filed a registration form with the Chief of Police and received approval of such registration and a fee as provided in Chapter 150, Fees, has been remitted to the Township.
D.Â
No further registration or renewal will be required unless
there is a material change in the information submitted with respect to any
alarm system. It shall be the duty of the owner/occupant of the building served
by an alarm system, within 10 days of any change in the registration information,
to notify the Chief of Police by completing a new registration form. Failure
to comply with these provisions will be deemed violation of this chapter and
will subject the violator to the penalties set forth herein.
E.Â
Notwithstanding the registration of an alarm as herein
required, the Police Department of the Township and the Township have no liability
whatsoever concerning the adequacy, the operation or the maintenance of the
alarm system so installed. The Township hereby assumes no liability whatsoever
for any failure of any such alarm system, the failure to respond to such alarm
or for any act or omission or commission as a result of any such alarm, device
or system. Each person registering an alarm hereby agrees to hold and save
harmless the Township, its agents and/or employees from any liability whatsoever
with any such alarm system or the operation of same.
[Amended 12-27-2005 by Ord. No. O-05-48; 12-19-2006
by Ord. No. O-06-46]
A.Â
The sensory mechanism of alarms shall be adjusted so
as to suppress false indications and not be actuated by impulses due to pressure
changes in water pipes, short flashes of light, wind, noise, rattling or vibrations
of doors, windows, or other forces unrelated to general alarms.
B.Â
All components of alarm equipment shall be maintained by the owner in good repair. Failure to comply with the operational requirements of this chapter shall authorize the Chief of Police to demand that such an alarm be disconnected until such time as compliance is insured. If, upon written notice from the Chief of Police, the owner of an alarm shall fail to disconnect said alarm within 10 days, he shall be liable to a penalty as provided in § 67-10. Each day of continuing violation shall be considered a separate offense under this chapter.
C.Â
No person, firm, or corporation shall install or permit
to be maintained in its premises any automatic dial alarm system, which directly
transmits an alarm or prerecorded message of intrusion directly to the Police
Department of the Township of Freehold.
A.Â
In the event of a false alarm, any person having knowledge
thereof shall immediately notify the Police Department in the manner prescribed
by the rules and regulations. The Chief of Police shall cause an investigation
to be made and keep a record of all false alarms. False alarms, shall result
in the following penalties:
(1)Â
For the first and second alarm in the same twelve-month
period, a warning shall be issued.
(2)Â
For the third false alarm in the same twelve-month period,
a penalty of $15 shall be paid to the Township of Freehold.
(3)Â
For the fourth and subsequent false alarm, a penalty
of $25 shall be paid to the Township of Freehold.
B.Â
If, due to weather conditions, electrical failure, or
other malfunction, three or more false alarms from unrelated locations are
received within 30 minutes of each other, a penalty shall not be assessed
nor shall that alarm be counted for enforcement purposes.
Penalties shall be payable to the Township within 30 days of receipt
of written notice thereof. Failure to remit the required penalty fees due
because of false alarms after written notice to the permittee will result
in police refusal to acknowledge the alarm. Continual violation of the terms
of this chapter may result in disconnection of alarm devices.
[Amended 12-27-2005 by Ord. No. O-05-48; 12-19-2006
by Ord. No. O-06-46]
A.Â
It shall be unlawful for an alarm device, local alarm or other audible alarm to ring or put forth any other sound for a period in excess of 30 minutes. Any such occurrence shall result in a penalty as provided in § 67-10 for each violation.
B.Â
Any person testing an alarm system covered by the provisions
of this chapter shall notify police headquarters or his/her private alarm
monitoring service to assure police are not alerted, immediately prior to
and after testing is completed. Failure to make the required notification
shall subject the owner to the appropriate penalties above.
An alarm owner/user disputing the application of this chapter or the
assessment of a penalty hereunder may request a hearing by the Chief of Police
or a representative designated by the Township Committee by serving a request
therefor upon the Chief of Police within five days of service of a notice
of violation. Such request shall set forth briefly the grounds or reasons
on which the request for a hearing is based and the factual matters contained
in the notice of violation, which are to be disputed at the hearing. The Chief
of Police, upon receipt of the request, shall set a hearing date within 30
days. A decision will be issued within 30 days of the hearing.
