[Adopted 11-24-1998 by Ord. No. 98-13 as Ch. 48, Art. I, of the 1998 Code]
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
ALARM
The transmission of a signal indicating the presence of an emergency or hazard requiring attention and to which the Police Department, Fire Department, Emergency Medical Services or other municipal agency may be expected to respond.
ALARM COMPANY
Any individual or business contracted by an emergency services registration user to transmit alarms to the Ewing Township Police Department.
ALARM SYSTEM
Equipment, device or combination thereof used to signal an alarm.
AUTOMATIC DIAL ALARM
Any type of alarm system using telephone lines to transmit an alarm to the police switchboard or 9-1-1 network using a taped message to transmit the alarm.
BUSINESS USE
The use of any premises for purposes other than as a residence, excepting home offices that do not receive client or customer visits.
EMERGENCY SERVICES REGISTRATION NUMBER/REGISTRATION DECAL
A number assigned to each emergency services registration as printed on a decal issued by the Ewing Township Police Department.
EMERGENCY SERVICES REGISTRATION USER
The person, firm, partnership, association, corporation, company or other entity in control of any building, structure or facility with an alarm system and all persons voluntarily participating in the Emergency Services Registration Program.
FALSE ALARM
Any alarm causing the response of the Police Department, Fire Department, Emergency Medical Services or other municipal agency where a situation requiring the response does not exist.
A. 
All alarm systems shall be registered with the Ewing Township Police Department on the form prescribed by the Police Department.
B. 
All persons without alarm systems desiring to register basic emergency information with the Police Department may so register on the form prescribed by the Police Department.
C. 
Buildings containing more than one alarm system operated or maintained by separate emergency services registration users shall register each alarm separately.
D. 
No person shall install, operate or maintain any alarm system unless the alarm system has been registered with the Ewing Township Police Department.
E. 
Each registered emergency services registration user shall notify the Ewing Township Police Department of any change in the information provided on the registration form within 10 days of the change.
F. 
Registration of alarm systems on leased premises shall only be issued upon receipt of written authorization by the owner of the premises.
G. 
An emergency services registration number and registration decal shall be issued to each registered emergency services registration user.
H. 
The registration decal shall be displayed on the main entrance to all structures or on a window adjacent to the entrance of all structures in which a business is located. The registration decal must be placed in a position where it can be read and understood by a person standing on the ground.
I. 
Registration does not exempt the emergency services registration user from any requirements of the Uniform Construction Code, the Ewing Township Code or any other applicable law.
J. 
Any residence or business that has an alarm system and is sold to, leased to or occupied by a person or business other than the current registered emergency services registration user shall be required to register with the Ewing Township Police Department on the form prescribed by the Police Department.
K. 
Emergency services registration does not imply that any registered person will receive preferential treatment or extra service. Voluntary registration is provided as a courtesy, and the Township of Ewing does not assume liability for the use of information contained in the registration during response.
L. 
All information provided in the emergency services registration is confidential and is not a public record. The information contained in the emergency services registration will not be provided to anyone other than the registered emergency services user or emergency services personnel responding to an emergency at the premises.
A. 
When reporting an alarm, the emergency services registration user or the alarm company shall provide the emergency services registration number to the Ewing Township Police Department.
B. 
The emergency services registration user shall notify the alarm company used of the emergency services registration number and instruct the alarm company to use the emergency services registration number when reporting an alarm.
A. 
After the occurrence of four or more false alarms in any twelve-month period and upon written notice from the Ewing Township Police Department, the emergency services registration user shall provide a written explanation of the cause(s) of the false alarms and any corrective action taken. The completion of this report shall not exempt the emergency services registration user from any of the penalties hereunder.
B. 
New alarm installations shall be given a sixty-day grace period prior to the imposition of any monetary penalties for false alarms.
The following penalties assessed to the licensee shall be payable within 30 days of written notice by the Ewing Township Police Department, payable to the Township of Ewing:
A. 
False alarms (registered alarm systems).
(1) 
Fourth false alarm in any twelve-month period: $25.
(2) 
Fifth false alarm in any twelve-month period: $50.
(3) 
Sixth false alarm in any twelve-month period: $100.
(4) 
Seventh false alarm in any twelve-month period: $200.
(5) 
Subsequent false alarm(s) in any twelve-month period: $500.
B. 
False alarms (unregistered alarm systems).
(1) 
First false alarm in any twelve-month period: $25.
(2) 
Second false alarm in any twelve-month period: $50.
(3) 
Third false alarm in any twelve-month period: $100.
(4) 
Fourth false alarm in any twelve-month period: $200.
(5) 
Subsequent false alarm(s) in any twelve-month period: $500.
C. 
Failure to register alarm (in addition to false alarm penalty): $25.
D. 
Failure to use emergency services registration number (per offense): $25.
E. 
Improperly displayed registration decal: $25.
F. 
Failure to notify Ewing Township Police Department of alarm test (first offense): $50.
G. 
Failure to notify Ewing Township Police Department of alarm test (subsequent offenses): $100.
Any person testing an alarm system shall notify the Ewing Township Police Department immediately prior to and after the test is complete.
A. 
The Ewing Township Police Department may direct any person subject to this article to correct a defect in the alarm system. Failure to correct the defect shall render the emergency services registration user subject to the penalties set forth in Chapter 1, General Provisions, Article III, General Penalty, in addition to the penalties under this article.
B. 
Any alarm sounding an audible signal shall automatically shut off the audible signal within 15 minutes of the activation of the alarm system. Alarms indicating the presence of a fire or carbon monoxide condition shall be exempt from this requirement.
C. 
Automatic dial alarm(s) are prohibited. Use of an automatic dial alarm shall render the emergency services registration user subject to the penalties set forth in Chapter 1, General Provisions, Article III, General Penalty, in addition to the penalties under this article.
D. 
Alarm company(ies) providing service within the Township of Ewing shall provide the emergency services registration user with a written operation manual and provide system training for the emergency services registration user.
E. 
Each emergency services registration user shall make certain that one or more of the persons listed as contact persons on the registration form will be available to respond in a timely manner to provide access to the building or deactivate the alarm.
A. 
Any municipal, county, state or federal government agency that is an emergency services registration user shall be exempt from the fees and penalties provided herein.
B. 
This article does not apply to any general alerting device used by any fire department, emergency medical service or emergency management to summon a response of its members or to provide an alert.