The purpose of this chapter is to provide standards
and regulations for various types of intrusion, burglar and other
emergency alarm equipment, whether by producing a visual or audible
signal or whether by direct line, radio, telephone or other means
activating a device requiring a response thereto by the Township of
Rochelle Park Police Department.
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 or other municipal agencies of the Township of Rochelle Park
to any location in response to any type of alarm signal.
As used in this chapter, the following terms
shall have the meanings indicated:
ALARM SYSTEM
Equipment or a device or any assembly of equipment and devices
designated to signal the presence of an emergency or hazard to which
the Police Department, Fire Department, ambulance or other municipal
agencies may be expected to respond. In this chapter, the term "alarm
system" shall include, but shall not necessarily be limited to, the
terms "local alarm," "digital transmitter alarms," "direct wire alarms"
and "automatic dialer alarms."
[Amended 11-21-1994 by Ord. No. 683A]
CHIEF OF POLICE
The Chief of Police of the Township of Rochelle Park or his
designated representative.
DESIGNATED REPRESENTATIVE
The designated representative of the Chief of Police to perform
a function required or permitted by this chapter. Designated representative
shall be limited to members of the Township of Rochelle Park Police
Department.
DIAL ALARM
Any type of alarm system using telephone lines transmitting
an alarm directly through the police switchboard providing warning
of intrusion or other peril.
FALSE ALARM
Any alarm or signal of an alarm system actuated by inadvertence,
negligence or any intentional or unintentional act of a person other
than an intruder or the use of the alarm system for other than its
intended purpose, including any alarm or signal caused by mechanical
failure, malfunctioning or improper installation of the alarm system.
[Amended 11-21-1994 by Ord. No. 683A]
FIRE DEPARTMENT
The Fire Department of the Township of Rochelle Park.
[Added 11-21-1994 by Ord. No. 683A]
LICENSEE
The person who holds the license to install, operate and
maintain the alarm console pursuant to the provisions of this chapter.
LOCAL ALARM
Any alarm system which, when activated, produces a signal
not connected to the alarm console or the police switchboard, such
as store burglar alarms actuating bell devices providing warning of
intrusion or other peril. The local alarm shall not include an alarm
system on a motor vehicle, provided that said motor vehicle alarm
is not interconnected with an alarm device, a dial alarm or local
alarm. The term local alarm shall also not include equipment designed
to signal solely within the building or series of buildings if owned
by the same person on which it is located and which is not designed
to emit signals visible or audible to persons outside such buildings
or building.
PERMITTEE
Any person who owns an alarm device who has obtained a permit
according to the provisions of this chapter.
PERSON
Any natural person or individual or any firm, partnership,
association, limited partnership, sole proprietorship or corporation
or any business entity.
[Amended 11-21-1994 by Ord. No. 683A]
A. No dial alarm shall be permitted unless it shall have
first been registered with the Chief of Police as hereinafter required
and approved by the Chief of Police and approval thereof by the New
Jersey Bell Telephone Company and a test conducted by the alarm owner
or on his own behalf.
B. No dial alarm shall be coded to dial the general police
number. All dial alarms shall be coded to dial a neighbor, relative
or other third party.
C. All dial alarms shall be capable of being disconnected
to allow a call to police headquarters in the event of a false alarm.
D. All permittees will be required to register their
alarm system with the Chief of Police on a form that shall include,
among other data, the name, address and twenty-four-hour telephone
number of the alarm installer or person responsible for its maintenance;
the name, address and telephone number of three persons, other than
the permittee, to be contacted in the event of an alarm; the person
responsible to remit any fees or fines assessed under this chapter;
and all other information as may be required by the Chief of Police.
The fee for new alarms for commercial, industrial, retail and multifamily
premises shall be $100. The fee for new single-family residence alarms
shall be $25.
[Amended 11-9-2011 by Ord. No. 1043-11]
E. Owners of dial alarms shall be governed by the false
alarm procedures and penalties set forth in this chapter.
F. Except as provided hereunder, or as otherwise permitted
by the Township Committee, no person shall be permitted to have any
direct leased telephone line with the Police Department headquarters
for an alarm system.
[Added 11-21-1994 by Ord. No. 683A]
A. If three false alarms occur in a calendar year (January
1 to December 31), the permittee shall, within three working days
after written notice to do so, complete a written notice to the Chief
of Police setting forth the cause of the false alarms, if known, the
corrective action taken, whether the alarm system has been inspected
by an alarm service company and such other information as the Chief
of Police may reasonably require.
C. If a permittee fails to pay the service fee called
for above, this shall be a violation of this chapter.
[Added 11-21-1994 by Ord. No. 683A]
A. It shall be unlawful for any local alarm to ring or
put forth any other sound for a period of longer than 20 minutes.
In addition to the penalty for violating this provision, any violation
of this requirement shall constitute a false alarm and be subject
to the service charges specified above.
B. All persons owning an audible intrusion, panic or
fire alarm that is not monitored by an alarm company shall locate
the audible service device on the outside of the structure in plain
view. If used for fire alarm, the device shall be red in color and
shall be labeled "Fire Alarm." All other audible devices shall be
any other color with the exception of red.
[Added 11-21-1994 by Ord. No. 683A]
In addition to the general requirements specified
in this chapter, automatic dialer alarms and direct digital transmitter
alarms located in the Township of Rochelle Park shall be subject to
the following requirements:
A. Automatic dialer alarms and digital transmitter alarms
shall be coded to dial a central alarm station or other monitor, other
than the Township of Rochelle Park Police Department.
B. Any alarms received by the Rochelle Park Police Department
from an automatic dialer alarm or digital transmitter alarm shall
be subject to the charges provided for false alarms.
[Added 11-21-1994 by Ord. No. 683A]
A. Every permittee shall, by acceptance of the permit,
be deemed as having consented to inspection of the premises on which
said alarm devices are located at reasonable hours by the Chief of
Police or his designated representative.
B. Any unauthorized equipment may be disconnected by
the Chief of Police or his designated representative for noncompliance
with this chapter. Any person maintaining or installing unauthorized
equipment shall be prosecuted for violation of this chapter.
C. Any permittee utilizing the services of any alarm
company shall provide for a representative to be on call at all times,
and such service shall be provided immediately, when necessary, after
notification by the Police Department of any malfunction of any equipment
or false alarm.
D. The Chief of Police may revoke any license or permit
10 days after written notice has been served upon the alarm owner
for failure to make the proper repairs or comply with this chapter
after previous written notice has been served by the Chief of Police
requesting said repairs or compliance for a violation. If, within
the ten-day period, the alarm owner furnishes sufficient proof, as
may be required by the Chief of Police, that the alarm system has
been repaired and the violation(s) corrected, the Chief of Police
may rescind the revocation order.
[Added 11-21-1994 by Ord. No. 683A]
The Chief of Police may from time to time promulgate
rules and regulations supplementing this chapter in order to provide
for the efficient management of said system, provided that the Mayor
and Township Committee must first approve said rules or any changes
thereto.
[Added 11-21-1994 by Ord. No. 683A; amended 11-9-2011 by Ord. No. 1043-11]
Any person found guilty of a violation of this chapter shall be subject to a fine of not less than $100 and not more than $1,000 or imprisonment for not more than 30 days, or both, exclusive of any other fees which may have been imposed under §
55-12. The fees imposed by §
55-12 shall be payable in addition to any fine imposed under this section.
[Added 11-21-1994 by Ord. No. 683A]
The following alarms are exempt from the false
alarm charge and alarm fees imposed by this chapter:
B. Alarms in the public schools located in the Township
of Rochelle Park.
C. Alarms in the municipally owned buildings located
in the Township of Rochelle Park.
[Added 11-21-1994 by Ord. No. 683A; amended 11-9-2011 by Ord. No. 1043-11]
A. The charges
for false alarms at commercial/industrial, office or multifamily property
shall be as follows:
(1) Second
false alarm in a calendar year: $100.
(2) Third
false alarm in a calendar year: $250.
(3) Fourth
false alarm in a calendar year: $500.
(4) Fifth
and subsequent false alarms in a calendar year: $1,000/alarm.
B. Charges
for false alarms for one- and two-family residences shall be as follows:
(1) Second
and subsequent false alarms: $50/alarm.