[HISTORY: Adopted by the Common Council of the City of Lockport 4-22-1992.[1] Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Fire prevention — See Ch. 98.
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance also superseded former Ch. 52,
Alarm Systems, adopted 10-15-1986.
A.
For the purpose of this chapter, the following terms,
phrases, words and their derivations shall have the meanings given herein.
When not inconsistent with the context, words used in the present tense include
the future; words used in the plural number include the singular number; and
words in the singular number include the plural number. The word "shall" is
always mandatory and not merely directory.
B.
ALARM SYSTEM
ALARM USER OR SUBSCRIBER
AUTOMATIC DIALING DEVICE
CENTRAL STATION
CITY
COMMUNICATIONS CONSOLE
DIRECT CONNECT
FALSE ALARM
(1)
(2)
(3)
INTERCONNECT
POLICE OR POLICE DEPARTMENT
POLICE CHIEF
PUBLIC NUISANCE
For the purpose of this chapter, the following terms,
phrases, words and their derivations shall have the meanings given herein:
An assembly of equipment and devices such as a solid state unit which
plugs directly into a one-hundred-ten volt AC power line or operates on battery
power, arranged to signal the presence of a hazard requiring urgent attention
and to which the Police and/or Fire Department(s) are expected to respond.
[Amended 10-5-2005]
Any person, business or corporation on whose premises an alarm system
is maintained within the City except for alarm systems on motor vehicles.
Excluded from this definition and from the coverage of this chapter are central
station personnel and persons, businesses or corporations who use alarm systems
to alert or signal persons within the premises in which the alarm system is
located of an attempted unauthorized intrusion, fire or holdup attempt. If
such a system, however, employs an audible signal emitting sounds or a flashing
light or beacon designed to signal persons outside the premises, such system
shall be within the definition of alarm system as that term is used in this
chapter, and shall be subject to this chapter.
[Amended 10-5-2005]
An alarm system which automatically sends over regular telephone
lines, by direct connection or otherwise, digital data or a prerecorded voice
message indicating the existence of the emergency situation that the alarm
system is designed to detect.
An office to which remote alarm and supervisory signaling devices
are connected, where operators supervise circuits or where guards are maintained
continuously to investigate signals.
The City of Lockport.
The alarm console receiving terminal which, through both visual and
audible signals, indicates activation of an alarm system at a particular location
or which indicates line trouble.
An alarm system which has the capability of transmitting system signals
to the communications console at the Police Department Communications Center.
The activation of an alarm system through mechanical failure, malfunction,
improper installation or negligence of the user of an alarm system or of his
employees or agents.
Any signal or oral communication transmitted to the Police Department
requesting, requiring or resulting in a response on the part of the Police
or Fire Department when, in fact, there has been no fire, unauthorized intrusion
or attempted unauthorized intrusion into a premises and no attempted robbery
or burglary at a premises.
Excluded from this definition are activations of alarm systems caused
by extended power outage, hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes and similar conditions.
To connect an alarm system to a voice grade telephone line, either
directly or through a mechanical device that utilizes a standard telephone,
for the purpose of using the telephone line to transmit an emergency message
or signal upon activation of the alarm system.
The City of Lockport Police Department, or any authorized agent thereof.
The Chief of Police of the City of Lockport, or his designated representative.
Anything which annoys, injures or endangers the comfort, repose,
health or safety of any person(s) or of any community or neighborhood.
The Police Chief may promulgate such rules as may be necessary for the
implementation of this chapter.
A.
No unauthorized automatic dialing device shall be interconnected
to any telephone numbers at the Police Department after the effective date
of this chapter.
B.
Within six months after the effective date of this chapter,
all unauthorized automatic dialing devices interconnected to any telephone
numbers at the Police Department shall be disconnected therefrom. The user
of each such device shall be responsible for having the device disconnected
upon notification by the Police Chief.
Any person using an automatic dialing device may have the device interconnected
to a telephone line transmitting directly to:
A.
All alarms must be authorized by the Chief of Police
prior to being connected to the Lockport Police Department.
B.
The alarm user or the alarm business contracting for
servicing the alarm user's system shall be responsible for obtaining
the leased telephone line between the alarm user's premises and the receiving
equipment at the Lockport Police Department and for furnishing the appropriate
interface equipment, if required, in order to provide an input signal which
is compatible with the receiving equipment used to operate the communications
console.
C.
The provision of this chapter concerning false alarms
shall apply to all alarm users or persons having direct connect or digital
dialer systems.
[Amended 10-5-2005]
A.
Every alarm user shall submit to the Chief of Police
the names and telephone numbers of at least two other persons who can be reached
at any time, day or night, and who are authorized to respond to an emergency
signal transmitted by an alarm system, and who can open the premises wherein
the alarm system is installed. The names, addresses and telephone numbers
of the responders must be kept current at all times by the alarm user.
B.
All alarm systems connected directly to the Police Station
may be equipped with a test device which will give a ten-second delay, or
longer, prior to alarm system activation, in order to warn the alarm user
of an open alarm circuit.
C.
Any alarm system emitting a continuous and uninterrupted signal for more than 30 minutes which cannot be shut off or otherwise curtailed due to the absence or unavailability of the alarm user or those persons designated by him under Subsection A of this section and which disturbs the peace, comfort or repose of a community or a neighborhood of the area where the alarm system is located shall constitute a public nuisance. Upon receiving complaints regarding such a continuous and uninterrupted signal, the Police Chief shall endeavor to contact the alarm user, or members of the alarm user's family, or those persons designated by the alarm user under Subsection A of this section in an effort to abate the nuisance. The Police Chief shall cause to be recorded the names and addresses of all complaints and the time, such complaint was made.
D.
In the event that the Police Chief is unable to contact the alarm user, or members of the alarm user's family, or those persons designated by the alarm user under Subsection A of this section or if the aforesaid persons cannot or will not curtail the audible signal being emitted by the alarm system and if the Police Chief is otherwise unable to abate the nuisance, he may direct a police officer or a fire fighter or a qualified alarm technician to enter upon the property outside the home or building in which the alarm system is located and take any reasonable action necessary to abate the nuisance.
E.
If entry upon property outside the home or building in
which the alarm system is located is made in accordance with this section,
the person so entering upon such property shall not conduct, engage in or
undertake any search, seizure, inspection or investigation while he is upon
the property; shall not cause any unnecessary damage to the alarm system or
to any part of the home or building; and shall leave the property immediately
after the audible signal has ceased.
F.
After an entry upon property has been made in accordance
with this section, the Police Chief shall have the property secured, if necessary.
The reasonable costs and expense of abating a nuisance in accordance with
this section may be assessed to the alarm user, said assessment not to exceed
$50. Within 10 days after abatement of a nuisance in accordance with this
section, the alarm user may request a hearing before the City Council and
may present evidence showing that the signal emitted by his alarm system was
not a public nuisance at the time of the abatement, that unnecessary damage
was caused to his property in the course of the abatement, that the costs
of the abatement should not be assessed to him or that the requirements of
this section were not fulfilled. The Corporation Counsel shall hear all interested
parties and may, in its discretion, excuse the alarm user from paying the
costs of the abatement.
[Amended 10-5-2005]
No alarm system shall be worked on, tested or demonstrated without notifying
the Police Department of such activities. An unauthorized test constitutes
a false alarm.
[Amended 10-5-2005]
Every business establishment within the City of Lockport having an alarm
system shall provide written notice to the Chief of Police listing the names,
addresses and telephone numbers of at least two persons who may be reached
at any time, day or night, who are authorized to respond to any emergency
which has caused the police to be dispatched to said premises. Such notice
shall be submitted during the first month of each year and shall be kept current
at all times reflecting any changes in authorized personnel.
[Amended 10-5-2005]
B.
After the Police Department has recorded three separate
false alarms within the calendar year from an alarm system, any user of an
alarm system which transmits false alarms shall be assessed a fine of $25
for the first false alarm in excess of three occurring within the calendar
year; with each additional false alarm thereafter, the fine will increase
by another $25 until a maximum fine of $100 for each false alarm is reached.
Thereafter, each false alarm will be fined $100 the remainder of the calendar
year. All fines assessed hereunder shall be paid to the City Treasurer for
deposit in the general fund.
C.
The fine shall be billed to the user of the alarm system
which transmits false alarms, a copy of which shall be forwarded to the City
Treasurer, by the Police Chief or his duly-designated representative.
[1]
Editor's Note: Former § 52-10. Fees, was repealed 10-5-2005.
[Amended 10-5-2005]
A.
Thirty days after the billing date, all unpaid fines
set forth in this chapter will become and be a lien upon the property where
such alarm system is located and shall be added to and become a part of the
taxes next to be assessed and levied upon such lot or land and shall bear
interest at the same rate as taxes and shall be collected and enforced by
the same officer and in the same manner as taxes levied and assessed against
such property, or the same may be collected by suit against the user, owner,
or owners in the name of the City.