[HISTORY: Adopted by the Mayor and Council of the Borough of Netcong
as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]
[Adopted 6-13-1989]
The purpose of this article is to establish regulations governing the
operation and maintenance of certain alarm systems within the Borough of Netcong
and to provide penalties upon conviction for violations of any of the provisions
set forth herein.
For purposes of this article, certain words and phrases shall have the
following meanings:
Any mechanical, electrical or electronic device which is designed
or used for the detection of an unauthorized entry into a building, structure
or facility or for alerting others about the existence of any other condition
requiring the response of police, fire or ambulance personnel, including audible
alarms and subscriber alarms.
A device that emits an audible signal from the premises that it is
designed to protect.
An alarm signal necessitating response by the Netcong Borough police,
fire or ambulance personnel, where a police investigation fails to discover
an emergency situation.
An alarm system that is terminated by direct connection to the Netcong
Borough Police alarm panel.
A.
It shall be the responsibility of all persons, entities,
firms, corporations or other groups that maintain alarm systems within the
Borough to provide current information to the police consisting of the names
and telephone numbers of responsible persons who may be contacted in case
of an alarm or who are authorized to provide service to the alarm system.
Such responsible persons must be available on a twenty-four-hour-a-day basis.
This information shall be filed with the police when the alarm system is initially
placed into service and must be revised immediately whenever changes are necessary.
B.
All persons, entities, firms, corporations or other groups
that maintain alarm systems which have not provided such required information
to the police as of the date of adoption of this article must do so within
90 days thereafter.
Audible alarms must be silenced within 60 minutes after a designated
responsible person is notified to do so by the police, or the alarm system
may be equipped with a timing device that will automatically silence the audible
alarm within 60 minutes after it is actuated.
A.
In the case of all responses by police, fire or ambulance
personnel as a result of an actuated alarm system, the Chief of Police shall
cause an investigation to be made as to the source or cause of the alarm.
A record of such alarms shall be kept on file. Based on said investigation,
the Chief of Police shall determine whether an alarm is a false alarm.
B.
Where the investigation of the Police Department discloses
that the maximum permissible number of false alarms pursuant to this article
has been exceeded and there has been a failure to take sufficient remedial
steps to avoid false alarms, the Chief of Police may require disconnection
from the police alarm panel for a limited or permanent time, provided that
no such disconnection shall occur without giving the individual or business
entity involved an opportunity to show cause before the Chief of Police why
such action should not be taken.
[Amended 7-8-1999 by Ord.
No. 99-15]
A.
It shall be the responsibility of all persons, entities,
firms, corporations or other groups that maintain alarm systems within the
Borough to prevent the transmission of false alarms through a program of training
and periodic inspection and maintenance of the system. The maximum permissible
number of false alarms from any one location shall be as follows:
(1)
Two false alarms in any twelve-month period.
B.
A number of false alarms in excess of these standards
shall constitute a violation of this article.
C.
In any twelve-month period, the following penalties shall
apply:
(1)
For the first and second false alarms, a written warning
shall be issued by the Netcong Borough Police Department.
(2)
For the third and fourth false alarms, a fine of $100
each shall be paid to the Borough.
(3)
For the fifth or subsequent false alarm, a fine of $500
per false alarm shall be paid to the Borough.
D.
Any penalties imposed pursuant to this section shall
be paid in addition to any fines imposed upon conviction of a violation of
this article. A failure to pay any penalty imposed pursuant to this section
shall constitute a violation of this article.
The provisions of this article shall not apply to:
