Township of Pemberton, NJ Alarms and Alarm Systems

Any device employed to call attention to or provide warning of fire or intrusion by any person, whether the same provides a visual or audio response, alarm or warning. The term "alarm system" shall not include:

Concealed battery- or electrical-powered smoke detector or carbon monoxide detector units located within single-family residences and which give out an audible signal;

Automobile alarm systems; or

An alarm designed to alert only the inhabitants of a premises that does not have a sounding device which can be heard on the exterior of the alarm site.

CENTRAL ALARM STATION

An alarm station that transmits the alarm to an alarm processing center, which then calls to dispatch police and/or fire personnel.

DIAL ALARM

An alarm device using telephone or other lines, which transmits an alarm signal of fire or intrusion to Burlington County Central Communications and/or the Pemberton Township Police Department.

FALSE ALARM

Any alarm or signal activated or transmitted by inadvertent, negligent, unintentional or intentional act or omission of a person (caused or transmitted other than by an intruder), and shall also include alarms caused by malfunctioning of the alarm device or other related equipment. False alarms shall not include:

Activation caused by power- or phone-line interruptions when such interruptions have been reported to Burlington County Central Communications and/or the Pemberton Township Police Department; and

An alarm which is cancelled by the owner-registrant or agent prior to the time the responding police officer or fire apparatus is dispatched to the alarm site; and

When the responding police officer finds evidence of criminal offense or attempted criminal offense or calamity, such as fire damage by natural elements.

§ 141-2 General regulations.

The provisions of this section shall not apply to any alarm system installed on the property owned or occupied by any Township, county, state or federal government agency or office or to any alarm device having only an indoor audible or visual/flashing system and which are not dial alarm devices.

Alarm devices having an audible alarm installed out of doors shall be designed to limit the operation of a bell or sound-producing instrument to a maximum of 20 minutes after activation. If the duration of an outside activated audible alarm exceeds 20 minutes, the warnings and penalties provided by § 141-5 of this article shall apply as though a false alarm has been activated.

§ 141-3 Applicability.

The provisions of this article shall apply to any person who owns, operates, leases or maintains any type of alarm or alarm system or maintains a central alarm station, each as defined in § 141-1. The provisions of this article shall in no way prohibit service by a private source to persons within or without the Township, so long as such operating, leasing or maintaining of premises protected by an alarm system shall be in accordance with this article.

It shall be unlawful for any person to cause, allow or activate a false alarm, as defined in this article. In case of a false alarm, any person and any registrant who violates this article shall each be subject to the provisions of this article. In case of a false alarm, any person having knowledge of the false alarm shall immediately notify the Township Department of Community Development.

§ 141-4 Investigation of false alarms; notice; complaint; enforcement.

The Fire Chief and/or the Police Chief, or their respective designees, shall maintain a record of false alarms which pertain to their respective area of responsibility. When a false alarm is not the result of a reasonably unforeseeable and unpreventable outside cause but resulted from causes such as misuse, accident, improper supervision or equipment malfunction, the Fire Chief and/or Police Chief shall provide a report to the Director of Community Development within seven days thereof, which report may include recommended corrective measures. The Director of Community Development shall provide written notice of a false alarm to the owner and/or tenant, and order corrective measures. This article shall be enforced by the Department of Community Development and the Pemberton Township Police Department.

§ 141-5 Violations and penalties.

In addition to any other penalties issued pursuant to state law or regulations for improper installation or maintenance, the occurrence of a false alarm shall subject the owner and/or tenant, jointly and severally, to the penalties as set forth below:

For the first and second false alarm offense in any calendar year, a written warning.

For the third false alarm offense in any calendar year, a penalty not to exceed $250.

For the fourth false alarm offense in a calendar year, a penalty not to exceed $500.

For the fifth false alarm offense in a calendar year, a penalty not to exceed $1,000.

For the sixth and subsequent false alarm offenses in a calendar year, a penalty not to exceed $2,000.

§ 141-6 Responsibility for penalty; lien.

The owner and/or tenant of the property shall be responsible for any penalties issued in accordance with § 141-5 set forth above. In the event the penalties are not satisfied by the owner and/or tenant of the property within 60 days of the date of the notice from the Township to the owner and/or tenant of the property, said penalties shall be certified by the local enforcement agency to the Tax Collector of the Township of Pemberton, and shall forthwith become a lien upon the property in question and shall be added and become part of the taxes next to be assessed and levied upon such property, the same to bear interest at the same rate as other taxes, and shall be collected and enforced by the same officers in the same manners as taxes.