[HISTORY: Adopted by the Village Board of the Village of
Fox Point 10-24-1972 by Ord. No. 407 (Ch. 32 of the 1961 Code). Amendments
noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Fires and fire prevention — See Ch. 781.
The installation of electrical or mechanical systems known as
burglar alarms or fire alarms in buildings in the Village is increasing.
Through carelessness, improper maintenance, or other causes, a large
number of false alarms are being received from such alarm systems.
Each false alarm requires police response and in some cases fire apparatus
response; this involves unnecessary expense to the Village, increases
the risk of damage to property or injury to persons, and dilutes the
police and fire protection to the rest of the Village. Such false
alarms therefore constitute a public nuisance which must be abated.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
Any device designed for the detection of an unauthorized
entry on premises or for alerting others of the commission of an unlawful
act, or both, or for the detection of a fire, and when actuated gives
a signal, visual or audible or both, or transmits or causes to be
transmitted a signal or message, or both.
A signal from an alarm system, a telephone call to or other
contact with the Police Department resulting in response by the Fox
Point Police Department, when an emergency situation does not exist.
[Amended by Ord. No. 408]
Any individual, partnership, corporation or other entity.
A.
Permit required. A permit shall be required for each alarm system
on premises within the Village on the effective date of this chapter
or installed after such effective date.
C.
Time to acquire. As to those alarm systems now on the premises in
the Village, a permit shall be obtained within 90 days after the effective
date of this chapter. As to any alarm system installed after the effective
date of this chapter, a permit shall be received before the system
is installed.
D.
Interior alarms. A permit under this chapter is not required for
an alarm system which gives a signal, visual or audible or both, solely
within the interior of the building in which it is located.
A.
Issuing authority. The issuing authority shall be the Chief of Police.
B.
Applications. Applications for all permits required under this chapter
shall be filed with the Chief of Police. The Chief of Police shall
prescribe the form of the application and request such information
as is necessary to evaluate and act upon the permit application. The
Chief of Police shall deny a permit if the alarm system for which
it is sought does not comply with this chapter.
A.
Alarm system standards. All alarm systems installed within the Village
shall have the Underwriters Laboratories approval.
B.
The Chief of Police may grant an exception to this requirement when
the alarm system is under testing by the Underwriters Laboratories,
in which case the alarm system may be installed for a period of not
to exceed six months and shall then be removed or disconnected, unless
an extension of time is granted by the Chief of Police or Underwriters
Laboratories approval has been received.
A.
Alarm system permits. No person shall install an alarm system or
use or possess an operative alarm system without having a permit in
accordance with the provisions of this chapter.
B.
False alarm. No person owning, using or possessing an alarm system
shall cause or permit the giving of a false alarm, whether intentional,
accidental or otherwise.
C.
False alarm response service charge. In addition to, and not to the
prejudice or exclusion of, such other penalties and remedies as may
be available to the Village, a false alarm response service charge
may be imposed on real property in the Village where a false alarm
occurs, as described in this subsection.
[Added 4-12-2016 by Ord.
No. 2016-05]
(1)
Each false alarm after the first one occurring within any twelve-month
period shall be subject to a false alarm service charge as established
by the Village Board by separate resolution from time to time.
(2)
A false alarm service charge may be waived upon presentation by the
applicant responsible for the same of evidence which satisfies the
Village Manager or his designee that the false alarm was occasioned
by causes other than negligence, carelessness or inadequate or improper
maintenance.
A.
Hearing. Before a permit issued pursuant to this chapter may be revoked,
a hearing must be held before the Chief of Police. Notice setting
forth the time, place and nature of the hearing shall be sent by mail
or delivered to the permittee at the address shown on the permit application
not less than seven days prior to said hearing.
B.
Grounds for revocation. The Chief of Police may revoke a permit on
the following grounds:
C.
Appeals. Any permittee may appeal the decision of the Chief of Police
by filing a written notice of appeal with the Village Clerk/Treasurer
within 10 days after the decision.
(1)
Such appeal shall be heard by the Board of Trustees within 30 days
after the filing of the appeal and that body may affirm, amend or
reverse the decision or take other action deemed appropriate.
(2)
An appeal timely taken suspends the revocation until the Board of
Trustees gives its decision.
(3)
The Village Clerk/Treasurer shall give written notice of the time
and place of the hearing to the appellant. Such notice shall be given
by registered or certified mail or personal delivery not less than
seven days before the hearing.
(4)
In conducting the hearing, the Village Board shall not be limited
by the technical rules of evidence.
[Amended 12-10-1986 by Ord. No. 86-539]
A.
Need. Certain alarm systems include a dialer so that when the system
is actuated, the dialer automatically dials the police station using
the regular telephone lines and repeatedly giving its recorded message.
This ties up incoming lines to the police station, thus interfering
with other emergency calls and the proper and orderly operation of
the Fire and Police Departments.
B.
Automatic dialers. No person, firm or corporation except the North
Shore Water Commission shall use or cause to be used any telephone
or electronic device or attachment that automatically selects a public
telephone trunk line of the Police Department, Fire Department, or
any other department, bureau, office, officer or employee of the Village
of Fox Point and then reproduces a prerecorded message to report a
burglary, fire, or other emergency.
[Added 11-11-2014 by Ord.
No. 2014-08]
When any premises located in the Village of Fox Point are owned, leased, or occupied by two or more persons as joint tenants, tenants in common, or joint lessees, or in any other manner, it is the responsibility of each of such persons to see that the provisions of this chapter are complied with and each of such persons may be subjected to a penalty on violation of this chapter as provided by § 441-9.
