[HISTORY: Adopted by the City of Norwalk Common Council as
indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]
[Adopted 4-8-1986]
This article shall be known and may be cited as the "Ordinance
Regulating Burglar and Holdup Alarm Systems and Users."
The purpose of this article is to reduce the number of false
alarms and promote the responsible use of alarm devices, thereby improving
the members of the Police Department who must respond to such alarms.
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
Any device or assembly of equipment arranged to signal, audibly
or visibly, the presence of a hazard requiring urgent attention and
to which police and fire personnel are expected to respond. In this
article, the term "alarm system" shall include the terms "automatic
holdup alarm system," "burglar alarm system," "holdup alarm system"
and "manual holdup alarm system." Alarm systems which monitor temperature,
humidity or any other condition not directly related to the detection
of an unauthorized intrusion into a premises or an attempted robbery
or a fire or smoke condition at a premises are specifically excluded
from the provisions of this article.
Any person on whose premises an alarm system is maintained
within the City of Norwalk, except alarm systems on motor vehicles
or proprietary alarms. If, however, an alarm system on a motor vehicle
is connected with an alarm system at a premises (other than a proprietary
system), the person using such system is an alarm user. Also excluded
from this definition and from the coverage of this article are persons
who use alarm systems to alert or signal persons within the premises
in which the alarm system is located of an attempted unauthorized
intrusion or holdup attempt. If such 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" and shall be subject to this article.
An alarm system which automatically sends over regular telephone
lines, by direct connection or otherwise, a prerecorded voice message
or a coded signal indicating the existence of the emergency situation
that the alarm system is designed to detect.
An alarm system in which the signal is initiated by the action
of the robber.
An alarm system signaling an entry or attempted entry into
the area protected by the system.
An office to which remote alarm devices are connected where
operators monitor those signals and relay information to the Police
Department.
The City of Norwalk, County of Fairfield, Connecticut.
The activation of an alarm system through mechanical failure,
malfunction, improper installation or the negligence of the owner
or lessee of an alarm system or of his employees or agents. Such terminology
does not include, for example, alarms caused by hurricanes, tornadoes,
earthquakes or other violent conditions. "False alarms" shall not
mean alarms transmitted because of a watermain break or similar causes
that occur outside of the protected property. "False alarms," as defined
in this article, also do not include those alarms that are transmitted
with a criminal, malicious or mischievous intent.
An alarm system signaling a robbery or attempted robbery.
An alarm system in which the signal transmission is initiated
by the direct action of the person attacked or by an observer of the
attack.
Any individual, firm, partnership, association, corporation,
company or organization of any kind.
The publicly supported Police Department of the City of Norwalk.
[Added 4-26-2016[1]]
Central stations are required to call the alarm user before
calling the Police Department.
A.Â
Unless required by law, no alarm device which produces an exterior
audible signal shall be permitted unless its operation is automatically
restricted to a maximum of 30 minutes.
Permission is not required to test or demonstrate alarm devices
not transmitting signals directly to the Police Department. If such
signals are to be relayed to the Police Department, permission from
the head of the affected department or his designee must first be
obtained.
[1]
Editor's Note: Former §§ 11A-7, False
alarms, 11A-8, Municipal responsibility, and 11A-9, Exceptions, were
repealed 1-28-2003.
[Adopted 1-28-2003]
A.Â
It is determined that the number of false alarms being made to the
Norwalk Police and Fire Departments hinders the efficiency of those
Departments, lowers the morale of Department personnel, constitutes
a danger to the general public during responses to false alarms, and
that the adoption of this article will reduce the number of false
alarms and promote the responsible use of alarm devices in Norwalk.
B.Â
The general welfare and safety of the residents of Norwalk will be
best served and protected by the establishment and implementation
of an ordinance requiring the registration of alarm devices and establishing
a mechanism to reduce the number of false alarms and promote the responsible
use of alarm devices in Norwalk.
For the purpose of this article, the following definitions shall
apply.
Any device which, when activated by a criminal act, fire
or other emergency calling for Police or Fire Department response,
transmits a signal to the Police or Fire Department; transmits a signal
to a person who relays information to the Police or Fire Department;
or produces an audible or visible signal to which the Police or Fire
Department is expected to respond. Excluded from this definition and
the scope of this article are devices which are designed to alert
or signal only persons within the premises in which the device is
installed.
The owner of any premises in which an alarm device is used, provided that an occupant who expressly accepts responsibility for an alarm device by registration pursuant to § 11A-14 shall be deemed the "alarm user."
A telephone device or attachment that mechanically or electronically
selects a telephone line to the Police or Fire Department and reproduces
a prerecorded voice message to report a criminal act, fire or other
emergency calling for Police or Fire Department response.
An office to which remote alarm devices transmit signals
where operators monitor those signals and relay information to the
Police and Fire Departments.
Any person, firm or corporation in the business of supplying
and installing alarm devices or servicing the same.
Any activation of an alarm device to which the Police or
Fire Department responds and which is not the result of an actual
emergency.
The Chief of the Norwalk Police Department and the Chief of
the Norwalk Fire Department shall jointly designate an Alarm Administrator
for alarm devices who shall have the powers and duties granted under
this article.
A.Â
There shall be an Alarm Appeal Board, which shall have the powers
and duties granted to it under this article.
B.Â
The Alarm Appeal Board shall consist of five members, at least one
of whom shall have experience with installing or servicing alarm devices.
Each member shall be nominated by the Mayor and confirmed by the Common
Council. The Mayor will designate the Chairman. Each initial member
shall serve until January 1, 2005. All members shall be electors of
the City of Norwalk and shall serve without compensation. Further
appointments, except to fill vacancies, shall be for terms of four
years. Appointed members shall serve until their successors shall
have been appointed and qualified. Vacancies in the membership shall
be filled for the unexpired portion of a term in the same manner as
regular appointments.
C.Â
Three members of such Board shall constitute a quorum. All decisions
of the Board shall be made by agreement of a majority of those present
and voting.
On or after 90 days of the effective date of this article:
A.Â
No person, firm or corporation shall install an alarm device without
first providing the Alarm Administrator with the name, address and
phone number of the owner of the premises wherein an alarm device
is to be installed. An occupant of such premises, other than the owner,
can accept responsibility for an alarm device used on the premises
by executing a written acceptance form and filing the name with the
Alarm Administrator.
B.Â
Each alarm user shall register his alarm device or devices with the
Alarm Administrator prior to use of the alarm device.
C.Â
Each user of an existing alarm device or contractor acting on behalf
of an alarm user shall register the alarm device with the Alarm Administrator.
A.Â
Alarm device registration shall be accomplished by filling out a
form provided by the Alarm Administrator which shall require such
information concerning the identity of the proposed alarm user, the
identity of the alarm user's contractor, if any, and the nature
of the proposed alarm device, as the Alarm Administrator may require.
The Alarm Administrator shall issue the alarm user a written acknowledgment
of proper registration.
B.Â
It shall be the responsibility of each alarm user who has possession
of the premises to notify the Alarm Administrator of changes in registration
information.
Each central station which plans to transmit signals to the
Norwalk Police or Fire Department must register with the Alarm Administrator
before doing so.
A.Â
Central station registration shall be accomplished by filling out
a form provided by the Alarm Administrator which shall include such
information as the Administrator may require concerning the identity
of the applicant, the type of its business organization (individual
proprietorship, partnership, corporation), the principal place of
business of the entity, the location of the office monitoring alarms
and the alarm users in Norwalk served by the station. The Administrator
shall issue the central station a written acknowledgment of proper
registration.
B.Â
It shall be the responsibility of each central station to notify
the Administrator of any change in the registration information in
writing within 30 days, but such notification need not be given more
frequently than once a month.
A.Â
Each contractor that wishes to provide authorized alarm device inspection
and repair services shall register with the Alarm Administrator.
B.Â
Contractor registration shall be accomplished by filling out a form
provided by the Alarm Administrator which shall include such information
concerning the identity of the applicant, the type of its business
organization (individual proprietorship, partnership, corporation),
the principal place of business of the entity, the places of business
from which Norwalk alarm users will be served, the types and makes
of equipment the contractor is qualified to service, as the Administrator
may require. The Administrator shall issue the contractor a written
acknowledgment of proper registration.
C.Â
It shall be the responsibility of each contractor to notify in writing
the Alarm Administrator of changes in the registration information
within 30 days of the change.
A.Â
The Norwalk Police Department and Norwalk Fire Department shall report
false alarms to the Alarm Administrator, based upon the report of
the investigating officer.
B.Â
It shall be the responsibility of the central station to notify the
alarm user whenever the central station reports an alarm to the Norwalk
Police Department or Fire Department.
A.Â
When the Alarm Administrator determines that the Police Department
or Fire Department has responded to a false alarm, the Alarm Administrator
shall impose a charge on the responsible alarm user according to the
following schedule:
B.Â
Failure to pay any such charge within 30 days of the imposition thereof
shall constitute a separate violation of this article. Each month
thereafter that a charge remains unpaid shall constitute a separate
violation.
C.Â
Charges may be amended by a fee schedule enacted by the Common Council.
A.Â
The Alarm Administrator shall notify the responsible alarm user of
any false alarm charge by mail addressed to the alarm user at the
address noted on the registration form on file. Within 30 days after
receipt of such notice, the alarm user may file with the Administrator
information to show that the alarm was not a false alarm within the
meaning of this article. Notice shall be deemed to be received within
seven days from date of mailing.
B.Â
The Administrator shall consider all such information, reaffirm or
rescind the false alarm charge based on the use of reasonable judgment
and notify the alarm user of its decision by mail. No later than 30
days after the mailing of such notice, the alarm user may file with
the Alarm Appeal Board an appeal, in writing, to challenge the basis
for the Alarm Administrator's decision.
Any person who performs or causes to be performed any of the
following acts shall be subject to a penalty not to exceed $75 for
each such act:
A.Â
Failure to register an alarm device, central station or contractor
or give notice of changes in registration information within the required
times and as required by this article.
B.Â
Use of an automatic dial alarm device.
C.Â
Installation of an alarm device without first providing the Alarm
Administrator with the name, address and phone number of the owner
of and the alarm user at (if different) the premises wherein the alarm
device was installed. Each thirty-day period following the imposition
of a penalty that a violation remains uncorrected or that a penalty
remains unpaid shall constitute a separate violation.
[Amended 4-26-2016]
Hearings and appeals shall be governed by Section 7-152c of
the Connecticut General Statutes, as may be amended from time to time.
The Alarm Administrator, Norwalk Police Department and Norwalk
Fire Department shall, with respect to each false alarm, compile information
concerning the alarm devices involved, contractors and addresses of
false alarms and any other information that may be evaluated to determine
relative reliability of different types of alarm devices, and particular
contractors and the frequency of false alarms attributable to different
categories, addresses and contractors.
Notwithstanding the provisions of this article, the City of
Norwalk, its departments, officers, agents and employees shall be
under no obligation whatsoever concerning the adequacy, operation
or maintenance of any alarm device or of the alarm-monitoring and
responding facilities of the Norwalk Police and Fire Departments.
No liability whatsoever is assumed for the failure of such alarm devices
or monitoring facilities or for the failure to respond to any alarms
or for any other acts or omission in connection with such alarm devices.
Each alarm user shall be deemed to hold and save harmless the City,
of Norwalk, its departments, officers, agents and employees from any
and all liabilities and responsibilities in connection any alarm device,
including the use, installation and or operation of any alarm device,
regardless of registration status.
Charges for contractor registration, charges for false alarms,
appeal fees and penalties for violations and late charges shall be
collected by the Alarm Administrator and placed in the general fund.
The failure to pay any charge, suspension, violation or penalty within
30 days from date of imposition shall cause a late charge of $25 to
be due and payable for each thirty-day period during which an outstanding
balance is due.
The City of Norwalk, upon authorization of the Alarm Administrator,
may institute civil proceedings to enforce the provisions of this
article.
The provisions of this article shall not apply to alarm devices
on premises owned or controlled by the City of Norwalk, including
the Norwalk Board of Education, the State of Connecticut or the government
of the United States nor to alarm devices installed in a licensed
motor vehicle, trailer or boat.
