[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Council of the Town of Plainville 2-21-2006; amended 3-2-2006; 4-2-2006. Subsequent
amendments noted where applicable.]
A.
The purpose of this chapter is to encourage alarm users and alarm
businesses to maintain the operational reliability and proper use
of alarm systems and to reduce or eliminate false alarm dispatch requests.
B.
This chapter governs systems intended to summon Police and Fire Department
responses, requires permits, establishes a system of administration,
and sets conditions for suspension or loss of permits.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
A person or persons designated by the Chief of Police to
administer, control and review alarm applications, permits and alarm
dispatch requests.
The business, by any person, partnership, association, corporation,
limited liability company or any legal entity, of selling, leasing,
maintaining, servicing, repairing, altering, replacing, moving, installing
or monitoring an alarm system in an alarm site.
A notification to the Police or Fire Department that an alarm,
either manual or automatic, has been activated at a particular alarm
site.
A single premises or location served by an alarm system or
systems.
A device or series of devices, including but not limited
to systems interconnected with radio frequency signals, which are
designated to discourage crime by emitting or transmitting a remote
or local audible, visual or electronic signal indicating an alarm
condition. "Alarm system" does not include an alarm installed on a
motor vehicle.
Any person, firm, partnership, association, corporation,
limited liability company, or any other legal entity who (which) uses
an alarm system at its alarm site.
Any telephone device or attachment that mechanically or electronically
selects a telephone line to notify police or fire headquarters and
produces a pre-recorded voice message to report a criminal act, fire,
or other emergency.
An office to which remote alarm devices transmit signals
where operators monitor those signals and relay information to the
Police or Fire Department.
A silent alarm signal generated by the manual activation
of a device intended to signal a crisis situation requiring police
response.
An alarm dispatch request to the Police Department or Fire
Department, when the responding police or fire officer finds no evidence
of a criminal or attempted criminal offense or fire after having completed
a timely investigation of the alarm site. An alarm dispatch request
which is cancelled by the alarm business or the alarm user prior to
the time the responding police or fire officer reaches the alarm site
shall not be considered a false alarm dispatch.
An automatic or manual activation of smoke detectors, heat
detectors, pull stations, or sprinkler systems.
Any heat-activated, smoke-activated, flame-activated or other
such automatic device capable of transmitting a fire alarm signal
to a central station operating company. All fire alarms shall be installed,
tested and maintained in accordance with the Connecticut State Fire
Code, NFPA 72 and applicable building codes.
The Chief of the Fire Department of the Town of Plainville.
The Plainville Fire Department of the Town of Plainville,
Connecticut.
The person appointed as Fire Marshal by the Town of Plainville,
Connecticut, or such person's designee.
A silent alarm signal generated by the manual activation
of a device intended to signal a robbery in progress.
Any alarm system which transmits an alarm signal to a central
station operating company indicating a burglary, robbery or other
intrusion into a building or which emits or causes to be emitted an
audible alarm signal.
The process by which an alarm business receives signals from
alarm systems and relays an alarm dispatch request to the Town for
the purpose of summoning police or fire.
An individual, corporation, partnership, association, corporation,
limited liability company or any other legal entity.
The Chief of Police of the Town of Plainville, Connecticut.
The Police Department of the Town of Plainville, Connecticut.
A signaling device that dials a predetermined number when
the alarm system signals an intrusion, attempted intrusion, or fire
and audibly reports such an intrusion, attempted intrusion or fire
from a recorded message at the premises.
An attempt, by the alarm business or its representative,
to contact the alarm site by telephonic or other electronic means,
whether or not actual contact with a person is made, before requesting
a police or fire dispatch, in an attempt to avoid an unnecessary alarm
dispatch request.
In order to effectively phase in this chapter and provide a grace period to alarm users, the following implementation will be in effect from the date of passage of this chapter by the Town Council. Once the alarm site obtains a permit all portions of this chapter will be in effect. All alarm users not obtaining a permit within this time period will be considered in violation of § 150-4.
A.
Any alarm site that presently is not monitored by an alarm business
or central station is required to obtain a permit from the Alarm Administrator
within 60 days.
B.
Any commercial or business alarm site that is presently monitored
by an alarm business or central station is required to obtain a permit
from the Alarm Administrator within 90 days.
C.
Any existing residential alarm site that is presently monitored by
an alarm business or central station is required to obtain a permit
from the Alarm Administrator with 180 days.
A.
Any location which utilizes an alarm system to summon police or fire
services within the Town of Plainville must be registered with the
Town of Plainville care of the Alarm Administrator, Plainville Police
Department, 19 Neal Court, Plainville, Connecticut. There is no registration
fee for burglar or fire alarms reported through an alarm business
or connected directly to the Police or Fire Department.[1]
B.
Any modifications of a central station alarm system or change in
occupancy or ownership of the premises must be reported to the Alarm
Administrator within 10 days of such change.
A.
All alarm system owners must provide three local key holders (maximum
twenty-minute response time) and a repair service provider, with an
alarm technician licensed in the State of Connecticut. Automatic dialers,
which call 911, police or fire directly, are not permitted. Alarm
systems may be registered by the alarm user or the central station
in the form required and provided by the Town of Plainville.
B.
The owner of any alarm system who causes a central station to report alarm conditions to the Plainville Police or Fire Department for any location which does not have a permit or for which he has been notified that his permit has been suspended or revoked shall be subject to fines under § 150-11 of this chapter.
C.
Central stations must be able to make contact with a key holder 24
hours a day, seven days per week.
A.
All alarm systems must be installed, inspected and approved by a
licensed Connecticut installer.
B.
Equipment requirements.
(1)
Zones. Alarm systems located at commercial sites must be zoned to
identify the area of the alarm condition and identify the type of
condition for which the alarm is activated.
(2)
Motion detectors. Motion detectors must be of type and quality which
are not white light (halogen headlight) sensitive and not utilized
where pets or rodents are present.
(3)
Double trip activation. Magnetic contacts for exterior doors where
a vestibule is provided or where a common entrance services several
individually alarmed offices or suites must utilize double trip activation
sensors or motion detectors so that a break in contact of only the
exterior doors does not activate the alarm.
(4)
Trouble signals. Trouble alarms can be transmitted to the central
station or police or fire monitoring system, but services will not
be provided other than notification to the listed key holder.
(5)
Audible burglar alarms. Locations utilizing audible alarms for burglar
or intrusion devices must have a ten-minute reset feature which deactivates
the alarm after 10 minutes and not reactivate the alarm until manually
reset.
(6)
Audible fire alarms. Locations utilizing audible fire alarms shall
remain activated and audible until such time the property has been
investigated and the system is reset.
(7)
Fire alarm systems. All fire alarm systems shall be installed in
accordance with local and state building codes and accepted standards.
An alarm business performing security monitoring services shall:
A.
Not request dispatch for police response during the first week after
installation of an alarm system but rather use that week to train
the alarm user on the proper use of the alarm system, unless extenuating
circumstances necessitate immediate requests for police response as
determined by the Alarm Administrator.
B.
Request dispatch for fire response from the date and time the fire
alarm or sprinkler system is installed and approved by the Fire Marshal
and placed in service for use.
C.
Report alarm signals by using telephone numbers designated by the
Alarm Administrator.
D.
Attempt to verify every alarm signal, except fire, duress, or hold-up
alarm activation, before requesting Police or Fire Department response
to an alarm signal.
E.
Communicate alarm dispatch requests to the Police or Fire Department
in a manner and form determined by the Alarm Administrator, Police
Chief, or Fire Chief.
F.
Ensure that all alarm users of alarm systems equipped with duress
or hold-up alarms are given adequate training as to the proper use
of the duress or hold-up alarm.
G.
Ensure that all users of the alarm systems are given adequate training
as to the proper use of the fire alarm system.
An alarm business performing security monitoring services shall:
A.
Ensure that the residents are properly trained in the operation of
the alarm system.
B.
Report alarm signals by using telephone numbers designated by the
Alarm Administrator.
C.
Attempt to verify every alarm signal, except fire or panic alarm
activation, before requesting Police or Fire Department response to
an alarm signal.
D.
Communicate alarm dispatch requests to the Police or Fire Department
in a manner and form determined by the Alarm Administrator, Police
Chief, or Fire Chief.
The Alarm Administrator shall:
A.
Designate a manner, form and telephone numbers for the communication
of alarm dispatch requests.
C.
Develop a procedure to accept verified cancellations of alarm dispatch
requests.
Alarm conditions require inspection of the premises by responding
emergency personnel; therefore:
A.
Alarm users are required to provide a key holder response for any
location which is interior to other structural limitations, such as
fencing, common entrances, protective awnings, etc. Failure to provide
access to perform a proper inspection of the premises will be deemed
to be a false alarm.
B.
Alarm users with fire alarm systems are recommended to install an
exterior key safe (emergency access systems, Knox Box®) to allow
fire personnel access to the building without damage to the building.
In case of a suspected actual fire, forcible entry will be gained
by fire personnel without notification to the key holder.
C.
Access gained using an exterior key safe (emergency access systems,
Knox Box®) with no fire found will be deemed a false alarm.
D.
The alarm user is responsible for maintaining updated keys within
the exterior key safe (emergency access systems, Knox Box®). Access
by the alarm users into the key safe will be scheduled with the Fire
Department. Failure to update keys to perform a proper inspection
of the premises will be deemed to be a false alarm.
A.
An alarm user shall be subject to fines, warnings and suspension
or revocation of a permit depending on the number of false alarm dispatches
emitted from an alarm system within a rolling twelve-month period
based upon the following schedule:
|
Fine Schedule
| ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
False Alarm Dispatches
|
Action Taken
|
Police
|
Fire
| |
|
1st false alarm
|
On-site written warning No. 1
|
$0
|
$0
| |
|
2nd false alarm
|
On-site written warning No. 2
|
$0
|
$0
| |
|
3rd false alarm
|
Written notice and fine
|
$25
|
$50
| |
|
4th false alarm
|
Written notice, permit suspension
|
$25
|
$75
| |
|
5th false alarm
|
Written notice, warning letter of revocation of permit
|
$25
|
$100
| |
|
6th false alarm
|
Revocation of permit and/or alarm disconnect to Fire Department
master alarm system
|
$50
|
$100
| |
B.
In addition, any person operating a non-permitted alarm system (whether
revoked, suspended or never acquired) will be subject to a citation
and assessment of a fine of $50 for each false alarm dispatch, in
addition to any other fines. The Alarm Administrator may waive this
additional fine for a non-permitted system if the alarm user applies
for a permit within 10 days after such violation.
D.
If payment is not paid within 30 calendar days, an additional $15
will be assessed to the original amount for every 15 days the ticket
is not paid.
A.
The police or fire officer responding to an alarm dispatch request
shall record such information as necessary to permit the Alarm Administrator
to maintain records, including but not limited to the following information:
(1)
Alarm type: police or fire;
(2)
Identification of the permit number for the alarm site;
(3)
Name and address of the alarm site;
(4)
Arrival time at the alarm site and dispatch received time;
(5)
Date, time and weather conditions;
(6)
Name of alarm user's representative on premises, if any;
(7)
Name and address of alarm business; and/or
(8)
Unable to locate the address.
B.
The responding police and/or fire officer shall log whether the dispatch
was caused by a fire, criminal offense, an attempted criminal offense,
or a false alarm dispatch.
C.
In the case of the assumed false alarm dispatch, the responding police
or fire officer shall leave written notice at the alarm site that
the Police or Fire Department responded to a false alarm dispatch.
The notice shall include the following information:
(1)
Alarm type: police or fire;
(2)
The date and time of the response to the false alarm dispatch;
(3)
The identification number or name of the responding officer; and
(4)
A statement urging the alarm user to ensure that the alarm system
is properly operated, inspected, and serviced in order to avoid fines.
An alarm user may appeal assessment of a fine to the Alarm Administrator
by filing a written request for hearing setting forth the reasons
for the appeal within 10 days after receipt of the fine. The filing
of a request for an appeal hearing with the Alarm Administrator stays
the assessment of the fine until the Alarm Administrator makes a final
decision. The final decision must be rendered in writing within 30
days after the request for an appeal hearing is filed.
A.
In addition to suspension or revocation of a permit for false alarm
dispatches, the Alarm Administrator may suspend or revoke an alarm
permit if it is determined that:[1]
B.
Unless there is separate indication that there is a crime in progress,
the Chief of Police may refuse police response to an alarm dispatch
request at an alarm site for which the alarm permit is revoked.
C.
The Fire Marshal may order the building closed for failure to properly
maintain an operating fire alarm system in accordance with the Connecticut
State Fire Safety Code.
A.
If the Alarm Administrator denies the issuance or renewal of a permit,
or suspends or revokes a permit, he or she shall send written notice
of his/her actions and a statement of right to an appeal, by certified
mail, return receipt requested, to both the applicant or alarm user
and the alarm business.
B.
The applicant or alarm user may appeal the decision of the Alarm
Administrator to the Chief of Police for intrusion alarms and to the
Fire Chief for fire alarms by filing a written request for a review
setting forth the reasons for the appeal within 20 days after receipt
of the notice from the Alarm Administrator. An alarm business may
submit the request on behalf of the alarm user.
C.
Filing of a request for appeal shall stay the action by the Alarm
Administrator suspending or revoking a permit until the Chief of Police
or Fire Chief has completed his/her review. If the request for appeal
is not made within the twenty-day period, the action of the Alarm
Administrator is final.[1]
A person whose alarm permit has been revoked may be issued a
new permit if the person:
