[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Committee of the Township of Hampton
9-8-1992; amended in its entirety 3-11-1997. Subsequent amendments noted where
applicable.]
The provisions of this chapter shall apply to any person or entity who
operates, maintains, has control over, or owns any alarm device designed to
summon the police or fire personnel to any location in response to an alarm
signal. The terms of this chapter shall in no way prohibit alarm companies
from providing service by private source within the Township of Hampton.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings
indicated:
Any type of alarm system providing warning of intrusion, fire, smoke,
carbon monoxide, flood or like peril or emergency.
An alarm device using telephone or other lines which transmits an
alarm signal or signals to the New Jersey State Police or other lawfully established
police department or any privately owned alarm company.
Any alarm device or combination of alarm devices installed for one
or more buildings at any location.
Any alarm device which, when activated, produces an audible or visual
signal (such as, but not limited to, fire and burglar alarm activating bell
devices). It shall not include motor vehicle antitheft alarms.
Includes any natural person, partnership, corporation, association
or other entity.
Any person owning or leasing or having control over an alarm device
or a local alarm within the Township of Hampton, including but not limited
to the owner or tenant of a premises or building or other structure.
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 or by fire, flood, smoke or carbon monoxide) 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 the New Jersey State Police or the Township Clerk.
The New Jersey State Police or any other law enforcement agency exercising
lawful jurisdiction.
A.Â
It shall be unlawful for any person to have control over,
or to operate, or to install or maintain an alarm device within the Township
of Hampton without first registering said use with the Township Clerk in accordance
with this chapter.
B.Â
Every user of an alarm device shall, by July 1, 1997,
submit to the Township Clerk a registration application for an alarm permit,
using the application form provided by the Township Clerk. Information must
be kept current, and the permittee must notify the Township Clerk, in writing,
of any changes of information listed on the registration application no later
than 30 days following the applicable change or changes.
C.Â
A registration permit shall automatically terminate upon
a change of occupancy of the premises for which the alarm device has been
registered.
Person(s) required to register their alarm devices shall complete and
file with the Municipal Clerk a registration application which may be obtained
from the Municipal Clerk's office and which shall contain the following information:
A.Â
The full name and address of the applicant, including
a complete physical address and property description which will permit the
appropriate response to the alarm.
B.Â
The exact location of each alarm device on the property
and in or on the building or structure.
C.Â
Name and address and telephone number of the person installing,
maintaining and/or owning the system.
D.Â
The type of device, including what provisions have been
made to avoid false alarms and testing provisions.
E.Â
The name and address of the entity or person(s), if any,
responsible for monitoring and initially responding to an activation of an
alarm device and a phone number for such entity and/or person(s).
F.Â
The name and address of an entity or person and their
telephone numbers who may be contacted in the event of an alarm and at least
one other entity or person(s) who is authorized to receive notification of
an alarm call and who is authorized to enter upon the premises in which the
alarm system is located.
G.Â
Any additional relevant information as may be reasonably
required by the Township Clerk.
The following registration charges shall apply and shall be paid upon
submission of the registration application:
It shall be unlawful for any person to cause, allow or activate a false alarm as defined in this chapter. In case of a false alarm, any person and any permittee who violates this chapter shall each be subject to the provisions of § 60-11.
Dial alarm devices may be connected to the State Police by telephone or other lines as are permitted and designated by the New Jersey State Police or to other law enforcement agencies having jurisdiction or to third party providers. Said dial alarms shall be registered as specified in §§ 60-3 and 60-4 of this chapter.
A.Â
The provisions of this chapter 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.
B.Â
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 § 60-11 of this chapter shall apply as though a false alarm had been activated.
A.Â
The Township of Hampton shall be under no duty or obligation
to any permittee by reason of issuance of any registration permit.
B.Â
As a condition precedent to the issuance of a registration
permit pursuant to this chapter, it shall be the obligation of each permittee
to agree, in writing, to indemnify and save harmless the Township of Hampton,
its agents, servants and employees, the New Jersey State Police, the Fire
Departments and rescue squads serving Hampton Township and all other Police
Departments from and on account of any and all damages arising from or sustained
as a result of any forced entry into the premises during any alarm response
and for failure of the Township of Hampton, its agents, servants and employees,
the New Jersey State Police, the Fire Departments and rescue squads serving
Hampton Township and all other Police Departments for failure to respond to
any alarm.
The Township Committee may from time to time promulgate rules and regulations
supplementing this chapter in order to provide for recordkeeping and efficient
management of said system.
Any person, firm or corporation who violates the terms of this chapter
shall be subject to a fine of up to $1,000 or not more than 90 days in jail,
or both; provided, however, that the following minimum and mandatory fines
shall apply to false alarms.
A.Â
For the first false alarm in any single calendar year,
a warning shall be issued.
B.Â
For the second false alarm in the same calendar year,
a fine of $50 shall be paid to the Township of Hampton.
C.Â
For the third and subsequent false alarms in the same
calendar year, a fine of not less than $100 nor more than $250 for each occurrence
shall be paid to the Township of Hampton, which shall be accompanied by an
advisory letter (dated within 30 days following the date on which the complaint
is issued) from a licensed alarm company stating that the system is operating
properly. If, however, the person fails to provide such advisory letter as
provided above, a fine may be imposed by the court up to a maximum of $500
in the court's discretion.
If any article, section or subsection of this chapter is declared for
any reason to be unconstitutional or invalid by any court of competent jurisdiction,
such provisions shall be deemed severable.
