[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Trustees of the Village of Chester 6-8-1992 by L.L. No. 3-1992. Amendments noted where applicable.]
As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires, the following phrases, words and their derivations shall be defined as follows:
ALARM SYSTEM
Any alarm device which automatically dials the emergency telephone number of the Village Police Department and uses a pretaped or prerecorded message to alert the police that an emergency exists or that the services of the Village Police Department are needed, excluding alarm signals transmitted to privately operated central stations. "Alarm system" shall also mean any alarm device which automatically emits an audible, visual or other response upon the occurrence of any hazard or emergency and is intended to alert persons outside the building to the existence of said hazard or emergency.
AUDIBLE ALARM PERMIT
The written authorization of the Village of Chester granted to any person, business, firm, corporation or other entity to install, maintain or cause to be installed or maintained in his place of business or residence any police, fire or medical emergency alarm devices that constitute audible alarm systems under this Chapter.
[Added 3-12-2007 by L.L. No. 1-2007]
AUDIBLE ALARM PERMIT YEAR
The period from January 1 until the next succeeding December 31, except the first audible alarm permit year shall commence on the effective date of this chapter and end December 31 of that year.
[Added 3-12-2007 by L.L. No. 1-2007]
AUDIBLE ALARM SYSTEM
Any alarm system, which as a component thereof, generates an audible sound on the premises when it is actuated.
[Added 3-12-2007 by L.L. No. 1-2007]
DIAL ALARM or DIALING DEVICE
Any police alarm device which is a telephone device or telephone attachment which automatically or electronically selects a telephone line connected to Village police headquarters and reproduces a prerecorded message to report a criminal act or other emergency requiring Police Department response.
FALSE ALARM
Any signal actuated by a police, fire or medical emergency alarm device, devices or system of devices which is not the result of natural disaster, a criminal act, fire or other emergency requiring police or fire response or which generates an audible sound. The term "false alarm" shall include human error and equipment malfunction causing the alarm to be activated and which results in police or fire response.
[Amended 4-3-1995 by L.L. No. 5-1995; 3-12-2007 by L.L. No. 1-2007]
POLICE EMERGENCY NUMBER
Any telephone number designated by the Chairman of the Board of Police Commissioners or his designee to receive pretaped or prerecorded messages to alert the police that an emergency exists or that the services of the Village Police Department are needed.
VILLAGE
The Village of Chester.
A. 
The user of every alarm system maintained in the Village and controlled by this chapter, except those installed in motor vehicles, shall, within 10 days of the installation thereof or within 60 days of the enactment of this chapter, file the following information with the Police Department of the Village:
(1) 
Type of alarm system.
(2) 
Street address and the nearest cross street of the building which houses the alarm.
(3) 
In the case of commercial premises, the name, address and telephone number of an authorized representative and/or alternative who will be able to respond when called by police to deactivate the alarm system.
(4) 
In the case of a private residence, the name, address and telephone number of a person who is not a resident of the private residence in question and who will be able to deactivate the alarm system.
(5) 
The name, address and telephone number of the person, firm, business or corporation installing, servicing and/or maintaining the alarm system.
B. 
Such filing requirements are applicable to all alarm systems, whether the same are or are not directly connected to the police headquarters or are merely audible alarms. Such filing must be made within the time period specified above, even though there shall have been previous notification of the existence of such alarm systems to the Police Department or any other department of the Village.
All dialing devices operated by automatic means shall transmit messages only to such designated police emergency numbers. No person shall use, operate or install any device which will, upon activation by automatic means, initiate the dialing, calling or other connection with the Police Department of the Village either at its regularly constituted telephone number of any other number not specifically designated as a police emergency number. Emergency fire alarms shall not be transmitted to police headquarters.
No person shall use, operate or install any dialing device that will, upon activation, automatically dial, call or connect the police emergency number for the purpose of receiving such alarm messages more than twice for any one incident.
[Amended 4-3-1995 by L.L. No. 5-1995]
A. 
No person shall intentionally, negligently, carelessly or erroneously cause a false alarm. The user of the alarm system shall be solely and wholly responsible for any false alarms. Negligent or careless acts shall include improper maintenance and insufficient or inadequate instructions to tenants, employees, agents, children or others concerned with or having access to the operation of the alarm system.
B. 
Enforcement of the provisions of this chapter concerning false alarms shall be carried out by the Village Police Department regardless of which Village authority responded to the alarm.
A. 
Every alarm system shall be equipped so that upon the activation of a burglary (break-in) alarm, there shall be a mandatory delay of at least 30 seconds before the transmission of a signal to the Police Department so as to enable the user to abort the signal in the event that it was triggered inadvertently. This delay shall not be applicable to robbery (holdup) alarms or to medical emergency alarms.
B. 
Every alarm system connected to the Village Police Department shall be equipped with a reminder light to indicate that the alarm system is in operation. This light shall be installed in an obvious location at the principal entrance of the residence or building. It may be located on either the inside or the outside of the premises.
C. 
Every alarm system connected to the Village Police Department which also signals a fire alarm shall be equipped with a separate distinguishing signal for each kind of alarm.
D. 
Every alarm system installed in the Village shall be designed and equipped to prevent activation by loss of electrical power.
E. 
Every alarm system emitting an audible, visual or other similar response outside the house, whether such system is connected to police headquarters or operates independently, must be equipped with a device which automatically shuts off the outside audible or visual signal or other response within 15 minutes from activation.
The Village, its officers, employees or agents shall have no responsibility for damages resulting from the failure of the alarm system to operate or the failure of the Village to respond to an alarm or for losses incurred as a result of damages to the alarm system in the event it becomes necessary for the Village to disconnect an alarm pursuant to this chapter.
In the event that an alarm system emitting an audible, visual or other similar response shall fail to be deactivated within the time limitation specified herein, the Village shall have the right to take such action as may be necessary to disconnect the alarm.
All preexisting installations shall be subject to this chapter. Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, any preexisting installations subject to this chapter shall comply with the provisions of this chapter within six months of the effective date hereof.
A. 
Any owner or lessee of property having an alarm device or system shall pay to the Village a charge for each and every false alarm during an alarm permit year, as follows:
[Amended 4-3-1995 by L.L. No. 5-1995; 9-10-2007 by L.L. No. 3-2007]
(1) 
First false alarm each permit year: $100.
(2) 
Second false alarm each permit year: $250.
(3) 
Third false alarm each permit year: $500.
(4) 
Fourth false alarm: mandatory disconnect.
B. 
The above charges will be paid to the Village Treasurer. Failure to pay a false alarm charge shall subject such alarm owner, lessee or user to the penalty provisions of this chapter.
C. 
The schedule of charges may be amended by resolution of the Village Board.
It shall be a violation of this chapter to intentionally cause a false alarm, and any person who does intentionally cause a false alarm shall be subject to the penalty provisions of § 29-12A herein.
A. 
The failure of any person, natural or corporate, to perform or obey any provision of this chapter constitutes a violation punishable by a fine of up to $250 for each such violation. Each day that such violation continues after the expiration of the period allowed for compliance under the provisions of this chapter shall constitute a separate offense.
B. 
Any person who shall intentionally tamper with, destroy or compromise any alarm or alarm device or equipment connected therewith, which alarm or alarm device is governed by the provisions of this chapter, shall be guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.
If any part or parts of this chapter are for any reason held to be invalid, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this chapter.
This chapter shall take effect upon filing with the Secretary of State.
[Added 3-12-2007 by L.L. No. 1-2007]
Unless otherwise required by law, all audible alarm systems within the Village are hereby prohibited unless the alarm user demonstrates a special need and has obtained an audible alarm permit.
[Added 3-12-2007 by L.L. No. 1-2007]
Every audible alarm user shall obtain an audible alarm-user permit from the Village Police Department for each audible alarm system said alarm user owns, controls or operates within the Village.
A. 
Applications for alarm-user permits shall include the following information:
(1) 
The applicant's name and address.
(2) 
The address of the protected premises.
(3) 
The applicant's home and business telephone numbers.
(4) 
The type of emergency the alarm system is designed to detect.
(5) 
The name and address of the person that sold, installed, responds to and/or maintains the alarm system.
(6) 
The names, addresses and telephone numbers of at least two persons who can be reached at any time to disconnect the system.
(7) 
Statement of special need from the applicant for the need of an audible alarm system.
B. 
Every alarm system, in addition to the conditions and requirements of this section, must meet the requirements of Chapter 29 of the Code of the Village of Chester in order to qualify for an alarm permit.
C. 
The alarm user shall notify the Police Department of any changes in the above information prior to the change taking effect.
D. 
The information contained in the alarm-user permit shall be maintained by the Police Department and its inspection restricted to those department officers specifically assigned to alarm-system-related duties.
E. 
(Reserved)[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Former Subsection E, regarding a permit fee, was repealed 9-10-2007 by L.L. No. 3-2007.
F. 
Any alarm-system user who operates an alarm system without first having obtained an alarm-user permit as required herein shall be guilty of a violation of this chapter.
[1]
Editor's Note: Former § 29-17, Suspension and revocation of permit, added 3-12-2007 by L.L. No. 1-2007, was repealed 9-10-2007 by L.L. No. 3-2007.
[Added 3-12-2007 by L.L. No. 1-2007]
A. 
In the event that an alarm permit has been suspended or revoked, the alarm user may have the permit reinstated by forwarding to the Police Department, in writing, verification that the conditions causing such false alarms have been repaired, corrected or otherwise eliminated. The Chief of Police can, in his or her sole discretion, reinstate the permit upon collection of an additional permit fee.
B. 
Reinstatement shall not affect the false alarm count charged to any alarm user during each calendar year.
C. 
In any event, any alarm user whose permit has been suspended or revoked may reapply for an alarm permit 12 months after the permit has been suspended or revoked so long as he or she complies with § 29-2 of this chapter.