[HISTORY: Adopted 5-18-2004 by the Annual Town Meeting, Art. 27. Amendments noted where
applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Noise — See Ch. 40.
A.
This
bylaw shall be known as the "Alarm System Bylaw."
B.
The
purposes of this bylaw are to reduce and eliminate false alarm dispatch
requests, to encourage alarm users and alarm businesses to maintain
the operational reliability of their alarm systems, to establish a
system of regulations and fees with respect to alarm systems and to
provide for penalties for violation of this bylaw.
For the purposes of this bylaw, certain words and phrases shall
be construed as set forth in this article, unless it is clear from
the context that a different meaning is intended.
- ALARM ADMINISTRATOR
- The person designated to administer, control, and review alarm applications, permits, and alarm dispatch requests. The Chief of Police shall be the alarm administrator unless otherwise designated.
- ALARM BUSINESS
- The business, by an individual, partnership, corporation or other entity of selling, leasing, maintaining, servicing, repairing, altering, replacing, moving, installing or monitoring an alarm system in an alarm site.
- ALARM DISPATCH REQUEST
- A notification to the police that an alarm, either manual or automatic, has been activated at a particular alarm site.
- ALARM SITE
- A single premises or location served by an alarm system or systems. Each tenancy, if served by a separate alarm system in a multi-tenant building or complex, shall be considered a separate alarm site.
- ALARM SYSTEM
- A device or series of devices, including, but not limited to, systems interconnected with radio frequency signals, which are designed 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:
- ALARM USER
- Any person, firm, partnership, corporation or other entity which uses an alarm system at its alarm site.
- CHIEF
- The Chief of Police of the Town or the Chief's authorized representative.
- CONVERSION
- The transaction or process by which one alarm business begins monitoring of an alarm system previously monitored by another alarm business.
- FALSE ALARM DISPATCH
- An alarm dispatch request to the police department, where responding officers find no evidence of a criminal offense or attempted criminal offense after having completed a timely investigation of the alarm site. An alarm dispatch request that is cancelled by the alarm business or the alarm user prior to the dispatch of the responding officer shall not be considered a false alarm dispatch.
- PERSON
- An individual, corporation, partnership, association, organization or other legal entity.
- TAKEOVER
- The transaction or process by which an alarm user takes over control of an existing alarm system that was previously controlled by another alarm user.
- VERIFY
- An attempt, by the alarm business, or its representative, to contact the alarm site by telephone or other electronic means, whether or not actual contact with a person is made, before requesting a police dispatch, in an attempt to avoid an unnecessary alarm dispatch request.
A.
No
alarm user shall operate, or cause to be operated, an alarm system
without a valid permit issued in accordance with this bylaw. A separate
permit is required for each alarm site.
B.
The
annual fee for a permit or permit renewal for an alarm site shall
be set by the Town Manager. An alarm user who applies for a new permit
after July 1st will be required to pay a pro-rated quarterly fee.
The annual fee will be refunded if the application is not approved.
The permit shall be valid for a one-year period commencing each July
1. It is the responsibility of the alarm user to submit a renewal
application prior to the permit expiration date. All fees and any
future fee increases to this bylaw will be set by the Town Manager
after consulting with the Alarm Administrator.
C.
The
annual fee for a permit or permit renewal for an alarm business shall
be set by the Town Manager. The annual fee shall not be refunded or
pro rated. The permit shall be valid for a one-year period commencing
each July 1st. It is the responsibility of the alarm business to submit
a renewal application prior to the permit expiration date.
D.
No
alarm business will sell, lease, maintain, service, repair, alter,
replace, move, install or monitor an alarm system in an alarm site
or request a response to an alarm site without a valid permit issued
in accordance with this bylaw.
E.
The
application form for issuance or renewal of a permit shall be prescribed
by the Alarm Administrator and shall include the following information:
(1)
The name, address, and telephone number of the alarm user who will
be the permit holder and be responsible for the proper maintenance
and operation of the alarm system and the payment of fees assessed
under this bylaw.
(2)
Signed certification from the alarm user and the alarm business stating:
(a)
The date of installation, conversion or takeover of the alarm system,
whichever is applicable;
(b)
The name, address, phone number, Massachusetts Alarm Installation
License Number and the Massachusetts Department of Public Safety registration
number of the alarm business performing the alarm system installation,
conversion or alarm system takeover and responsible for providing
repair service to the alarm system;
(c)
The name, address, and phone number of the alarm business monitoring
the alarm system if different from the installing alarm business;
(d)
That a set of written operating instructions for the alarm system,
including written guidelines on how to avoid false alarms, have been
provided to the alarm user by the alarm business; and
(e)
That the alarm business has trained the alarm user in proper use
of the alarm system, including instructions on how to avoid false
alarms.
(f)
That the application shall contain the name, address and telephone
number of at least two other persons who are authorized to respond
to a signal transmitted by the alarm system within 20 minutes under
normal weather conditions and who are authorized to open the premises
on which the alarm system is installed.
(g)
That such application contains an agreement from the alarm user in
favor of the Town of Williamstown Police Department to break into
and enter the registered premises forcibly without liability on the
Town or its officers with respect to any such forcible breaking and
entering, in order to respond to such an alarm.
(h)
Any other information that enhances the efficiency of administrating
this bylaw.
(3)
That all current alarm users and alarm businesses shall submit applications
and fees by July 1st immediately following the adoption of this bylaw.
(4)
Any false statements of a material matter made by an applicant for
the purpose of obtaining an alarm permit shall be sufficient cause
for refusal to issue a permit.
(5)
An alarm permit cannot be transferred to another person. If an alarmed
property is sold or transferred to another, the application process
for a new alarm user must be followed. An alarm user shall inform
the Alarm Administrator of any change that alters any information
listed on the permit application within five business days of such
change.
F.
An
application for an alarm permit, submitted with the permit fee, shall
be processed in a timely manner by the Alarm Administrator. The application
shall be denied and the permit fee returned if the applicant has failed
to pay any fine assessed for violating this bylaw, or if the applicant
has had an alarm permit for the alarm site suspended or revoked and
the violation causing the suspension or revocation has not been corrected,
or if the alarm system does not comply with the standards required
by this bylaw, or if the applicant has knowingly made any false, misleading
or fraudulent statements of a material fact in the application for
a permit.
A.
An
alarm user shall:
(1)
Maintain the alarm site and the alarm system in a manner that will
minimize or eliminate false alarm dispatches;
(2)
Respond or cause a representative to respond to the alarm site within
20 minutes under normal weather conditions who can provide access
to the premises on which the private intrusion alarm device is installed,
who can: allow officers access to the property to investigate, deactivate
a malfunctioning alarm system and provide security for the alarm site;
(3)
Not manually activate an alarm for any reason other than an occurrence
of an event that the alarm system was intended to report.
(4)
Not cause any alarm system to be connected directly to the Police
Department by any means including an automatic dialer.
B.
Alarm
user shall adjust the mechanism or cause the mechanism to be adjusted
so that an alarm signal audible on the exterior of an alarm site will
sound for no longer than 15 minutes after being activated.
C.
An
alarm user shall maintain a set of written operating instructions
for each alarm system at each alarm site in proximity to the alarm
panel.
D.
If
the Alarm Administrator has reason to believe that an alarm system
is not being used or maintained in a manner that ensures proper operation
and suppresses false alarms, the Alarm Administrator may require a
conference with the alarm user and the alarm business responsible
for the repair of the alarm system to review the circumstances of
each false alarm. The Alarm Administrator may also require the alarm
user to attend alarm user's training that includes the importance
of false alarm reduction.
A.
The
Town of Williamstown will not act as an alarm business or permit installation
of any alarm system monitoring devices within the police station.
By July 1, 2004, all alarm systems except those owned by the Town
of Williamstown or its subdivisions will be removed from the police
station and monitored privately.
B.
An
alarm business performing monitoring services shall:
(1)
Report alarm signals by using telephone numbers designated by the
Alarm Administrator;
(2)
Attempt to verify every alarm signal, except a hold up alarm activation,
before requesting a police response to an alarm signal;
(3)
Communicate alarm dispatch requests to the Town in a manner and form
determined by the Alarm Administrator;
(4)
Communicate verified cancellations of alarm dispatch requests to
the Town in a manner and form determined by the Alarm Administrator;
(5)
Maintain for a period of at least two years following a request for
dispatch to an alarm site, records relating to the dispatch. Records
must include the name, address and phone number of the alarm user,
the alarm system zone(s) or point(s) activated, the time of request
for police dispatch and evidence that an attempt to verify was made
to the alarm site prior to the request for police dispatch, and provide
the Alarm Administrator with copies of such records upon request.
C.
The
Alarm Administrator shall:
(1)
Designate the manner, form and telephone numbers for the communication
of alarm dispatch requests;
(2)
Develop a procedure to accept verified cancellation of alarm dispatch
requests;
(3)
Promulgate such regulations as may be necessary or required to implement
and enhance the intent of this bylaw.
A.
An
alarm user shall be subject to fines, warnings, suspensions and/or
revocation of permit depending on the number of false alarm dispatches
emitted from an alarm system within a twelve-month period beginning
July 1st each year, based upon the following schedule:
|
Number of False Alarm Dispatches
|
Action Taken
|
Fine
| |
|---|---|---|---|
|
1
|
Warning
|
None
| |
|
2
|
Warning
|
None
| |
|
3
|
Suspension
|
$100
| |
|
4
|
Warning of revocation
|
$100
| |
|
5 and subsequent
|
Revocation
|
$300
|
B.
Any
person operating an alarm system or any alarm business operating without
a permit issued in accordance with this bylaw shall be subject to
an additional fine of $300 for each violation.
C.
An
alarm dispatch request caused by actual criminal offense, or with
evidence of a criminal attempt, or resulting solely from power outages
or extreme weather conditions shall not be counted as a false alarm
dispatch.
D.
The
Alarm Administrator may reinstate a suspended permit upon receipt
of acceptable evidence that the cause has been addressed and appropriate
corrective action has been taken.
E.
A
person whose alarm permit has been revoked may be issued a new permit
if the person:
F.
The
Alarm Administrator may require an alarm system be equipped with a
battery backup or other device so as to prevent the signaling of a
private intrusion alarm in the event of an AC power failure.
G.
Intentional
causing of a false private intrusion alarm shall be considered a serious
issue resulting in a fine of $300.
H.
Any
person who has neglected any fee or fine due as the result of this
bylaw may have said fee or fines added to the Town of Williamstown
municipal tax bill for the property where the alarm system involved
is located.
I.
An
alarm user can appeal a false alarm determination to the Town Manager
within 10 days of the actual event.
A.
In addition to suspension or revocation pursuant to § 8-6, the Alarm Administrator may suspend or revoke an alarm permit if it is determined that:
B.
A
person commits an offense if he operates an alarm system during the
period in which his alarm permit is suspended or revoked.
C.
Unless
there is a separate indication that there is a crime in progress,
the Chief of Police or officer-in-charge of the shift may refuse police
response to an alarm dispatch request at an alarm site for which the
alarm permit has been revoked.
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 such action and a statement of the right to an appeal to the alarm
user and the alarm business. The alarm user may appeal the decision
of the Alarm Administrator to the Town Manager by filing a written
request for a review setting forth the reasons for the appeal within
10 days after receipt of the notice from the Alarm Administrator.
An alarm business may submit the request for review on behalf of an
alarm user. Filing a request for an appeal shall stay the action by
the Alarm Administrator suspending or revoking a permit until the
Town Manager has completed his review. If a request for an appeal
is not made within the ten-day period, the action of the Alarm Administrator
shall be final. The decision of the Town Manager on appeals shall
be final.
B.
The
Town Manager shall conduct an appeal and consider the evidence by
any interested person(s). The Town Manager will render a written decision
within 30 days after the request for an appeal hearing is filed. The
Town Manager may affirm, reverse, or modify the action of the Alarm
Administrator. The decision of the Town Manager shall be final.
A.
The
Treasurer-Tax Collector, upon authorization by the Town Manager, shall
institute civil proceedings to enforce the collection provisions of
this bylaw.
B.
Any
police officer of the Town may utilize the noncriminal disposition
procedure set forth in the Code of the Town of Williamstown[1] or may file an application for a criminal complaint with
the Trial Court of the Commonwealth, District Court, Northern Berkshire
Division, to enforce the provisions of this bylaw.
A.
Notwithstanding the provisions of this article, the Town, its departments,
officers, agents and employees, shall be under no obligation whatsoever
concerning the adequacy, operation, or maintenance of any alarm system
or alarm system monitoring facilities of private contractors or within
the police station.
A.
Except as otherwise required by law, the information furnished and
secured pursuant to this bylaw shall be confidential in character,
shall not be subject to public inspection and shall be kept so that
the contents thereof shall not be known except to persons charged
with the administration of this bylaw.
B.
Municipal departments of the Town of Williamstown are exempt from
fees required by this bylaw.
C.
The provisions of this bylaw are separable, and if any article, section
or subsection, sentence, clause or phrase of this bylaw is for any
reason held to be invalid or unconstitutional by the decision of any
court of competent jurisdiction, such decision shall not affect the
validity of the remaining portions of this bylaw.