[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Trustees of the Village of Head-of-the-Harbor 10-23-1982
by L.L. No. 2-1982. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Noise — See Ch. 116.
The number of false alarms from burglary alarm systems in the village
has been increasing steadily. The principal causes are defects in design,
faulty installation and careless operation by owners. The result of such alarms
is that police are diverted from their work of safeguarding the village, communication
of genuine alarms is impeded and innocent people near the premises of a false
alarm may be needlessly harassed by the police. False burglary alarms are,
therefore, a hazard to the safety and welfare of the community and are public
nuisances.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings
indicated:
The owner or occupant of premises with an alarm system.
A mechanism designed to detect and signal, audibly or silently, an
unauthorized entry into a building, an unauthorized event or an emergency.
An alarm signal of an alarm system which is not the result of a fire,
crime or other emergency.
[Amended 9-20-2000 by L.L. No. 6-2000]
A.
More than three false alarms in any six-month period
is unlawful, except that an owner may test an alarm system on prior notice
to the Police Department of the village.
B.
Every alarm system with an audible alarm shall be constructed
to terminate its signal within 15 minutes after the alarm sounds. After 15
minutes, the Police Department of the Village shall have the right, after
proper investigation, to enter the premises to disconnect the alarm, and provided
further that the Police Department is unable to obtain entry from the owner
or residents of the premises. The Police Department of the Village shall secure
the premises after such entry, if any.
[Amended 9-20-2000 by L.L. No. 6-2000]
[Added 9-20-2000 by L.L. No. 6-2000]
It shall be a violation of this chapter to intentionally cause a false
alarm, and any person who intentionally does cause a false alarm shall be
subject to the penalty provisions of this chapter.
A.
Anyone who violates a provision of this chapter shall
be subject to a fine or imprisonment, up to the maximum that may be imposed
in a village court, or both.
[Amended 5-12-1990 by L.L. No. 3-1990]
B.
The provisions of this chapter shall be in addition to
any other civil or criminal cause of action against an alarm owner.
[Added 9-20-2000 by L.L. No. 6-2000]
False alarms proven to be set off by animals, acts of nature or acts of God shall not be unlawful or subject to the penalty provisions of § 53-4A.
