[HISTORY: Adopted by the Mayor and Council
of the Borough of Park Ridge 6-11-1979 by Ord. No. 79-7. Amendments noted where
applicable.]
[Amended 10-12-1982 by Ord. No. 82-21]
The purpose of this chapter is to provide standards
and regulations for the various types of alarm systems and proprietary
systems which, either audibly or by direct line, radio, telephone
or other means, alert the Police Department of the Borough of Park
Ridge and elicit a response therefrom. The objective of this chapter
is to decrease the number of false alarms which are detrimental to
the citizens of Park Ridge and which imperil members of the Police
Department of the Borough of Park Ridge.
[Amended 10-12-1982 by Ord. No. 82-21]
The provisions of this chapter shall apply to
any person who operates, maintains or owns any alarm system or proprietary
system designed to summon the Police Department, Fire Department or
any other municipal agency to any location in response to the alarm
signal.
As used in this chapter, the following terms
shall have the meanings indicated:
The transmission of a signal or message as the result of
the activation of an alarm system.
Any mechanical or electrical device, including telephone
alarm devices, designed or used for the detection of an unauthorized
entry or fire in a building, structure, facility or enclosed area,
which transmits a signal or message, when activated, to police headquarters.
Any person on whose premises an alarm system is maintained
within the Borough.
The activation of an alarm system through mechanical failure,
malfunction, improper installation or negligence of the owner or lessee
of an alarm system, or of his employees or agents, but does not include
alarms caused by hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes or other violent
conditions or by interruptions of electrical power on a community-wide
basis.
Includes any natural person, partnership, corporation, association,
business, club or organization.
An alarm used to alert or signal persons in and on the premises
in which the alarm is located of an attempted, unauthorized intrusion
and not transmitting such signal to police headquarters.
[Amended 10-12-1982 by Ord. No. 82-21]
Any device which, when activated, automatically transmits
by telephone line a recorded alarm message or electronic, mechanical
alarm signal to any telephone instrument installed at police headquarters
or the communications system of the Borough.
A.
Every alarm user shall register any alarm system or
proprietary system covered by these regulations with the Chief of
Police within 90 days from the final passage of this chapter. The
application for registration shall contain, at least, the location
of the device, the name and address of the installer of the device,
the type of device, provisions relating to false alarms and testing
procedures, a list of persons to be contacted in the event of an alarm
and other information as may be required by the Chief of Police.
[Amended 10-12-1982 by Ord. No. 82-21]
B.
No person may install or cause to be installed an
alarm system or proprietary system without first registering said
alarm system or proprietary system with the Police Department of the
Borough of Park Ridge.
[Amended 10-12-1982 by Ord. No. 82-21]
C.
The fee for the registration of an alarm system or
proprietary system shall be $10. No fee shall be charged to amend,
revise or supplement an application. Persons having alarms installed
as of the effective date of this chapter shall not be charged a fee;
however, an application must be made to ensure that all information
is current and correct.
[Amended 10-12-1982 by Ord. No. 82-21]
D.
Registration fees are payable to the Borough of Park
Ridge and are separate and distinct from any fees which may be payable
to alarm companies maintaining alarm user systems. Public agencies,
supported by tax dollars, and religious organizations shall be required
to meet all registration requirements but shall be exempt from the
payment of registration fees, service fees and penalties provided
herein; however, said agencies and organizations are expected to abide
by the spirit of this chapter.
E.
Restricted use of registration forms. The information
contained in the registration form required by this section and other
information received by the Chief of Police shall be regarded as confidential
and shall be securely maintained and restricted to inspection only
by the law enforcement officer or authorized personnel specifically
assigned the responsibility of handling and processing alarm user
registration forms in the course of official duties.
[Amended 10-12-1982 by Ord. No. 82-21]
A.
Persons having alarm systems or proprietary systems
shall be required to leave with the Chief of Police the name of a
person or persons who can be reached in case of a malfunction of the
equipment in order that the device can be temporarily disconnected.
In lieu thereof, this requirement can be fulfilled by leaving a tagged
key to the premises with the Chief of Police of the Borough of Park
Ridge, provided that, in so doing, the owner thereby releases the
Borough of Park Ridge and the Police Department from any claims of
damage or loss in connection with said entry.
B.
Persons having alarm systems or proprietary systems
which are being tested or repaired shall notify the Police Department
before tests or repairs commence and after completion of the same
so as to avoid the possibility of activating a false alarm.
A.
In the case of false alarms, any person having knowledge
thereof shall immediately notify the Police Department in the fastest
possible manner.
B.
The Chief of Police shall cause investigations to
be made of all false alarms and keep a record of said alarms on file.
For such false alarms, the Mayor and Council prescribe the following:
For the first and second false alarms in any given calendar year,
there shall be a written warning issued; for the third false alarm
in the same calendar year, a service fee of $25 shall be paid to the
Borough of Park Ridge; for the fourth false alarm and for each successive
false alarm, a service fee of $50 for each false alarm shall be charged.
After four false alarms in any given calendar year, the Mayor and
Council reserves the right to require that the alarm user appear before
the governing body to explain why false alarms are occurring and to
report what steps are being taken to reduce false alarms in the future.
A.
The person shall assume sole responsibility for maintenance
of all equipment on a twenty-four-hour-per-day basis. Service to malfunctioning
equipment shall be provided within the eight-hour period next following
notification by the Police Department.
B.
No telephone alarm device shall be installed which
does not deactivate within five minutes of its activation.
C.
No external alarm device shall be installed which
does not automatically deactivate within 10 minutes of its initial
activation.
[Added 10-12-1982 by Ord. No. 82-21]
The Chief of Police may from time to time promulgate
rules and regulations supplementing this chapter in order to provide
for recordkeeping and efficient management of said system; provided,
however, that said rules and regulations, or any revisions thereof,
shall not take effect until first approved by resolution of the Borough
Council.
Any person found guilty in the Municipal Court
of the Borough of Park Ridge of violating any provision of this chapter
for which a fee or charge is not otherwise fixed herein shall be subject
to a fine of not more than $500 or imprisonment for a period of not
more than 90 days, or both.
