[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town of Ridgefield
as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]
[Adopted 4-22-1982 (Ch. 2 1/2 of the 1974 Code)]
The purpose of this article is to control and
eliminate, insofar as possible, the safety hazard to the members of
the Ridgefield Police Department and to the general public as well
as the unnecessary expense to the Town caused by false alarms resulting
from the improper installation, maintenance and/or use of burglar
alarm devices and to promote the responsible use of burglar alarm
devices in Ridgefield.
For the purpose of this article the following
definitions shall apply:
Any device, assembly or equipment which, when activated by
an illegal entry or other criminal act or other activity requiring
urgent attention, is intended or arranged to transmit a signal to
police headquarters, or transmit a signal to a person or equipment
which relays information to police headquarters, or produces an audible
and/or visible signal to which the Police Department is expected to
respond.
The owner of any premises situated within the Town of Ridgefield whereat an alarm device is used or installed; provided, however, that a non-owner-occupant who expressly accepts responsibility for an alarm device by registration pursuant to § 112-3 shall be deemed an alarm user.
Any activation of an alarm device to which the Police Department
responds and which activation is not caused by an illegal entry or
other criminal act or other emergency. The words "false alarm" shall
not include an activation of an alarm device caused by the malfunction
of telephone company equipment or lines or power failure as verified
by police headquarters.
A.
Each alarm user shall register his alarm device or
devices with the Chief of Police or his designee prior to use, provided
that alarm devices in use as of the effective date of this article
may be registered no later than 30 days from such date.
B.
Alarm device registration shall be accomplished by
the owner filling out a form provided at police headquarters to include
such information concerning the identity, business and home address
and telephone numbers of the prospective alarm user, the identity
of the manufacturer and supplier of the proposed alarm device, and
the nature of the proposed alarm device as the Chief of Police may
require.
C.
It shall be the responsibility of each alarm user
to notify the Chief of Police in writing of changes in registration
information.
A.
When the Police Department shall respond to an alarm
device which has been activated it shall notify the alarm user who
shall be responsible to immediately cause the premises to be secured
and the alarm device reset, unless the Police Department has not concluded
its investigation of the premises, in which case the alarm user shall
cause the premises to be secured and the alarm device reset when so
directed by the Police Department.
B.
In the event that the Police Department is unable
to ascertain the identity of an alarm user, or is unable to contact
the alarm user, or if the alarm user shall fail to arrive at the premises
to secure the same and reset the alarm device, the police units at
the premises shall, upon concluding their visit to the premises, secure
the building in which the alarm device is located in such a manner
as conditions shall reasonably permit. The Ridgefield Police Department
shall not be required to make further responses to the subject premises
until such time as the alarm device has been properly reset and the
Police Department is so notified.
A.
In the event that the Police Department shall respond
to more than one false alarm being generated from or with regard to
the same premises by dispatching a police officer or officers thereto
in any single calendar month, the alarm user shall be fined the amount
of $25 for the second and third such false alarm and the amount of
$50 for the fourth and subsequent such false alarms in any single
calendar month.
B.
In the event that the Chief of Police or his designee should determine that the Police Department has previously responded to a false alarm at the same premises within the same calendar month, a police officer shall, upon or subsequent to the Police Department's having responded to a second or subsequent false alarm in the same calendar month, serve upon the alarm user, or leave at the premises of the alarm user, a notice directing the alarm user to appear at the Police Department on or before a certain date specified in such notice, being at least 15 days subsequent to the service of such notice, to pay the amount specified therein in accordance with Subsection A hereof.
C.
In the event that the alarm user wishes to contest the levying of said fine or the amount thereof, he shall file a notice of appeal with the Chief of Police within the aforesaid fifteen-day period referred to in Subsection B. Such notice shall include information to show that the activation of the alarm device was not a false alarm or was not a second or subsequent false alarm within the same calendar month.
D.
Upon receipt of a timely appeal from a false alarm
charge as aforesaid, the Chief of Police shall forward said appeal
with all supporting documents to the Chairman of the Board of Police
Commissioners of the Town of Ridgefield. The Board of Police Commissioners
shall, at its next regularly scheduled meeting, consider the appeal;
provided, however, that the Board of Police Commissioners shall first
mail notice of the time and place of such meeting to the alarm user
who shall have the right to be heard in support of his appeal.
E.
The Board of Police Commissioners, upon considering all information presented by the Chief of Police or his designee and by the alarm user, shall affirm, rescind, or modify the fine levied against the alarm user to conform to Subsection A.
F.
All fines collected as the result of false alarms
pursuant to this article shall be deposited to the general funds of
the Town of Ridgefield.
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 device or of the alarm monitoring facilities
at police and fire headquarters. No liability whatsoever is assumed
for the failure of such alarm devices or monitoring facilities, or
for failure to respond to alarms, or for any other act or omission
in connection with such alarm devices. Each alarm user shall be deemed
to hold and save harmless the Town, its Departments, officers, agents
and employees from liability in connection with the alarm user's alarm
device.
The Town of Ridgefield may institute civil proceedings
and/or applicable criminal proceedings to enforce the provisions and
purposes of this article.
The provisions of this article shall not apply
to alarm devices on premises owned or controlled by the Town, including
the Board of Education.
[Adopted 4-13-1988 (Ch. 4 1/2, Art. II of the 1974
Code); amended 5-23-1990]
The proliferation of fire alarm systems monitored
by the Ridgefield Fire Department has imposed an increasing burden
on said Department. In addition, the erroneous and mistaken use of
fire alarm systems and those that are not installed, maintained or
operated properly has resulted in increased service calls by the Fire
Department and is creating a hazard to the members of the Department
and to the general public. The purpose of this article is to regulate
the use of said alarm systems and to reduce the incidence of false
alarms.
All alarm systems in the Town of Ridgefield
that transmit a signal to the Fire Department or a central monitoring
system are subject to a local alarm ordinance. The Town of Ridgefield
and Board of Education shall only be exempt from all fines.
As used in this article, the following terms
shall have the meanings indicated:
Any assembly of equipment, mechanical or electrical, arranged
to transmit a signal to the Department or to a central monitoring
system of the occurrence of a fire emergency to which fire fighters
are expected to respond.
Any alarm system which automatically sends over regular telephone
lines, by direct connection or otherwise, a prerecorded voice message
or coded signal indicating the existence of a fire emergency.
The Chief of the Ridgefield Fire Department or such other
officer as the Chief shall appoint as his designee.
The Ridgefield Fire Department.
ERROR or MISTAKEAny action by any alarm system permit holder owning, leasing, operating or controlling an alarm system installed in any dwelling, building or place in the Town of Ridgefield or any action by any agent or employee of, or anyone in privity with, said person, which results in the unintentional activation of said alarm system when no fire emergency exists.
MALFUNCTIONAny unintentional activation of any alarm system caused by a flaw in design or installation of or the improper maintenance of the system. This shall not include any activation caused by violent conditions of nature or other extraordinary circumstance, not reasonably subject to the control of the alarm system permit holder.
INTENTIONAL MISUSEAny intentional activation of an alarm system when no fire emergency is in progress.
Any person, firm, corporation or other entity.
A.
No person shall place any alarm system in service
or cause any such system to be placed within the Town of Ridgefield
until such time as said alarm system has been registered with the
Department and a permit for said system issued. Any alarm system in
service on the effective date of this article shall be registered
with the Department and a permit for said system issued. Any existing
alarm system in service on the effective date of this article shall
be registered with the Department within 120 days of said effective
date. All new systems shall be registered with the Department prior
to being placed in service. Alarm system permits may be obtained by
completion of a registration form provided by the Department. It shall
be the responsibility of each permit holder to notify the Department
in writing within 48 hours of any change in registration information.
Any person who violates this section will be fined $100.
B.
In addition to any other information requested on
the registration form, the registrant shall submit the names, addresses
and telephone numbers of at least two persons who shall have access
to said building and alarm system and the knowledge and ability to
make, and the responsibility for making, said alarm secure in case
of activation.
C.
In addition, registration information shall include
the name, address and telephone number of the person responsible for
servicing the alarm system.
Except for one- and two-family dwellings, the
following regulations shall apply:
A.
No alarm system shall be installed until the plans
and specifications relating to said alarm system have been approved
by the Chief of the Department.
B.
The location of alarm system components shall be provided
on a floor plan to be kept at the site of the alarm system in or adjacent
to the alarm system panel.
C.
Prior to the issuance of a permit, any permit applicant
may install a key box in a location approved by the Fire Department.
Said key box shall contain keys to the structure served by the alarm
system.
Unless required by law, no alarm system which
produces an exterior audible signal shall be installed unless its
operation is automatically restricted to a maximum of 30 minutes.
Any exterior audible alarm system in use as of the effective date
of this article must comply with this section within 120 days of such
date.
All equipment and installation for fire alarm
systems shall meet the standards of the Connecticut Fire Code and
the National Fire Protection Association.
The Department has established a policy that
no automatic dialing devices for signaling of fire emergency shall
be connected to 911 or the Fire Department directly. All such automatic
dialing devices shall transmit an emergency message to another location
where an authorized person is available to respond to the emergency
message and to secure the premises in which the alarm system is installed
and all information, if available, for Fire Department use. All central
monitoring companies shall comply with the Fire Department's request
for information.
A.
The Chief shall establish a policy of gaining entry
to all buildings to check for fire if a fire alarm is sounding.
B.
Except as provided in this section and in § 112-21, when any alarm system is activated, the Department shall respond to the alarm and notify the person or persons listed in the registration form as having responsibility for securing said alarm system. Said person shall immediately go to the place where the alarm is sounding to meet the fire officers, secure the building, and reset the alarm. Should any person responsible for securing and resetting any alarm system, when notified of its activation, refuse to respond pursuant to this section, or not be available, the officers on the scene shall check the property thoroughly and secure the location as much as possible. The Department shall not be required to make any further responses to that building, dwelling or place until such time as said alarm system has been properly reset.
C.
If any dwelling, building or place is required by
law to maintain a fire alarm system, as herein defined, and if said
alarm system fails to function and cannot be returned to service within
a reasonable time, and if in the opinion of the Chief of the Department
the absence of a properly functioning alarm system may pose a threat
to life and property, the Chief of the Department or the Fire Marshal
may require the special duty assignment of one or more fire fighters
to patrol the premises until the alarm system has been returned to
service. The cost of any special duty assignment shall be the responsibility
of the alarm system permit holder. Payment for such special duty services
shall be made at such rates and in accordance with such terms as are
established pursuant to the collective bargaining agreement then in
effect between the Town of Ridgefield and Local 1739, LAFF, ALF-CIO;
provided, however, that notwithstanding the provisions of the immediately
preceding sentence, payments shall be in an amount not less than that
required to reimburse fire fighters at 1 1/2 times their regular
salary for a period of four hours or the actual number of hours worked,
whichever is greater.
A.
No alarm system shall be activated by error or mistake,
or malfunction in any dwelling, building or place when no fire emergency
which results in the response of the Department exists.
B.
The following fines and charges shall be imposed upon the alarm system permit holder for activation of any alarm system by error or mistake or malfunction, as the case may be, in violation of Subsection A hereof:
(1)
Up to three such false alarms may occur in any calendar
year without the imposition of a penalty.
(2)
The fourth such false fire alarm and every such subsequent
false fire alarm during any calendar year shall result in a fine of
$100 per false alarm. In addition, such persons shall be responsible
for and shall bear the verifiable expense of responding to any such
false alarm. Said expenses shall be determined by the Chief of the
Department and billed to the responsible party or parties; provided,
however, that no such charges, exclusive of any penalty imposed, shall
exceed $300 per response.
C.
After the first and second false alarm, a written
warning shall be sent to the alarm system permit holder.
D.
After the third such false alarm, a written order
shall be issued to the alarm system permit holder requiring the alarm
system to be inspected and the Department notified of corrective action
taken.
E.
A thirty-day grace period will be granted for all
newly installed fire alarm systems. Additional time may be granted
by the Chief of the Department.
A.
No person shall knowingly or intentionally activate
any alarm system when no fire emergency exists. Any person who violates
this subsection shall be fined $100 and, where applicable, may additionally
be subject to prosecution under the Connecticut General Statutes for
falsely reporting an incident. In addition, such persons shall be
responsible for and shall bear the verifiable expense of responding
to any such false alarm. Said expense shall be determined by the Chief
of the Department and billed to the responsible party or parties;
provided, however, that no such charge, exclusive of any penalty imposed,
shall exceed $300 per response.
B.
No person shall knowingly or intentionally test, repair,
adjust, alter, or perform maintenance on an alarm system, or cause
the same to be tested, repaired, adjusted, altered or maintained,
if such action could result in a false alarm, without first notifying
the Department of such test, repair, adjustment, alteration or maintenance.
The Chief of the Department may restrict or refuse to permit the testing,
repair, adjustment, alteration or maintenance. Any person who violates
this subsection will be issued one written registered warning. The
second and subsequent false alarms shall be fined $100 and shall bear
the verifiable expense of the responding to any such false alarm.
Said expense shall be determined by the Chief of the Department and
billed to the responsible party or parties; provided, however, that
no such charge, exclusive of any penalty imposed, shall exceed $300
per response.
Fines may be paid only during normal Town business
hours at the Department. Data information is also subject to these
hours.
If any person fails to pay within 30 days any
fine or charge imposed, interest shall accrue at the highest rate
allowed by law. A lien may be obtained on the property protected by
the alarm system if any person fails to pay any fine or charge within
60 days, in addition to criminal enforcement which might be initiated
for delinquent fines.
A.
The Town shall be under no duty or obligation to maintain
a dispatch panel, communication console, receiving module or other
specialized equipment for the monitoring of alarm systems. The installation
and maintenance of alarm systems permitted by this article shall be
made at no cost to the Town.
B.
No liability whatsoever is assumed by the Town of
Ridgefield for the failure to respond to alarms or for any other act
or omission in connection with such alarm systems. Each alarm system
permit holder shall be deemed to hold and save harmless the Town,
its Department, officers, agents and employees from liability in connection
with the permit holder's alarm system.
