[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Board of the Town of Stanford 9-14-2000
by L.L. No. 5-2000. Amendments noted where applicable.]
The Town of Stanford recognizes the need for externally audible alarms
as a protection against and as a deterrent to the burglary of structures or
fires or other emergencies for structures located in the Town of Stanford.
The Town of Stanford declares, however, that the reasonable objectives of
externally audible alarms are accomplished when the sound associated with
their operation persists for not more than 20 minutes. The operation of externally
audible alarms for more than 20 minutes does not serve any legitimate objective
or purpose. The sound associated with the operation of an externally audible
alarm becomes unreasonable after 20 minutes of operation and constitutes a
public nuisance.
For the purposes of this article, the following terms shall have the
meanings respectively ascribed:
- ALARM
- Shall include any burglar, theft, fire, heat or other emergency alarm which emits audible noise, whether internally or externally in a structure, business or dwelling, including, but not limited to, alarms with automatic dialers to central station monitoring facilities or emergency response agencies.
- EXTERNALLY AUDIBLE ALARMS
- Any warning device designed to produce an audible sound when triggered by the unauthorized entry into or tampering with the structure to which it is affixed. An externally audible alarm may be located wholly within a structure, provided that it emits a sound which is audible outside of the structure.
- OPERATION
- The continuous or intermittent emission of a sound from an alarm.
- OWNER/LESSEE
- Any natural person, partnership, corporation, association or other legal entity.
- SOUND
- The noise produced by a horn, siren, bell, buzzer, voice recording or any other device the principal purpose of which is to create a noise to attract attention or to give warning.
A.
No person shall affix an alarm to or install an alarm
on or within any structure within the Town of Stanford or cause the same to
be done without first securing a permit from the Town of Stanford.
B.
Applications for permits shall be made by the owner or
lessee or person employed in connection with the proposed work. Every person
desiring to obtain said permit shall file with the Town of Stanford Building
Inspector a written application upon a blank form prepared and furnished by
the Town of Stanford. An application must be accompanied by a fee of $10 before
a permit is issued.
(1)
Such application shall contain the following information:
(a)
The name, residence address and telephone number of the
owner/lessee of the premises, and the Tax Grid number of the property on which
the alarm is installed, along with the Dutchess County E-911 property address
for the premises for which the alarm is installed.
(b)
The name, address and telephone number of any one other
person other than the owner/lessee who is authorized to respond to an emergency
and open the building where the alarm system is installed to reset the alarm.
(c)
In the case of a business location, the owner/lessee
shall provide the names of at least three persons to contact in case of an
emergency and who have access to the building to reset the alarm.
(d)
A statement that the external audible alarm is capable
of and shall automatically terminate its operation within 20 minutes of its
being activated.
It shall be unlawful for the owner/lessee having possession or custody
of any structure to which an externally audible burglar alarm is connected
or affixed to permit to suffer or allow the operation of that externally audible
alarm for a period in excess of 20 minutes. Such operation constitutes a public
nuisance. In addition to any other penalty permitted or allowed under the
laws of the State of New York, any person convicted of a violation of this
section shall pay a fine of $50 for the first offense, $100 for the second
offense and $200 for each offense thereafter.
The Town of Stanford recognizes the need and legitimate purpose of burglar
alarm systems in buildings and structures which may be connected directly
to the Stanford Fire District, including the Stanford Fire Company or Rescue
Squad, a central monitoring system, Emergency Response (E-911) or the Sheriff
or State Police, so as to trigger a response and investigation by any of the
above entities. The Town of Stanford finds, however, that there have been
frequent false alarms to the Stanford Fire District, including the Stanford
Fire Company or Rescue Squad, because of alarm malfunctions. This has resulted
in the unnecessary response by the Stanford Fire Company or the Rescue Squad
to alarms and needless waste of fire, rescue and law enforcement resources
which are necessary to protect the public safety, health and welfare. This
section is designed to remedy the problem of false alarms to the Stanford
Fire District. including the Stanford Fire Company or Rescue Squad.
For purposes of this article, the following terms shall have the meanings
respectively ascribed:
- ALARM SYSTEM
- Any mechanical or electrical device or system which is designed or used for the detection of any unauthorized entry into a building, structure or facility or used for mechanically or electronically alerting others to the commission of an unlawful act, whether installed within or without the building. This system produces a signal, message or warning directly to Emergency Response (E-911), the Stanford Fire District, including the Stanford Fire Company or Rescue Squad, to some other location which is then reported, referred, telephoned, transmitted or in some other manner communicated to Emergency Response (E-911), the Stanford Fire District, including the Stanford Fire Company or Rescue Squad, by any method whatsoever, including but not limited to the owner of a business or his/her employee or representative, an alarm company or its representative, an answering service or any other person reacting to or responding to said signal, message, warning or any audible alarm which requires immediate investigation and response by the Department. Said alarm system shall include but not be limited to telephonic or wireless alarm systems, which are defined to mean any mechanism, equipment or device which is designed to operate automatically through the use of public telephone, radio, satellite or wireless communication facilities to transmit a signal, message or warning to another location.
- FALSE ALARM
- The activation of the alarm system because of but not limited to mechanical failure, malfunction, improper installation or negligence by a person or when activation results in a response by the Stanford Fire District, including the Stanford Fire Company or Rescue Squad, where an emergency does not exist. False alarms do not include alarms caused by hurricanes, tornadoes or other violent weather conditions.
- PERSON
- A natural person, firm, partnership, association or corporation or representative or agent of said entities who is the owner or lessee of an alarm system.
A.
No person shall install an alarm system on or within
any structure within the Town of Stanford or cause the same to be done without
first securing a permit from the Town of Stanford.
B.
Applications for permits shall be made by the owner or
lessee or person employed in connection with the installation of the alarm
system. Every person desiring to obtain said permit shall file with the Town
of Stanford Building Inspector a written application upon a blank form prepared
and furnished by the Town of Stanford. An application must be accompanied
by a fee of $10 before a permit is issued.
(1)
Such application shall contain the following information:
(a)
The name, residence address and telephone number of the
owner/lessee of the premises, and the Tax Grid number of the property on which
the alarm is installed, along with the Dutchess County E-911 property address
for the premises for which the alarm is installed.
(b)
The name, address and telephone number of any one other
person other than the owner/lessee who is authorized to respond to an emergency
and open the building where the alarm system is installed to disconnect or
reset the alarm.
(c)
In the case of a business location, the owner/lessee
shall provide the names of at least three persons to contact in case of an
emergency and who have access to the building to reset the alarm.
(d)
Name, address and telephone number of the installer of
the system and company who will monitor the alarm system and report alarms
to the Fire Department.
(3)
All persons operating or maintaining an existing alarm
system must obtain a permit within 90 days after the effective date of this
article.
A.
The failure of any person to comply with the provisions
of this article requiring the filing for and obtaining of a permit shall result
in a fine in the amount of $50.
B.
Penalties for false alarms.
(1)
Upon the fourth false alarm in any one calendar year,
a person shall be subjected to a fine of $50 for that false alarm, $100 for
the fifth false alarm and $200 for each false alarm thereafter.
(2)
Written notice by certified mail through the United States
Postal Service shall be sent from the Chief of the Stanford Fire District,
including the Stanford Fire Company and Rescue Squad, or the Building Inspector
or Code Enforcement Officer to the person who is listed as the owner or lessee
of the alarm system after the third false alarm in any one calendar year stating
that fines in the amounts of $50 to $200 will be payable for subsequent false
alarms. The failure of such written notice to be sent or received shall not
act as a bar to the enforcement of this regulation.
C.
Violators shall be prosecuted and penalties shall be collected in the manner prescribed by law or ordinance effective in the Town of Stanford, including the right of a fire official, Building Inspector or Zoning Enforcement Officer of the Town of Stanford to issue an appearance ticket for Town of Stanford Justice Court for a violation of this article. A violation of this article is punishable by a fine as set forth in Subsections A and B of this section.
