[HISTORY: Adopted by the Village Board of the Village of
Wrightstown 3-17-2009 by Ord. No. 03172009A. Amendments noted
where applicable.]
This chapter shall be known as "The Village of Wrightstown Security
Alarm Systems Ordinance," and may be referred to in this chapter as
"the code."
The purpose of this chapter is to reduce the number of false
alarms by eliminating those which are preventable or avoidable and
to establish control of the various types of alarm systems that would
require Police and/or Fire Department response at the location of
an event reported by a signal which is transmitted by telephone or
radio or which is otherwise relayed to the emergency communications
center by a signal activated by an automated alarm device, including
such devices already in use within the Village.
A.
Requirement. An alarm business shall not alter, install, lease, maintain,
repair, replace or service any alarm system in the Village of Wrightstown
without first obtaining an alarm permit. An alarm user who uses an
alarm system without the assistance of an alarm business must also
obtain an alarm permit. If an alarm user who uses an alarm system
without the assistance of an alarm business transfers the possession
of the premises, the property owner obtaining possession of the property
shall obtain an alarm permit or shall contract with a licensed alarm
business for services within 30 days of obtaining possession of the
property if they continue to use the alarm system. Alarm permits are
not required for fire alarms. Alarm permits are not transferable.
B.
Application. An alarm business or alarm user desiring to secure a
permit shall make application to the Village Clerk and shall furnish
all information deemed necessary by the Clerk.
A.
An alarm business shall use enhanced call verification or verified
response prior to requesting a response by emergency services. Enhanced
call verification or verified response shall not be used for holdup,
duress, panic or fire alarms.
B.
Any alarm equipment installed by an alarm business after the effective
date of this chapter shall meet the ANSI/SIA CP-01 standards.
C.
A central alarm monitoring station used by an alarm business shall
meet the Underwriters Laboratory (UL) or Factory Mutual (FM) standards.
D.
An alarm business shall keep current records of client information,
including, but not limited to, names of alarm users, keyholders, addresses,
phone numbers and other contact information to be used for enhanced
call verification and keyholder notification. The alarm business shall
provide this information to the central monitoring station.
E.
An alarm business shall provide written and oral instructions explaining
the proper use and operation of the alarm system to each of its alarm
users. In addition, an alarm business shall take reasonable steps
to educate all alarm users in order to minimize the number of false
alarms.
F.
An alarm business or representative shall be responsible for notifying
a keyholder for the premises when a request is made for response by
the Police Department.
G.
If an alarm user uses an alarm system without the assistance of an
alarm business, the alarm user is subject to the same duties as an
alarm business.
No person shall use, or cause to permit to be used, any telephone
or electronic device or attachment that automatically selects a public
primary telephone trunk line of the Police Department, Fire Department
or emergency communications center and then reproduces any prerecorded
message to report any unlawful act, fire or other emergency.
A.
Assessment. Any fees payable to the Village which are delinquent
may be assessed against the property involved as a special charge
for current service, without notice, pursuant to § 66.0627,
Wis. Stats.
B.
Fee. If the Police and/or Fire Department respond to a false alarm, the alarm user shall pay the Village a fee subject to the provisions as set forth in Chapter 102, Fees and Penalties.
C.
Discontinuance of response. If the Police and/or Fire Department
is cancelled by the emergency communications center while responding
to an alarm, the alarm user may still be assessed a fee for a false
alarm.
[Amended 3-1-2022 by Ord. No. 03012022B]
D.
Exceptions; appeals. A fee shall not be charged if any of the following
apply:
[Amended 3-1-2022 by Ord. No. 03012022B]
(1)
The alarm was activated by criminal activity or a legitimate emergency.
(2)
The alarm was activated after a power outage that lasted more than
four hours.
(3)
The alarm was activated after the premises was damaged by weather
conditions.
(4)
An alarm user may appeal the assessment of a false alarm fee by submitting
written documentation to the Police Chief, or Fire Chief or his/her
designee within 10 business days after notification of the assessment
of a fee. Upon receiving the appeal, the Police Chief, or Fire Chief
or his/her designee must inform the alarm user of the decision on
the appeal in writing. If the alarm user further contests the decision
on the first appeal based on the decision of the Police Chief, or
Fire Chief or his/her designee within 10 days of receiving the decision, the
alarm user may seek review by the Public Safety Committee by submitting
a written notification to the Village Clerk's office.
Any person, alarm user or alarm business that violates any of the provisions of this chapter may be subject to forfeiture as set forth in Chapter 102, Fees and Penalties. Each day that a violation occurs shall be considered a separate offense.
None of the provisions of this chapter shall prevent the Village
from providing special alarm monitoring services as may be required
because of medical reasons or communicative disorders.
