[1]
Editor's Note: This chapter title formerly read "Alarm Systems,"
but was renamed 8-10-1993 by Ord. No. 3366, § 1.
[Ord. No. 1770, § 1; amended by Ord. No. 1966, 10-5-1982, § 1]
The purpose of this chapter is to provide standards and regulations
for various types of burglar alarm and emergency medical alarm devices,
including those which produce a visual or audible signal and those
which by direct line, radio, telephone or other means actuate a device
at police headquarters in the Township of Teaneck and require a response
thereto by the Police Department, and to decrease the number of false
alarms which are detrimental to the Township of Teaneck and its citizens.
[Ord. No. 1770, § 2; amended by Ord. No. 1891, 12-2-1980, § 1; Ord. No. 1966, 10-5-1982, §§ 2, 3]
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
An audible sound or transmission of a signal or message as
the result of the activation of an alarm system.
Any mechanical or electrical device that is arranged, designed
or used to signal the occurrence in the Township of Teaneck of a burglary,
robbery, other criminal offense or medical emergency requiring urgent
attention and to which police or emergency medical personnel are expected
to respond. "Alarm system" includes those through which the Police
Department personnel are notified directly of such signals through
automatic recording devices or are notified indirectly by way of third
persons who monitor the alarm systems and who report such signals
to the Police Department. "Alarm system" also includes those designed
to register a signal which is so audible, visible or in other ways
perceptible outside a protected building, structure or facility as
to notify persons in the neighborhood beyond the zoning lot where
the signal is located, who may in turn notify the Police Department
of the signal. Excluded, however, from this definition of "alarm system"
are devices which are not designed or used to register alarms that
are audible, visible or perceptible outside of the protected building,
structure, facility or enclosed area or auxiliary devices installed
by telephone companies to protect telephone systems from damage or
disruption of service. A proprietary system, defined as an alarm system
installed and used to alert or signal persons within the premises
in which the alarm system is located of an attempted unauthorized
intrusion or holdup attempt and not transmitting such signal to police
headquarters, is excluded from the provisions of this chapter.
Any person on whose premises an alarm system is maintained
within the Township, except for alarm systems on motor vehicles or
proprietary systems. If, however, an alarm system on a motor vehicle
is connected with an alarm system of a building, structure, facility
or enclosed area, other than a proprietary system, then the person
using such system is an alarm user.
A device designed for the detection of unauthorized entry
on the premises or a medical emergency requiring urgent attention
which generates an audible sound when activated.
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.
The Police Chief or any officer employed by and serving under
his direction.
Unless otherwise specified, means written notice given by
delivering a copy thereof to the addressee or by leaving a copy thereof
at his home with a competent member of his household over the age
of 14 years or by leaving a copy thereof at his office with a person
in his employ or by ordinary mail.
Any natural person or individual or any firm, partnership,
association, limited partnership, sole proprietorship or corporation
or any business entity.
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 Township.
The Township of Teaneck.
[Ord. No. 1770, § 3;
amended by Ord. No. 34-2019, 10-29-2019]
(a)
Alarm user registration. Every nonresidential alarm user shall, within
90 days of the effective date of this chapter, register all alarm
systems which operate within the Township with the law enforcement
officer, and no person shall thereafter install or operate an alarm
system without first having registered same.
(b)
Registration form. The registration form shall be furnished by the
law enforcement officer and shall set forth the following information:
name of alarm user; address of premises in or upon which the alarm
system has been or will be installed; telephone number; type of alarm
system (audible, direct connect, dial, etc.); name and telephone number
of at least one person who can be reached and is authorized to respond
to an alarm signal and who can enter the premises in which the alarm
system is installed; and such other pertinent information as may be
required by the law enforcement officer.
(d)
Restricted use of registration forms. The information contained in
the registration form required by this section and other information
received by the law enforcement officer 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.
[Ord. No. 1770, § 4; amended by Ord. No. 3055, 9-16-1986, § 1]
(a)
An alarm system shall be maintained to deactivate within 20 minutes
of its activation. Its failure to do so shall be deemed to be a violation
of this chapter. For a first violation, the alarm user shall be notified,
in writing, that a violation has occurred. If a second violation shall
occur within six months of the first violation, the alarm user shall
be notified, in writing, of the second violation and shall be given
further notice that the system must be corrected within 72 hours after
receipt of the second violation notice. The written notice shall also
advise the user to submit proof to the law enforcement officer that
the user has corrected the system. The failure to furnish such proof
within the period of time directed in the second violation notice
shall also constitute a violation of this chapter.
(b)
An audible alarm system shall be maintained to deactivate within 20 minutes of its activation. Its failure to do so shall be deemed to be a violation of this chapter. If the alarm continues to be audible for a period of one hour or more, the law enforcement officer is hereby authorized and empowered to enter the premises and disconnect the alarm. A service fee shall be assessed against the alarm user in an amount as set forth in Appendix III, Fees and Charges for Certain Township Services, of Chapter 2 of the Code for each time the system is required to be disconnected by the law enforcement officer. Further, the alarm shall not be reactivated unless and until the user submits proof to the law enforcement officer that the user has corrected the system. The failure to furnish such proof shall also constitute a violation of this chapter.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General
Provisions, Art. II)]
(c)
All telephonic alarms shall be keyed to ring the Police Department
headquarters on a special police number to be provided upon request.
This number will be hooked into a code-a-phone mechanism, which will
prevent interruption of normal departmental communications activity.
The service fee schedule is applicable for this class of alarm, as
is the disconnect procedure.
(d)
Any person testing an alarm system covered by the provisions of this
chapter shall notify police headquarters immediately prior to and
after the testing is completed. Failure so to do shall subject such
person to a penalty provided for false alarms.
[Ord. No. 1770, § 5; amended by Ord. No. 3429, 10-17-1995, § 6]
(a)
In the event of the occurrence of three false alarms in a calendar
year, the alarm user shall, within three working days after notice
to do so, complete a written report to the law enforcement officer
setting forth the cause of the false alarms, if known; the corrective
action taken; whether the alarm system has been inspected by an alarm
service company; and such other information as the law enforcement
officer may reasonably require.
(b)
A notice by the law enforcement officer shall be given upon the occurrence of the third false alarm in a calendar year; thereafter, a service fee shall be assessed against the alarm user in accordance with the fee analysis schedule in Chapter 2, Charter/Administrative Code, Appendix III.
(c)
In addition to the service fees provided above, if the fourth false
alarm or any succeeding false alarm has resulted from a failure on
the part of the alarm user to take corrective action after notice
by the law enforcement officer, the law enforcement officer may order
such audible alarm or alarm system to be disconnected. The law enforcement
officer shall serve written notice upon the alarm user, who shall
disconnect the system, which shall not be reconnected unless and until
the requirements of this chapter have been met; provided, however,
that no alarm system shall be disconnected where such system is required
by law to be maintained.
(d)
An alarm system which has been disconnected in accordance with an
order of the law enforcement officer may be reconnected upon satisfactory
proof submitted to the law enforcement officer that the prescribed
corrective action has been taken.
(e)
Failure to remit the required service fee or misuse of the permitted
number of false alarms will result in the disconnection of the alarm
mechanism from the alarm board in the Police Department, upon the
order of the law enforcement officer and after written notice to the
alarm user.
[Ord. No. 1770, § 6]
The law enforcement officer may from time to time promulgate
such rules and regulations as in his judgment are necessary to implement
the provisions of this chapter; subject, however, to prior approval
of the Township Manager.
[Ord. No. 1770, § 8]
Any person, firm or corporation found guilty in the Municipal
Court of the Township of Teaneck 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 $200 or to imprisonment for
a period of not more than 90 days, or both.
[Ord. No. 1770, § 9]
Within five days of the date of service of notice of violation
by the law enforcement officer, an alarm user affected by the notice
may request a hearing thereon, by serving such request upon the Township
Manager. Such request shall set forth briefly the grounds or reasons
on which the request for a hearing is based and the factual matters
contained in the notice of violation which are to be disputed at the
hearing. The Township Manager or his designated representative, upon
receipt of the request, shall within 30 days therefrom and upon five
days' notice to the alarm user set the matter down for hearing. The
Township Manager will issue his decision within 30 days of the hearing.
