[Amended 8-10-2020]
A. 
The person whose system causes the transmittal of a false alarm shall be subject to the following penalties; provided, however, that in the event an alarm system is activated as a result of a natural or unnatural event beyond the permit holder's control and not directly caused by the permit holder (e.g., disruption of electrical service due to storm, motor vehicle accident, or contractor's negligence), no penalty shall be imposed.
B. 
For the purpose of this section, the number of false alarms shall be based upon the previous 12 months.
[Amended 9-13-2021]
(1) 
First response. For the first response by the Police or Fire/EMS Department to a false alarm, the Police or Fire/EMS Chief or his/her designee will document the date, time and alarm malfunction and keep this information on file.
(2) 
Second response. For the second response by the Police or Fire/EMS Department to a false alarm within any twelve-month period, the Police or Fire/EMS Chief shall deliver or cause to be delivered written notice of the false alarm to the address where the alarm occurred within 60 days of the false alarm, along with notice of the monetary penalty for any additional false alarms received.
(3) 
Third response. For the third response by the Police or Fire/EMS Department to a false alarm within any twelve-month period, the Police or Fire/EMS Chief shall deliver or cause to be delivered written notice of the false alarm to the address where the alarm occurred within 60 days of the false alarm, which notice shall demand payment of $100 for a false fire/EMS alarm or $50 for a false police alarm. This penalty may be excused by the Police or Fire/EMS Chief for good cause shown by the responsible person.
(4) 
Fourth response. For the fourth response by the Police or Fire/EMS Department to a false alarm within a twelve-month period, the respective Chief shall deliver or cause to be delivered written notice to the address where the alarm occurred within 60 days of the false alarm, which notice shall demand payment of a penalty to the Town in the amount of $125 for a false fire/EMS alarm or $75 for a false police alarm.
(5) 
Subsequent alarms. For all subsequent responses by the Police or Fire/EMS Department to a false alarm within a twelve-month period, the respective Chief shall deliver or cause to be delivered written notice to the address where the alarm occurred within 60 days of the false alarm, which notice shall demand payment of a penalty to the Town as listed below. Each unnecessary response to a false alarm shall be billed in twenty-five-dollar increments as the following examples demonstrate:
Response
Fire/EMS Alarms
Police Alarms
5th
$150
$100
6th
$175
$125
7th
$200
$150
8th
$225
$175
(6) 
Payment due date; late fee. The responsible person shall pay any penalty demanded hereunder within 10 business days after the person's receipt of written notice from the Police or Fire/EMS Department. If the responsible person fails to pay assessed charges within 10 business days of receipt of said charges, there will be an additional late fee of $5 per day added.