[HISTORY: Adopted by the Village Board of the Village of
Hobart as § 3.7 of the 2000 Code. Amendments noted where
applicable.]
The primary purpose of this chapter is to reduce the incidence
of false burglar/holdup and fire alarms by eliminating those false
alarms which are preventable or avoidable. It is also meant to encourage
the installation of reliable emergency alarm systems in all structures
within the Village in order to provide additional protection to persons
and property from fire, crime, including burglary, robbery and vandalism,
and other hazards that may constitute a danger to persons and property.
This chapter is intended to impose standards and requirements from
such causes as the negligence of the user of an alarm system or of
his employees in operating the system, the maintenance of equipment
or the sale, installation or servicing of such installations will
provide a technique of early detection, which will permit the Police
Department and Fire Department to increase the present level of protection
to persons and property.
The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this article,
shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where
the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
A signal from an alarm system that alerts the Police Department/Fire
Department that results in an emergency response from the Police/Fire
Department when a situation of emergency does not exist.
An intrusion/burglar alarm system, or fire alarm that gives
a signal, either visual or audible, or both, on the exterior or interior
portion of the property, but does not leave that structure to a central
control receiving location. Not to include detectors such as smoke
detectors/carbon monoxide detectors, medical alarms such as Lifeline®,
septic tank alarms or electrical problem indicators. For the most
part, these are standalone, designed to warn persons inside the structure.
Any device designed to detect and alert police or fire of
such occurrence and when activated gives a signal, either by visual,
audible, or transmitting or causing to be transmitted an alarm signal,
or the combination of any of the above.
Any device designed for the detection of an unauthorized
entry to the premises, an unlawful act or any emergency that alerts
the Police Department of its commission or occurrence and, when activated,
gives an internal or external signal, either visual, audible or transmits
or causes to be transmitted a signal, or any combination of the above.
A.
Required. No person shall install or cause to be installed any alarm
system, as defined above, for any premises in the Village until an
alarm permit therefor has been issued by the Village, with the following
exception: not to include detectors such as smoke detectors/carbon
monoxide detectors, medical alarms such as Lifeline, septic tank alarms
or electrical problem indicators. For the most part, these are standalone
alarms designed to warn persons inside the structure.
B.
Application for permit. An application for an alarm permit shall
be provided by the Village and shall require an applicant to furnish
information sufficient to identify the applicant, the location of
the premises to be protected by the alarm system and such other information
as the Police or Fire Department may deem necessary for safe and proper
emergency response. The annual alarm permit fee for a full or partial
calendar year beginning January 1 and expiring December 31 of each
year, in an amount as set from time to time by resolution of the Village
Board, shall be collected at the time of application. A permit shall
be required for each premises alarmed or each separate alarm system
on a single premises.[1]
C.
Issuance of alarm permit. The Village Clerk-Treasurer shall issue
an alarm permit to the applicant upon approval of the Village Administrator
or his designee. The alarm permit shall be issued for a period not
to exceed 12 months, expiring on December 31 of each year. Applicants
that are denied alarm permits may appeal the denial to the Village
Board or a committee designated by the Village Board.
D.
Existing alarm systems. For those systems installed on premises within
the Village prior to March 6, 2001, a permit shall be obtained within
60 days after the effective date of this chapter from which this article
is derived. With respect to any alarm system installed after the effective
date of this chapter, a permit must be issued before the alarm system
is installed.
A.
Duty to maintain alarm system. The property owner shall be responsible
for maintaining the alarm system in proper working order.
B.
Duty to respond to alarm. The owner of premises protected by an alarm
system must respond to the protected premises within 30 minutes of
notification of an alarm. The owner/key holder is to assist police
officers in gaining access to the building for the purpose of inspection.
The owner/key holder is also responsible for shutting off and/or resetting
the alarm system. Under no circumstances shall a member of the Police
Department or Fire Department reset an alarm. The owner of an alarmed
premise shall provide current information on persons/key holders to
be contacted in the owner's absence.
C.
Time delay and shutoff. All security alarm systems shall be equipped
with a twenty-second time delay in cases where the alarm is accidentally
tripped. All local alarms shall be equipped with a fifteen-minute
automatic shutoff or some other secure means of turning off the alarm.
A.
Special charge for false alarms:
(1)
After the alarm system has been installed for 30 days, the owner
shall be subject to a special charge for each false alarm in a twelve-month,
per calendar year, January 1 through December 31 of each year, in
such amounts as set from time to time by resolution of the Village
Board.[1]
(2)
Exceptions:
(a)
Municipal alarms.
(b)
False alarms caused by outside sources.
(c)
Any special charge may be waived by the Village Administrator
or his designee if the owner can show that the false alarm was caused
by an outside source beyond the owner's control. That the alarm
was properly maintained and not the result of negligence on the part
of the owner, his agent or employees.
(d)
Not to include detectors such as smoke detectors/carbon monoxide
detectors, medical alarms (Lifeline) or electrical problem indicators.
For the most part, these are standalone alarms designed to warn persons
inside the structure.
(e)
Motor vehicle alarms. This chapter shall not apply to audible
alarms affixed to motor vehicles.
A.
Permit cancellation; alarm disconnection. Whenever there is a record
of an excessive number of alarms or the operation of the alarm system
is not consistent with the purpose of this chapter, the Village Administrator
or his designee may, in writing, require the owner to repair or replace
the alarm system within 10 days. If the repair or replacement is not
made within 10 days, the Village Administrator or his designee may
order the alarm permit canceled and the alarm disconnected. No person
shall continue to operate an alarm system for which an alarm permit
has been canceled.
B.
Telephone alarm dialers. Telephone alarm dialers are not permitted
to be programmed to direct dial the Police or Fire Department, except
by special permission of the Village Administrator or his designee.
C.
Limitations of liability. The Village shall not be liable for any
defects in any alarm system or the central board, or any transmission
malfunctions or delays.
