[HISTORY: Adopted by the City Council of the City of Camden 6-23-1977 by Ord. No. MC-1229 (Ch. 124 of the 1987 Code). Amendments noted where applicable.]
Unless the context or subject matter otherwise requires, the terms defined herein shall have the following meanings when used in this chapter:
ALARM AGENT
Any person who is employed by an alarm business, either directly or indirectly, to sell, lease, install, maintain, service, repair, alter, replace or move an alarm system.
ALARM BUSINESS
An individual, partnership, corporation or other entity, the business of which includes the selling, leasing, installing, maintaining, servicing, repairing, altering, replacing or moving of alarm systems or component parts thereof.
ALARM SYSTEM
Any system or device designed or used for the purpose of altering, either directly or indirectly, personnel of the City of Camden Police Department that the services of that Department are needed.
AUDIBLE ALARM SYSTEM
An alarm system which creates a sound that can be heard by persons outside the building, structure or facility which is protected by such alarm system.
PROPRIETOR ALARM SYSTEM
Any alarm system which is owned and maintained by the person, firm, corporation or other entity who exercises ownership, dominion or control over the property which is protected by such alarm system.
SUBSCRIBER ALARM SYSTEM
Any alarm system which is owned or maintained by an alarm business for the protection of the property of a subscriber, customer or client of such alarm business.
TELEPHONE ALARM SYSTEM
An alarm system which will activate an automatic telephone-dialing alarm device programmed to dial a number to be given specifically for the purpose of receiving such messages by the City of Camden Police Department.
No person, firm, corporation or other entity shall engage in, manage, conduct or operate an alarm business in the City of Camden without having first obtained a license to do so.
A. 
The application forms will be supplied by the City Clerk. The application must state the type of alarm or alarms merchandised and/or installed and the general plan of operations of this alarm business.
B. 
The application must meet the approval of the Chief of Police. Upon such approval, a license will be issued by the City Clerk.
C. 
The fee for a license to conduct an alarm business is $70.
[Amended 1-24-2002 by Ord. No. MC-3720]
A. 
No person engaged in an alarm business and no alarm agent shall receive a license under this chapter if such person or alarm agent has been convicted of a felony which relates adversely to the operation of an alarm business or is a known habitual user of narcotics, hallucinogenics, alcohol or other immobilizing drugs. This information will be supplied in the application forms for a license to conduct an alarm business.
B. 
In reviewing the application, the Chief of Police will take into consideration the factors enumerated in N.J.S.A. 2A:168A-2, and if the application is denied for reasons within this section, the Chief of Police shall so state, in writing, with the reasons for the denial.
No telephone alarm system shall be installed, sold, leased, monitored or maintained that dials the emergency police number 911. A number will be given by the Police Department of the City of Camden for the purpose of receiving signals from telephone alarm systems.
A. 
When a subscriber alarm system has been activated, the alarm business which owns, leases or maintains such system shall have an alarm agent present at the location within one hour after being requested to do so by the Police Department of the City of Camden.
B. 
When a proprietor alarm system has been activated, the owner, or some other authorized person in responsible control of the location wherein such system is located, shall be present at such location within one hour after being requested to do so by the Police Department of the City of Camden.
An alarm system shall be presumed in violation of this chapter when there are in excess of four false alarms within any four-week period. "False alarm" means an alarm signal activated through subscriber negligence or for reasons not of an emergency nature or when activated due to malfunction of any segment of the alarm system.
A. 
Every alarm system within the City of Camden must be registered with the Police Department of the City of Camden as to its type, location and address. The Department of Code Enforcement Bureau of Licenses and Inspections will thereupon issue a permit for the alarm system.
[Amended 12-10-2019 by Ord. No. MC-5232]
B. 
The fee for the permit is $7.
[Amended 1-24-2002 by Ord. No. MC-3720]
No person shall install or maintain any audible alarm system which:
A. 
Creates a sound similar to that of an emergency vehicle siren or a civil defense warning system.
B. 
Does not have conspicuously affixed on or adjacent to the alarm housing on the exterior of the protected building or structures the name and telephone number of the alarm business if it is a subscribed alarm system or the name and telephone number of the owner or other authorized person in responsible control of the premises if it is a proprietor alarm system.
C. 
Does not automatically discontinue an audible sound within 1/2 hour.
The provisions of this chapter do not apply to:
A. 
Persons or firms engaged solely in the manufacture or sale of alarm system components from a fixed location and who do not install, maintain, service or plan the alarm systems for a specific location.
B. 
Alarm systems which do not alert law enforcement agencies or others outside the protected building, structure or facility but are designed solely to alert security personnel or others directly connected with or employed by the owner or operator of the protected building, structure or facility.
C. 
An individual, partnership, corporation or other entity which engages in the selling or repairing of alarm systems, or component parts thereof, from a fixed location, and who does not, either personally or through an agent or employee, visit the building, structure or facility in which the alarm system so sold or repaired is installed.
Any licenses issued under this chapter are subject to revocation and suspension as provided for in Article IV of Chapter 485 of the Code of the City of Camden.
[Amended 4-9-1987 by Ord. No. MC-2289]
A. 
Unless otherwise provided in the chapter, penalties against persons violating the provisions of this chapter shall be imposed in accordance with the provisions of § 1-15.
[Amended 10-12-2006 by Ord. No. MC-4234]
B. 
A separate offense shall be deemed committed on each and every day for each and every violation of this chapter.
C. 
A separate offense shall be deemed committed on each day during or on which a violation or violations occur or continue.
D. 
The imposition of a fine or imprisonment for a violation of any provision of this chapter shall not be deemed to be in lieu of any provision of this chapter providing for revocation or suspension of any license issued under this chapter.