As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
ALARM ADMINISTRATOR
A person or persons designated by the Chief of Police to
administer, control and review alarm applications, permits and alarm
dispatch requests.
ALARM BUSINESS
The business, by any person, partnership, association, corporation,
limited liability company or any legal entity, of selling, leasing,
maintaining, servicing, repairing, altering, replacing, moving, installing
or monitoring an alarm system in an alarm site.
ALARM DISPATCH REQUEST
A notification to the Police or Fire Department that an alarm,
either manual or automatic, has been activated at a particular alarm
site.
ALARM SITE
A single premises or location served by an alarm system or
systems.
ALARM SYSTEM
A device or series of devices, including but not limited
to systems interconnected with radio frequency signals, which are
designated to discourage crime by emitting or transmitting a remote
or local audible, visual or electronic signal indicating an alarm
condition. "Alarm system" does not include an alarm installed on a
motor vehicle.
ALARM USER
Any person, firm, partnership, association, corporation,
limited liability company, or any other legal entity who (which) uses
an alarm system at its alarm site.
AUTOMATIC DIAL ALARM
Any telephone device or attachment that mechanically or electronically
selects a telephone line to notify police or fire headquarters and
produces a pre-recorded voice message to report a criminal act, fire,
or other emergency.
CENTRAL STATION
An office to which remote alarm devices transmit signals
where operators monitor those signals and relay information to the
Police or Fire Department.
DURESS ALARM
A silent alarm signal generated by the manual activation
of a device intended to signal a crisis situation requiring police
response.
FALSE ALARM DISPATCH
An alarm dispatch request to the Police Department or Fire
Department, when the responding police or fire officer finds no evidence
of a criminal or attempted criminal offense or fire after having completed
a timely investigation of the alarm site. An alarm dispatch request
which is cancelled by the alarm business or the alarm user prior to
the time the responding police or fire officer reaches the alarm site
shall not be considered a false alarm dispatch.
FIRE ALARM
An automatic or manual activation of smoke detectors, heat
detectors, pull stations, or sprinkler systems.
FIRE ALARM SYSTEM
Any heat-activated, smoke-activated, flame-activated or other
such automatic device capable of transmitting a fire alarm signal
to a central station operating company. All fire alarms shall be installed,
tested and maintained in accordance with the Connecticut State Fire
Code, NFPA 72 and applicable building codes.
FIRE CHIEF
The Chief of the Fire Department of the Town of Plainville.
FIRE DEPARTMENT
The Plainville Fire Department of the Town of Plainville,
Connecticut.
FIRE MARSHAL
The person appointed as Fire Marshal by the Town of Plainville,
Connecticut, or such person's designee.
HOLDUP ALARM
A silent alarm signal generated by the manual activation
of a device intended to signal a robbery in progress.
INTRUSION ALARM
Any alarm system which transmits an alarm signal to a central
station operating company indicating a burglary, robbery or other
intrusion into a building or which emits or causes to be emitted an
audible alarm signal.
MONITORING
The process by which an alarm business receives signals from
alarm systems and relays an alarm dispatch request to the Town for
the purpose of summoning police or fire.
PERSON
An individual, corporation, partnership, association, corporation,
limited liability company or any other legal entity.
POLICE CHIEF
The Chief of Police of the Town of Plainville, Connecticut.
RECORDED MESSAGING ALARM SYSTEM
A signaling device that dials a predetermined number when
the alarm system signals an intrusion, attempted intrusion, or fire
and audibly reports such an intrusion, attempted intrusion or fire
from a recorded message at the premises.
VERIFY
An attempt, by the alarm business or its representative,
to contact the alarm site by telephonic or other electronic means,
whether or not actual contact with a person is made, before requesting
a police or fire dispatch, in an attempt to avoid an unnecessary alarm
dispatch request.
In order to effectively phase in this chapter and provide a grace period to alarm users, the following implementation will be in effect from the date of passage of this chapter by the Town Council. Once the alarm site obtains a permit all portions of this chapter will be in effect. All alarm users not obtaining a permit within this time period will be considered in violation of §
150-4.
A. Any alarm site that presently is not monitored by an alarm business
or central station is required to obtain a permit from the Alarm Administrator
within 60 days.
B. Any commercial or business alarm site that is presently monitored
by an alarm business or central station is required to obtain a permit
from the Alarm Administrator within 90 days.
C. Any existing residential alarm site that is presently monitored by
an alarm business or central station is required to obtain a permit
from the Alarm Administrator with 180 days.
An alarm business performing security monitoring services shall:
A. Not request dispatch for police response during the first week after
installation of an alarm system but rather use that week to train
the alarm user on the proper use of the alarm system, unless extenuating
circumstances necessitate immediate requests for police response as
determined by the Alarm Administrator.
B. Request dispatch for fire response from the date and time the fire
alarm or sprinkler system is installed and approved by the Fire Marshal
and placed in service for use.
C. Report alarm signals by using telephone numbers designated by the
Alarm Administrator.
D. Attempt to verify every alarm signal, except fire, duress, or hold-up
alarm activation, before requesting Police or Fire Department response
to an alarm signal.
E. Communicate alarm dispatch requests to the Police or Fire Department
in a manner and form determined by the Alarm Administrator, Police
Chief, or Fire Chief.
F. Ensure that all alarm users of alarm systems equipped with duress
or hold-up alarms are given adequate training as to the proper use
of the duress or hold-up alarm.
G. Ensure that all users of the alarm systems are given adequate training
as to the proper use of the fire alarm system.
An alarm business performing security monitoring services shall:
A. Ensure that the residents are properly trained in the operation of
the alarm system.
B. Report alarm signals by using telephone numbers designated by the
Alarm Administrator.
C. Attempt to verify every alarm signal, except fire or panic alarm
activation, before requesting Police or Fire Department response to
an alarm signal.
D. Communicate alarm dispatch requests to the Police or Fire Department
in a manner and form determined by the Alarm Administrator, Police
Chief, or Fire Chief.
The Alarm Administrator shall:
A. Designate a manner, form and telephone numbers for the communication
of alarm dispatch requests.
B. Communicate to the fire dispatcher the alarm of fire without delay
and cancel an alarm response on a notification of a property owner
that the alarm is a false alarm.
C. Develop a procedure to accept verified cancellations of alarm dispatch
requests.
D. Provide and maintain a database to track alarm users' information
and key holders and provide access 24 hours per day, seven days per
week, to all emergency service organizations operating in the Town
of Plainville.
E. Create field-usable reporting forms in order to maintain records of alarms as outlined in §
150-12.
Alarm conditions require inspection of the premises by responding
emergency personnel; therefore:
A. Alarm users are required to provide a key holder response for any
location which is interior to other structural limitations, such as
fencing, common entrances, protective awnings, etc. Failure to provide
access to perform a proper inspection of the premises will be deemed
to be a false alarm.
B. Alarm users with fire alarm systems are recommended to install an
exterior key safe (emergency access systems, Knox Box®) to allow
fire personnel access to the building without damage to the building.
In case of a suspected actual fire, forcible entry will be gained
by fire personnel without notification to the key holder.
C. Access gained using an exterior key safe (emergency access systems,
Knox Box®) with no fire found will be deemed a false alarm.
D. The alarm user is responsible for maintaining updated keys within
the exterior key safe (emergency access systems, Knox Box®). Access
by the alarm users into the key safe will be scheduled with the Fire
Department. Failure to update keys to perform a proper inspection
of the premises will be deemed to be a false alarm.
An alarm user may appeal assessment of a fine to the Alarm Administrator
by filing a written request for hearing setting forth the reasons
for the appeal within 10 days after receipt of the fine. The filing
of a request for an appeal hearing with the Alarm Administrator stays
the assessment of the fine until the Alarm Administrator makes a final
decision. The final decision must be rendered in writing within 30
days after the request for an appeal hearing is filed.
A person whose alarm permit has been revoked may be issued a
new permit if the person:
A. Submits an updated application and pays a reinstatement fee as provided in Chapter
215, Fees;
B. Pays, or otherwise resolves, all citations and fines; and
C. Submits a certification from an alarm business stating that the alarm
system has been inspected and repaired (if necessary) by the alarm
business.