[HISTORY: Adopted by the Mayor and Council of the Borough of Bellmawr 3-24-1983 by Ord. No. 2:3-83. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Fire prevention — See Ch. 222.
The purpose of this chapter is to establish regulations concerning the operation and maintenance of certain alarm systems within the Borough of Bellmawr and to provide penalties upon conviction for a violation of any of the provisions set forth herein.
For the purpose of this chapter, certain words and phrases are defined as follows:
ALARM SYSTEM
Any mechanical, electrical or electronic device which is designed or used for the detection of an unauthorized entry into a building, structure or facility, or for alerting others about the commission of an unlawful act within a building, structure or facility, or for alerting others about the existence of any other condition requiring response of police and which emits and/or transmits an audible and/or visual signal or message when actuated. "Alarm system" includes but is not limited to direct-dial telephone devices, audible alarms and subscriber alarms.
AUDIBLE ALARM
A device that emits an audible signal from the premises that it is designed to protect.
BOROUGH
The Borough of Bellmawr.
DIRECT-DIAL ALARM
A device that, when actuated, causes a recorded message to be transmitted, via telephone, to the Bellmawr Police Department stating that emergency response is necessary.
EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBER
The primary phone number advertised to the public for requesting emergency services.
FALSE ALARM
An alarm signal, necessitating response by the Bellmawr Police Department, where an emergency situation does not exist. An alarm that has been activated by an external source that is beyond the reasonable control of the subscriber shall not be considered false.
POLICE
The Bellmawr Police Department.
SUBSCRIBER ALARM
An alarm system that is terminated by direct connection to the Bellmawr Police Department, in accordance with regulations prescribed in separate legislation.
A. 
It shall be the responsibility of all persons, entities, firms, corporations or other groups that maintain alarm systems within the Borough to provide current information to the police, consisting of the names and telephone numbers of responsible persons who may be contacted in case of emergency or who are authorized to provide service to the alarm system; either must be on a twenty-four-hour basis. This information is to be filed with the police when the alarm system is initially placed into service and must be revised immediately whenever changes are necessary.
B. 
Audible alarms must be silenced within 60 minutes after a designated responsible person is notified to do so by the police, or the alarm system may be equipped with a timing device that will automatically silence the audible alarm within 60 minutes after it is actuated.
C. 
It shall be the responsibility of all persons, entities, firms, corporations or other groups that maintain alarm systems within the Borough to prevent the transmission of false alarms through the program of training and periodic inspection and maintenance of the system. The maximum permissible number of false alarms from any one location shall be as follows: two false alarms in any thirty-day period or eight false alarms in any one-year period. False alarms in excess of these standards shall be considered to be in violation of this chapter.
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).
The provisions of this chapter shall not apply to the general alerting alarms that may be used by fire companies, ambulance squads or civil defense agencies to summon response of their members. The provisions of this chapter shall not apply to alarm systems that are affixed to motor vehicles.
Any person, entity, firm, corporation or other group that is found guilty of violating any of the provisions of this chapter shall be subject to a fine not exceeding $2,000 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 90 days or a period of community service not exceeding 90 days, or any combination thereof. Each incident shall be considered as a separate violation. In addition to any penalty that may be ordered by the court, the Chief of Police may authorize the disconnection of subscriber alarms from the Police Department after giving written notice to the subscriber.
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).
The provisions contained herein shall apply equally to those alarm systems that were placed in service prior to or subsequent to the effective date of this chapter.