[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Trustees of the Village
of Corinth 5-3-2023 by L.L. No. 2-2023. Amendments noted where applicable.]
The purpose and intent of this chapter is to provide for fines
for false alarms relayed to the Village of Corinth Volunteer Fire
Department.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
Any apparatus or equipment whereby upon the triggering of
such apparatus or equipment an emergency message or signal is sent,
directly or indirectly, to the Village of Corinth Volunteer Fire Department
or other EMS, police, or security forces.
Any emergency message or signal which is transmitted, directly
or indirectly, to the Village of Corinth Volunteer Fire Department
or other EMS, police, or security forces which is not the result of
an actual fire or health emergency or crime in progress. An activated
alarm signal which is promptly followed by a good faith call to dispatch
personnel that the message or signal shall be disregarded shall not
constitute a false alarm. An activated alarm signal which is caused
by power outages, wind, rain, lightning, or other inclement weather
shall not constitute a false alarm. Repeated false signals or other
communication transmitted to the Village of Corinth Volunteer Fire
Department or other EMS, police, or security forces occurring within
a twelve-hour period after the first signal or communication or occurring
in a different zone in a building shall not constitute additional
false alarms.
It shall be unlawful for any owner, lessee, or occupant of any
real property within the Village of Corinth to permit an alarm system
to generate a false signal or to become activated by error more than
three times during any consecutive twelve-month period.
No person or entity shall use an alarm system in the Village
of Corinth except in accordance with this chapter and other applicable
laws or regulations. Each person or entity using an alarm system shall:
A.
Include a disabling mechanism for such alarm system to be automatically
disabled immediately after 15 minutes of continuous system operation.
B.
For non-owner-occupied structures where the owner thereof does not
reside in the Village or Town of Corinth, the owner shall designate
a local agent who can be contacted by local authorities for the disabling
and reporting on all alarms from such system.
Each person or entity using an alarm system in the Village of
Corinth shall complete and maintain an alarm system form in such form
and substance as shall be required by the Board of Trustees. Such
form shall include, but not be limited to, emergency contact information
for the owner and tenants of the property. Effective within 90 days
from the date of the adoption of this chapter, all owners or tenants
of real property in the Village of Corinth where an alarm system is
used shall file with the Village of Corinth Volunteer Fire Department
such alarm system form.
The Village of Corinth Volunteer Fire Department shall be responsible
for recording, documenting, and maintaining records relating to false
alarms. After the second alarm occurring in any consecutive twelve-month
period, the Village of Corinth Volunteer Fire Department shall cause
a letter to be sent, by certified and ordinary first-class mail, to
the property owner, lessee, and occupant notifying said individual
or individuals that after the next false alarm, summonses will be
issued for each additional occurrence of a false alarm, and, if convicted
upon such summonses, fines will be assessed.
A.
A violation of this chapter or any portion thereof is hereby declared
to be an offense punishable by a fine. Any person or entity using
or occupying property in the Village of Corinth having an alarm system
subject to the provisions of this chapter shall pay to the Village
of Corinth for each and every false alarm as follows:
(1)
First false alarm in each twelve-month period: no charge.
(2)
Second false alarm in each twelve-month period: no charge.
(3)
Third false alarm in each twelve-month period: $100.
(4)
Fourth false alarm in each twelve-month period: $200.
(5)
Fifth false alarm in each twelve-month period: $350.
(6)
Sixth false alarm in each twelve-month period and for every false
alarm thereafter: $350 plus $100 for each false alarm beyond six within
each prior twelve-month period.
B.
All fines will be collected and recorded by the Village Clerk/Treasurer.
A violation of this chapter, including but not limited to failure
to pay the fine set for false alarms above, shall constitute a violation
under the Penal Law and shall be punishable, upon conviction thereof,
by a fine of not more than $250 or by imprisonment for not more than
15 days, or both. Each twenty-four-hour period of continued violation
shall constitute a separate additional violation.
If any provision of this chapter or the application thereof
to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of this
chapter and the application of such provisions to other persons and
circumstances shall not be rendered invalid thereby.
This chapter shall take effect immediately upon filing with
the Secretary of State.
