[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Committee
of the Township of Sandyston 3-6-2001 by Ord. No. 01-01. Amendments noted where applicable.]
The purpose of this chapter is to establish
regulations concerning the operation and maintenance of alarm systems
within the Township of Sandyston and to provide penalties for violations
of any of the provisions of this chapter.
The provisions of this chapter shall apply to
any persons or entity who operates, maintains, has control over, or
owns any alarm device designed to summon the police or fire personnel
to any location in response to an alarm signal. The terms of this
chapter shall in no way prohibit alarm companies from providing service
by private sources within the Township of Sandyston.
As used in this chapter, the following terms
shall have the meanings indicated:
Any type of alarm system providing warning of intrusion,
fire, smoke, carbon monoxide, flood or like peril or emergency.
Any alarm device or combination of alarm devices installed
for one or more buildings at any location.
An alarm device using telephone or other lines which transmits
an alarm signal or signals to the New Jersey State Police or other
lawfully established police department or any privately owned alarm
company.
Any alarm or signal activated or transmitted by inadvertent,
negligent, unintentional or intentional act or omission of a person
(caused or transmitted other than by an intruder or by fire, flood,
smoke or carbon monoxide) and shall also include alarms caused by
malfunctioning of the alarm device or other related equipment. False
alarms shall not include activation caused by power or phone line
interruptions when such interruptions have been reported to the New
Jersey State Police or the Township Clerk.
Any alarm device which, when activated, produces an audible
or visual signal (such as, but not limited to, fire and burglar alarm
activating bell devices). It shall not include motor vehicle anti-theft
alarms.
Any person owning or leasing or having control over an alarm
device or a local alarm within the Township of Sandyston, including
but not limited to the owner or tenant of a premises or building or
other structure.
Includes any natural person, partnership, corporation, association
or other entity.
The New Jersey State Police or any other law enforcement
agency exercising lawful jurisdiction.
A.
It shall be unlawful for any person to have control
over, or to operate, or to install or maintain an alarm device within
the Township of Sandyston without first registering said use with
the Township Clerk in accordance with this chapter.
B.
Every user of an alarm device shall, by July 1, 2001,
submit to the Township Clerk a registration application for an alarm
permit, using the application form provided by the Township Clerk;
information must be kept current, and the permittee must notify the
Township Clerk, in writing, of any changes of information listed on
the registration application, no later than 30 days following the
applicable change or changes.
C.
A registration permit shall automatically terminate
upon a change of occupancy of the premises for which the alarm device
has been registered.
Person(s) required to register their alarm devices
shall complete and file with the Municipal Clerk a registration application
which may be obtained from the Municipal Clerk's office and which
shall contain the following information:
A.
The full name and address of the applicant, including
a complete physical address and property description which will permit
the appropriate response to the alarm.
B.
The exact location of each alarm device on the property
and in or on the building or structure.
C.
Name and address and telephone number of the person
installing, maintaining and/or owning the system.
D.
The type of device, including what provisions have
been made to avoid false alarms and testing provisions.
E.
The name and address of the entity or person(s), if
any, responsible for monitoring and initially responding to any activation
of an alarm device and phone number for such entity and/or person(s).
F.
The name and address and telephone numbers of an entity
or person who may be contacted in the event of an alarm and at least
one other entity or person(s) who is authorized to receive notification
of an alarm call and who is authorized to enter upon the premises
in which the alarm system is located.
G.
Any additional relevant information as may be reasonably
required by the Township Clerk.
It shall be unlawful for any person to cause, allow or activate a false alarm as defined in this chapter. In case of a false alarm, any person and any permittee who violates this chapter shall each be subject to the provisions of § 32-11.
Dial alarm devices may be connected to the State
Police by telephone or other lines as are permitted and designated
by the New Jersey State Police or to other law enforcement agencies
having jurisdiction or to third-party providers. Said dial alarms
shall be registered as specified in §§ 3204 and 32-5
of this chapter.
A.
The provisions of this chapter shall not apply to
any alarm system installed on the property owned or occupied by any
Township, county, state or federal government agency or office or
to any alarm device having only an indoor audible or visual/flashing
system and which are not dial alarm devices.
B.
Alarm devices having an audible alarm installed out of doors shall be designated to limit the operation of a bell or sound-producing instrument to a maximum of 20 minutes after activation. If the duration of an outside activated audible alarm exceeds 20 minutes, the warnings and penalties provided by § 32-11 of this chapter shall apply as though a false alarm had been activated.
A.
The Township of Sandyston shall be under no duty or
obligation to any permittee by reason of issuance of any registration
permit.
B.
As a condition precedent to the issuance of a registration
permit pursuant to this chapter, it shall be the obligation of each
permittee to agree, in writing, to indemnify and save harmless the
Township of Sandyston, its agents, servants and employees, the New
Jersey State Police, the fire departments and rescue squads serving
Sandyston Township and all other police departments from and on account
of any and all damages arising from or sustained as a result of any
forced entry into the premises during any alarm response and for failure
of the Township of Sandyston, its agents, servants and employees,
the New Jersey State Police, the fire departments and rescue squads
serving Sandyston Township and all other police departments for failure
to respond to any alarm.
The Township Committee may from time to time
promulgate rules and regulations supplementing this chapter in order
to provide for recordkeeping and efficient management of said system.
Any person, firm or corporation who violates
the terms of this chapter shall be subject to a fine of up to $1,000
or not more than 90 days in jail, or both; provided, however, that
the following minimum and mandatory fines shall apply to false alarms:
A.
For the first false alarm in any single calendar year,
a warning shall be issued.
B.
For the second false alarm in the same calendar year,
a fine of $50 shall be paid to the Township of Sandyston.
C.
For the third and subsequent false alarms in the same
calendar year, a fine of not less than $100 nor more than $250 for
each occurrence shall be paid to the Township of Sandyston, which
shall be accompanied by an advisory letter (dated within 30 days following
the date on which the complaint is issued) from a licensed alarm company
stating that the system is operating properly, if however, the person
fails to provide such advisory letter as provided above, a fine may
be imposed by the court, up to a maximum of $500, in the court's discretion.
