[HISTORY: Adopted by the City Council of the City of Saratoga
Springs 10-21-1991; amended in its entirety 11-18-2008. Subsequent amendments noted where applicable.]
The purpose of this chapter is to promote the health, safety
and welfare of the people of the City of Saratoga Springs by imposing
regulations on the sale, installation and maintenance of burglar alarms,
fire alarms and other emergency alarms and security systems in said
City.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
Any person or legal entity who installs, maintains or otherwise prepares emergency alarms to be installed anywhere in the City of Saratoga Springs. The term "alarm supplier," as defined above, shall not apply to property owners or lessees within the City of Saratoga Springs who install and maintain their own systems, and such owners and lessees are exempt from the requirements of § 58-3 of this chapter, but are not exempt from any other section of this chapter unless specifically stated herein.
Any person or legal entity who installs or seeks to install
an emergency alarm upon premises under his or her control and located
within the City of Saratoga Springs.
Any device designed to send a signal in any manner to the
Fire Department and/or the Police Department of the City of Saratoga
Springs, or to a facility responsible for monitoring such alarm system;
any device designed to emit an audible or visual signal from the premises
where the device is installed. The term "emergency alarm" shall not
include any system used by any government agency or to any device
installed in a motor vehicle as defined in the Vehicle and Traffic
Law of the State of New York.
The activation of an emergency alarm under circumstances
where it cannot be reasonably determined that any emergency or unauthorized
entry has occurred or has been attempted. The term does not include:
Activations caused by problems in telephone lines, acts of God,
natural disasters or other causes reasonably determined to be beyond
the control of the alarm user.
Activations within 45 calendar days of the initial installation
of the emergency alarm.
Intentional false alarms that are punishable under the New York
State Penal Law.
A.
No
alarm supplier shall do business within the City of Saratoga Springs
without first filing a copy of his New York State license to engage
in the business of installing security or fire alarm systems (as described
in Article 6-D of the General Business Law) with the Department of
Accounts. The Department of Accounts shall charge no fee for the filing
of such license.
[Amended 7-5-2011]
A.
No
person or legal entity shall install an emergency alarm upon premises
under his or her control without first obtaining an emergency alarm
permit from the Commissioner of Accounts. A one-time fee shall accompany
the application. Said fee shall be established from time to time by
resolution of the City Council. Each application shall contain a signed
statement by the alarm user that the City shall not be responsible
in any way for the operation of the alarm system, or for any failure
to respond to a transmitted alarm or for entry upon the premises by
City personnel in response to a transmitted alarm.
[Amended 2-17-2021]
B.
Violations of this chapter shall subject the alarm user to a penalty
of not more than $250 per violation.
The City Council, subject to approval, shall have the authority
to promulgate rules and regulations governing the operations, testing
and maintenance of each alarm system.
Each and every emergency alarm system which is audible at the
exterior of the premises of the alarm installation shall be installed
with a timer which will discontinue the audible signal after a maximum
time period of 15 minutes. This section shall not apply to any emergency
alarm system which is prohibited by law from employing such a timer.
No emergency alarm of any type shall terminate, transmit to
or call the emergency service number 911 or any emergency service
number, except those numbers designated exclusively for the purpose.
[Amended 7-5-2011; 2-17-2021]
Fees in addition to those specified in § 58-4, and other fees and charges pertinent to this chapter, shall be established from time to time by resolution of the City Council.
[Amended 2-17-2021]
Both the Police Department of the City of Saratoga Springs and
the City Code Administrator shall have the authority to enforce the
provisions of this chapter and to issue appearance tickets for violations
thereof. Such authority shall be in addition to and not in limitation
of any other authority or power conferred by law.
The City of Saratoga Springs shall not be liable for any defects
in operation of emergency alarm systems, nor any failure to respond
appropriately, nor for any erroneous response, nor for the failure
or defect of any licensee pursuant to the provisions of this chapter
with respect to the installation, operation or maintenance of equipment,
the transmission of alarm signals or messages or the relaying of such
signals or messages.
