[HISTORY: Adopted by the Borough Council
of the Borough of Paramus as indicated in article histories. Amendments
noted where applicable.]
[Adopted 8-11-1987 by Ord. No. 87-22]
The purpose of this article is to provide standards
and regulations for various types of fire alarm devices, whether direct-line,
radio, telephone or other-means actuating device at the Police/Fire
Department of the Borough of Paramus or by indirect or transfer of
notice of alarm requiring response thereto by the Fire Department
or other municipal agencies.
The provisions of this article shall apply to
any person who operates, maintains or owns any alarm device or local
alarm designed to summon, directly or indirectly, the Fire Department
or other municipal agencies to any location in response to any type
of alarm signal.
As used in this article, the following definitions
shall have the meanings indicated:
Any alarm or signal of any alarm actuated by inadvertence,
carelessness, negligence or intentional or unintentional act of a
person, and including as well alarms caused by mechanical failure,
malfunctioning or improper installation of the alarm system and related
equipment.
The Borough of Paramus Fire Official or his designated representative
(as defined in N.J.A.C. 5:18, Uniform Fire Code).
Any natural person or individual, or any firm, partnership,
association, limited partnership, sole proprietorship, corporation
or any other business entity or any government agency or entity.
A.
This article shall be enforced by the Borough Fire
Official.
B.
In the event of any occurrence of a false alarm, the
alarm user shall, within three days after written notice to do so,
file a complete written report to the Fire Official, setting forth
the cause of the false alarm, the corrective action taken, a statement
as to whether the alarm system has been inspected by an alarm service
company and such other information as the Fire Official may require
on the designated forms.
C.
Any person testing a fire alarm system shall notify
the Police/Fire Department immediately prior to and after the testing
is completed. Failure to do so shall constitute a false alarm.
D.
If, upon the arrival of the Fire Department at the
location of an activated fire alarm, the premises are found locked
with no one in attendance, forcible entry shall be used to gain entrance
to inspect the interior to determine the cause of the alarm.
E.
The Fire Official shall, from time to time, promulgate
rules and regulations supplementing this article in order to provide
for the efficient management of the same. Said rules shall be subject
to the approval of the Mayor.
A.
First false alarm. A written notice of violation will be issued by the Fire Official. Said notice will require a written response in accordance with § 153-4B of this article.
B.
Second false alarm. A written notice of violation will be issued by the Fire Official. Said notice will require a written response in accordance with § 153-4B of this article and a mandatory inspection of the alarm system by the alarm service company.
C.
Subsequent false alarms. A written notice of violation will be issued by the Fire Official. Said notice will require a written response in accordance with § 153-4B of this article and a mandatory inspection of the alarm system by the alarm service company, and the following penalties shall be assessed by the Fire Official in accordance with N.J.A.C. 5:18, Uniform Fire Code:
D.
Failure to comply. Failure to submit the written response
and/or conduct the mandatory inspection of the alarm shall result
in a penalty of $100.
It shall not be the responsibility of the Fire
Department, Fire Official and/or Fire Prevention Bureau to reset any
alarm system.
[Adopted 8-18-1987 by Ord. No. 87-25; amended in its entirety 2-9-1993 by Ord. No. 93-2]
The purpose of this article is to provide standards
and regulations for various types of security alarm devices, whether
direct-line, radio, telephone or other actuating device at the Police
Department of the Borough of Paramus, or by indirect or transfer of
notice of alarm requiring response thereto by the Police Department
or other municipal agencies.
The provisions of this article shall apply to
anyone who installs, operates, maintains, leases or owns any alarm
device or local alarm designed to summon, directly or indirectly,
the Police Department or other municipal agencies to any location
in response to any type of security alarm signal and those businesses
who engage in the installation and maintenance of an alarm device.
As used in this article, the following definitions
shall have the meanings indicated:
The console or control panel of devices giving a visual or
audio response or both and located within the confines of the Police
Department.
See "security alarm system/device."
Any business operated by a person or persons for a profit
which engages in the installation of any security alarm device or
system.
January 1 to December 31 of any given year.
Any type of security alarm system which, when activated,
transmits a signal to an independent communication center not under
the control of the Borough of Paramus or the Police Department, which
independent communication center, upon receipt of such signal, is
to take appropriate action, including the relaying of such information
to the Police Department telephone communication center.
The Chief of Police of the Borough of Paramus.
Any type of alarm system which, when activated, transmits
a preprogrammed electronic telephone message over the regular telephone
lines to the telephone communication center in police headquarters.
Any type of alarm system which, when activated, transmits
a signal directly into the alarm console in police headquarters over
regular telephone lines.
Any type of alarm system which, when activated, transmits
a signal directly into the alarm console in police headquarters over
special leased telephone lines.
Any signal of a security alarm system actuated by inadvertence,
carelessness or negligence or an intentional or unintentional act
of a person other than an intruder, and including as well signals
caused by mechanical failure, malfunction or improper installation
of the security alarm system and related equipment, but not including
signals created by mechanical failure, malfunction or improper installation
of the alarm console.
Any type of alarm system which, when activated, produces
a signal not connected to the alarm console or the police headquarters
switchboard, such as an actuating bell, siren or horn device providing
warning of intrusion or other peril. The term "local alarm" shall
not include a warning device on a motor vehicle, provided that the
system is not interconnected with an alarm device, a direct or digital
alarm. The term "local alarm" shall also not include any alarm designed
to signal solely within the building (or series of buildings, if owned
by the same person) on which it is located and which is not designed
to emit signals visible or audible to persons outside such building
(or series of buildings).
The Mayor and Council of the Borough of Paramus.
Any alarm which, when activated, indicates an immediate medical
emergency at the announced location.
Any alarm which, when activated, indicates some immediate
peril at the announced location.
Any natural person or individual, or any firm, partnership,
association, limited partnership, proprietorship, corporation or any
other business entity or any government agency or entity.
The Police Department of the Borough of Paramus.
The headquarters of the Police Department, presently located
on Carlough Drive in the Borough of Paramus.
Any alarm system or device reporting to the Police Department
a burglary, holdup, panic or medical emergency or emergency requiring
urgent attention and to which the Police Department may be expected
to respond. The term "security alarm system" shall include the terms
"alarm devices," "direct alarms," "digital alarms," "central station
alarms" and "local alarms." Fire alarm systems are not included in
this article.
This article shall be enforced by the Borough
of Paramus Police Department.
A.
Alarm console.
(1)
Any connection to the alarm console shall be of a
type approved by the Chief of Police or his designated representative.
(2)
Any alarm system may have its signal transmitted to
the alarm console as a digital alarm through the central station which
supplies the service through the municipal bid process. All fees,
except the annual permit fee, shall be paid directly to the central
station service provider.
C.
Dial alarms.
(1)
Upon the effective date of this article, any new dial
alarms shall be prohibited.
(2)
Within 90 days from said effective date, all existing
dial alarms programmed to send a telephone message to the telephone
communication center of the Police Department shall be disconnected
or reprogrammed to discontinue the sending of such messages to the
Police Department telephone communication center.
A.
No person shall operate any central station alarm,
digital alarm, direct alarm or local alarm installed in the Borough
of Paramus after the effective date of this article without first
obtaining a permit to operate the same from the Police Department.
B.
A permit shall be obtained from the Police Department
within 60 days after the effective date of this article for each central
station alarm, digital alarm, direct alarm or local alarm in the Borough
of Paramus which was installed on or before the effective date of
this article.
C.
All such permits shall be valid for the calendar year
in which issued and shall be renewed annually on a calendar-year basis
before February 1 of such year. Fees shall be payable to the Borough
of Paramus upon issuance of said permits.
D.
A permit application shall be completed and submitted
with the prescribed fee. The names, addresses and telephone numbers
of the person responsible for the alarm system and at least two emergency
listings shall be provided on the permit application.
E.
The fee for the initial registration and operating
permit of a security alarm system shall be $15. The annual renewal
fee shall be $10.
F.
Failure to obtain or renew a permit within the prescribed
period shall subject the alarm system owner to a fine of $50.
A.
Any alarm installer who installs security alarm devices
within the Borough of Paramus must obtain a permit from the office
of the Borough Clerk within 60 days after the effective date of this
article.
B.
All such permits shall be valid for the calendar year
in which issued and shall be renewed annually on a calendar-year basis
before February 1 of such year.
C.
The annual fee for a permit to install security alarm
systems within the Borough of Paramus shall be $50.
A.
The Chief of Police or his designated representative
may inspect and test any newly installed alarm system within seven
days of the initial installation. This provision shall not be construed
to impose a duty on the Borough to make inspections or to relieve
the alarm owner from inspecting, testing and maintaining his own alarm
system.
B.
Each alarm system shall be equipped with a fifteen-minute
automatic shut off.
C.
Any unauthorized installation may be disconnected
by the Chief of Police or his designated representative for noncompliance
with this article.
D.
The Chief of Police or his designated representative
may order immediate, temporary disconnection of any alarm system from
the alarm console if said alarm system is malfunctioning and causing
a disturbance in police headquarters or interfering with the efficiency
of the monitoring procedure. In the event of such disconnection, an
effort shall be made promptly to notify the alarm system subscriber
of same.
E.
The Chief of Police or his designated representative
may order immediate, temporary disconnection of any local alarm which
has failed to shut off automatically after a fifteen-minute time period
if said local alarm is, in the opinion of the Police Department, causing
a disturbance. In such cases, the Police Department shall enter the
premises, by force if necessary, to disable the alarm. The Borough
of Paramus, its various departments, agencies and officials shall
be held harmless for and on account of any and all damages arising
out of such entry.
A.
The owner of any security alarm device within the
Borough of Paramus shall be responsible to provide the Police Department
with his name, address and day/night telephone number or the name,
address and day/night telephone number of the person responsible for
the operation of the alarm system, as well as the name, address and
telephone number of at least two other persons having access and control
of the alarm system who may be contacted in the event of an activation
or emergency.
A.
In response to any alarm signal indicating panic or
medical emergency, as so authorized by the alarm system owner in the
permit application, the Police Department may enter the premises,
by force if necessary, to respond to such signal, and the Borough
of Paramus, its various departments, agencies and officials shall
be held harmless from and on account of any and all damages arising
out of such entry.
B.
Any panic or medical emergency alarm which has not
been properly registered with the Police Department in accordance
with this article will be considered a real emergency, and entry will
be made to the premises, by force if necessary, in response to such
signal. In such cases, the Borough and its various departments, agencies
and officials shall be held harmless from and on account of any and
all damages arising out of such entry.
A.
In the event that an alarm system is activated under
conditions heretofore defined as a false alarm, the Chief of Police
shall cause an investigation to be made and a record to be kept on
file of said instance.
B.
Violations and penalties. Any person who pleads guilty
or is found guilty after trial in the Municipal Court of the Borough
of Paramus for a violation of a false alarm shall be fined as follows:
(1)
For the first and second false alarms in any given
calendar year, a written warning shall be issued by the Police Department.
(2)
For the third false alarm in any give calendar year,
a mandatory fine of $25 shall be imposed.
(3)
For the fourth false alarm in any given calendar year,
a mandatory fine of $50 shall be imposed.
(4)
For the fifth false alarm in any given calendar year,
a mandatory fine of $75 shall be imposed.
(5)
For each subsequent false alarm in any given calendar
year, a mandatory fine of $100 shall be imposed.
C.
Each violation of a false alarm shall be a separate
offense.
A.
Any person who fails to comply with any provisions
of this article shall be subject, upon pleading guilty or being found
guilty after trial in the Municipal Court of the Borough of Paramus,
to a mandatory fine of $50.
The Chief of Police may promulgate written rules
and regulations supplementing this article in order to provide for
accurate recordkeeping and efficient management.
The Borough of Paramus, its various departments,
agencies and officials shall be under no duty or obligation hereunder
to any permittee or alarm console licensee or to any other person
or persons, with respect to the adequacy, operation, installation,
repair or maintenance of the alarm console and any associated equipment
or services, and assumes no liability in connection therewith, the
alarm console and equipment being maintained at will and subject to
termination at any time by cancellation by resolution duly adopted
by the Mayor and Council of the Borough of Paramus, and any individual
permit issued hereunder may be revoked at any time by the Mayor and
Council upon recommendation of the Chief of Police, provided that
30 days' notice is given in writing to such permittee. Any permit
granted hereunder shall be accepted upon the express condition that
the permittee shall indemnify and hold harmless the Borough of Paramus
from and on account of any and all damages arising out of the Borough's
management of the alarm console or permittee's alarm system.
