Source: https://ecode360.com/11762611
Timestamp: 2019-04-26 02:16:05+00:00

Document:
§ 159-3 Alarm permit required; application.
§ 159-4 Duties of alarm user.
§ 159-5 Duties of alarm company.
§ 159-7 Registration and false alarm fees; discontinuance of law enforcement response.
§ 159-8 Alarm user awareness class.
§ 159-11 Governmental immunity from liability.
§ 159-12 Violations and penalties.
Fire alarm regulations — See Ch. 308, Art. X.
Editor's Note: This ordinance also repealed former Ch. 159, Alarm Licensing and Operations, adopted 12-9-2008 by Ord. No. 4168-08.
The purpose of this chapter is to encourage alarm users and alarm companies to properly use and maintain the operation, effectiveness and proper utilization of alarm systems and to reduce or eliminate false alarms which may unduly divert law enforcement from responding to criminal activity.
This chapter governs systems intended to summon law enforcement response, requires registration, establishes fees, provides for penalties for violations, establishes a system of administration and sets conditions for suspension or loss of registration.
A person or persons designated by the Township to administer, control and review false alarm reduction efforts and administer the provisions of this chapter.
A person subject to the licensing requirements and/or a company engaged in selling, leasing, installing, servicing or monitoring alarm systems; this person shall be licensed in compliance with Township ordinances and state laws and regulations.
A permit issued by the Township allowing the operation of an alarm system within the Township.
A detectable signal, audible or visible, generated by an alarm system, to which law enforcement is requested to respond.
Any single device or assembly of equipment designed to signal the occurrence of an illegal or unauthorized entry or other activity requiring immediate attention and to which law enforcement is requested to respond. The following are exempt from this chapter: motor vehicle alarms, boat alarms, fire alarms, domestic violence alarms and alarms designed to elicit a medical response.
Any person, corporation, limited-liability company, partnership, proprietorship, governmental or educational entity or any other entity owning, leasing or operating an alarm system, or on whose premises an alarm system is maintained for the protection of such premises.
A class conducted for the purpose of educating alarm users about the responsible use, operation and maintenance of alarm systems and the problems created by false alarms.
An automatic dialing device or an automatic telephone dialing alarm system and shall include any system which, upon being activated, automatically initiates to the Toms River Police Department a recorded message or code signal indicating a need for law enforcement response.
The process where response is terminated when the alarm company (designated by the alarm user) notifies the Toms River Police Department that there is not an existing situation at the alarm site requiring police response after an alarm dispatch request. If cancellation occurs prior to police arriving at the scene, this is not a false alarm for the purpose of civil penalty, and no penalty will be assessed.
The activation of an alarm system through mechanical or electronic failure, malfunction, improper installation or the negligence of the alarm user, his/her employees or agents, and signals activated to summon law enforcement personnel, unless law enforcement response was canceled by the alarm user or his/her agent before law enforcement personnel arrive at the alarm location. An alarm is false within the meaning of this chapter when, upon inspection by the Toms River Police Department, evidence indicates that no unauthorized entry, robbery or other such crime was committed or attempted in or on the premises which would have activated a properly functioning alarm system. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a false alarm shall not include an alarm which can reasonably be determined to have been caused or activated by unusually violent conditions of nature nor does it include other extraordinary circumstances not reasonably subject to control by the alarm user.
An alarm system that emits a signal at an alarm site that is audible or visible from the exterior of a structure and is not monitored by a remote monitoring facility, whether installed by an alarm company or user.
A twelve-month period beginning on the day and month on which an alarm permit is issued.
An alarm system that produces repeated alarm signals that do not appear to be caused by separate human action. The Toms River Police Department may in its discretion discontinue police responses to alarm signals from what appears to be a runaway alarm.
The American National Standard Institute (ANSI) approved Security Industry Association (SIA) CP-01 Control Panel Standard, as may be updated from time to time, that details recommended design features for security system control panels and their associated arming and disarming devices to reduce false alarms. Control panels built and tested to this standard by a nationally recognized testing organization will be marked to state: "Design evaluated in accordance with SIA CP-01 Control Panel Standard Features for False Alarm Reduction."
The Township of Toms River or its agent(s).
An attempt by the monitoring company, or its representative, to contact the alarm site and/or alarm user by telephone and/or other electronic means, whether or not actual contact with a person is made, to attempt to determine whether an alarm signal is valid before requesting law enforcement dispatch, in an attempt to avoid an unnecessary alarm dispatch request. For the purpose of this chapter, telephone verification shall require, as a minimum, that a second call be made to a different number if the first attempt fails to reach an alarm user who can properly identify himself or herself to attempt to determine whether an alarm signal is valid before requesting law enforcement dispatch.
Permit required. No person shall use an alarm system without first obtaining a permit for such alarm system from the Township. A fee will be required for the initial registration and annual renewals. Each alarm permit shall be assigned a unique permit number, and the user shall provide the permit number to the alarm company to facilitate law enforcement dispatch.
Application. The permit shall be requested on an application form provided by the Township. An alarm user has the duty to obtain an application from the Township.
Transfer of possession. When the possession of the premises at which an alarm system is maintained is transferred, the person (user) obtaining possession of the property shall file an application for an alarm permit within 30 days of obtaining possession of the property. Alarm permits are not transferable.
Reporting updated information. Whenever the information provided on the alarm permit application changes, the alarm user shall provide correct information to the Township within 30 days of the change. In addition, each year after the issuance of the permit, permit holders will receive from the Township a form requesting updated information. The permit holder shall complete and return this form to the Township when any of the requested information has changed; failure to comply will constitute a violation and may result in a civil penalty.
Multiple alarm systems. If an alarm user has one or more alarm systems protecting two or more separate structures having different addresses and/or tenants, a separate permit shall be required for each structure and/or tenant.
Maintain the premises and the alarm system in a method that will reduce or eliminate false alarms.
Respond or cause a representative to respond to the alarm system's location within a reasonable amount of time when notified by the Toms River Police Department.
Obtain a new permit and pay any associated fees if there is a change in address or ownership of a business or residence.
Obtain and maintain the required state and/or Township license(s).
Provide the name, address and telephone numbers of the license holder or a designee who can be called in an emergency, 24 hours a day, and be able to respond to an alarm call, when notified, within a reasonable amount of time.
Be able to provide the most current contact information for the alarm user.
On and after 90 days after enactment of this chapter, alarm installation companies shall, on all new and upgraded installations, use only alarm control panel(s) which meet SIA Control Panel Standard CP-01.
Prior to activation of the alarm system, the alarm company must provide instructions explaining the proper operation of the alarm system to the alarm user.
Provide written information of how to obtain service from the alarm company for the alarm system.
Attempt to verify, by calling the alarm site and/or alarm user by telephone, to determine whether an alarm signal is valid before requesting dispatch. Telephone verification shall require, as a minimum, that a second call be made to a different number if the first attempt fails to reach an alarm user who can properly identify himself or herself to attempt to determine whether an alarm signal is valid, except in the case of a panic or robbery-in-progress alarm, or in cases where a crime-in-progress has been verified by video and/or audible means.
Provide alarm user registration numbers to the communications center to facilitate dispatch and/or cancellations.
Communicate any available information about the alarm.
Communicate a cancellation to the law enforcement communications center as soon as possible following a determination that response is unnecessary.
It shall be unlawful to activate an alarm system for the purpose of summoning law enforcement when no burglary, robbery or other crime dangerous to life or property is being committed or attempted on the premises, or otherwise to cause a false alarm.
It shall be unlawful to install, maintain or use an audible alarm system which can sound continually for more than 10 minutes.
It shall be unlawful to install, maintain or use an automatic dial protection device that reports, or causes to be reported, any recorded message to the Toms River Police Department.
Payment of fees. All fees, except the yearly registration fee, shall be paid within 30 days from the date of the Township invoice.
Discontinuance of law enforcement response. The failure of an alarm user to make payment of any fees assessed under this chapter within 30 days from the date of the Township invoice shall result in discontinuance of law enforcement response to alarm signals that may occur at the premises described in the alarm user's permit until payment is received. In addition, failure to register and obtain a permit may result in no law enforcement response to an unregistered alarm.
The Township shall create and implement an alarm user awareness class and may request the assistance of the area alarm companies to assist in developing and implementing the class. The class shall inform alarm users of the problems created by false alarms and instruct alarm users how to help reduce false alarms. The Township shall have the option of waiving all or a part of a fee (except the yearly registration fee), up to a maximum of $150, if the alarm user attends an awareness class.
Appeals process. Assessments of fees and other enforcement decisions made under this chapter may be appealed by filing a written notice of appeal with the Toms River Police Department within 10 days after the date of notification of the assessment of a fee or other enforcement decision. The failure to give notice of appeal within this time period shall constitute a waiver of the right to contest the assessment of a fee or other enforcement decision. Appeals shall be heard through an administrative process established by the Township Attorney, who shall act as the hearing officer.
Appeal standard. The hearing officer shall review an appeal from the assessment of a fee or other enforcement decisions using a preponderance of the evidence standard. Notwithstanding a determination that the preponderance of the evidence supports the assessment of a fee or other enforcement decision, the hearing officer shall have the discretion to dismiss or reduce the fee or reverse any other enforcement decision where warranted.
In the interest of public safety, all information contained in and gathered through the alarm registration applications, no-response records, applications for appeals and any other alarm records shall be held in confidence by all employees and/or representatives of the Township, except where otherwise provided by law.
An alarm permit is not intended to, nor will it, create a contract, duty or obligation, either expressed or implied, of response. Any and all liability and consequential damage resulting from the failure to respond to a notification is hereby disclaimed by the Township. All governmental immunity as provided by law is retained. By applying for an alarm permit, the alarm user acknowledges that the response of the Toms River Police Department may be influenced by factors such as: the availability of police units, priority of calls, weather conditions, traffic conditions, emergency conditions, staffing levels and prior response history.
Any person, partnership, limited-liability company, corporation or other entity who shall violate any provision of this chapter shall, upon conviction thereof, be subject to the maximum fines and penalties established under N.J.S.A. 40:49-5, and as same shall be amended from time to time. Each and every day a violation of this chapter shall exist shall constitute a separate violation.

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