Source: https://ecode360.com/14045411
Timestamp: 2019-04-19 08:34:51+00:00

Document:
§ 45-5 Investigation and issuance of permit.
§ 45-7 Terms and conditions of permit.
§ 45-8 Suspension of permit.
§ 45-9 Disconnection of unauthorized equipment; consent to inspection.
§ 45-11 Fines and penalties for false alarms.
§ 45-12 Disclaimer of responsibility.
§ 45-14 Additional rules and regulations.
§ 45-15 Violations; penalties; enforcement.
Editor's Note: This ordinance also repealed former Ch. 45, Alarms, adopted 6-8-1970 as Sec. 5-22 of the Revised General Ordinances, as amended.
The purpose of this chapter is to provide minimum standards and regulations for the use of privately installed emergency alarm systems, to establish permit and registration procedures, establish a system of administration, and establish fees and penalties for violations. The provisions of this chapter shall apply to any person who operates, maintains or owns any alarm system in the Town of Newton.
An alarm installed on or in a vehicle, unless the vehicle is permanently located at a site.
Medical alert systems and/or devices for individual use.
The Chief of Police of the Town of Newton or his or her designee.
Alarm equipment that employs an automatic dialing system programmed to connect with the police headquarters telephone and emit a prerecorded voice message. Such dial alarms are not permitted in the Town.
An alarm actuated for which there is no evidence of an attempted unauthorized entry or for which there exists evidence of an equipment failure or evidence of inadvertence on the part of any permittee, agents, servants and employees requiring a response by police, fire or other municipal agency. False alarms shall include actuations caused by malfunctioning of the alarm or other relevant equipment but shall not include alarm actuations caused by natural forces or other extraordinary circumstances not subject to control by the permittee.
A person to which a permit has been issued to install, operate or maintain an alarm system.
No person shall install, maintain, operate, use or cause to be operated or used any alarm system within the Town unless an annual permit has been issued by the Chief in accordance with the provisions of this section.
With each permit, the applicant must provide a list of two persons to be contacted in the event of an actuation. This contact person(s) must respond within 20 minutes of contact.
Dial alarm systems, as defined in § 45-2, are prohibited.
All alarm systems shall be installed in accordance with the requirements of N.J.A.C. 5:23-1.1 et seq., the New Jersey Uniform Construction Code. All fire alarms shall be installed with the approval of the fire official and in accordance with N.J.A.C. 5:70-4.1 et seq., the New Jersey Uniform Fire Code.
Fees for alarm system permits shall be $25 for residential alarm systems and $50 for commercial alarm systems.
The renewal fee for residential and commercial alarm system permits shall be $25.
Any person who fails to obtain a permit on or before January 31 of each year shall pay a surcharge of $25. Such person shall also remain liable for the penalties.
The Chief shall issue a permit for an alarm system unless the Chief concludes that the system covered by the application does not meet the applicable standards of this chapter. Whenever the Chief shall refuse to issue a permit, he shall advise the applicant, in writing, of the reason(s) for refusal.
Use of property (residential or commercial) and type of business conducted on the property.
Name and address of the person(s) installing, maintaining and owning the alarm system.
Description of the alarm system's operation, including, not by way of limitation, activation points of the alarm system and the mechanism(s) by which the alarm system becomes activated.
Names, addresses and telephone numbers of two responsible persons other than the permittee to be contacted in case of alarm and/or malfunction.
If there has occurred any material change in the information submitted for alarm registration, it shall be the duty of the alarm user, within 10 calendar days of such material change, to file a supplemental or revised registration form containing accurate current information. Failure to comply with these provisions will be deemed a violation of this chapter and subject the violator to the penalties contained herein.
A permit shall be issued for each separate improved property, building and/or facility, and no permit shall be transferred or assigned in any manner.
If an alarm system is disconnected, the permittee shall give written notice to the Police Department within seven calendar days of such disconnection. Any permittee who fails to give the notice required under this subchapter shall be subject to the penalties contained herein.
The permittee has failed to comply with the terms and conditions of the permit or has failed to comply with rules or standards promulgated by the Chief concerning alarm systems, including failure to pay fines or fees assessed pursuant to this chapter.
The permittee or his agents knowingly installed or maintains a faulty alarm system.
A false material statement was submitted with alarm registration.
In the event that the Chief shall determine that a permit for an alarm system shall be suspended by reason of the provisions of this subsection, the Chief shall notify the permittee of the suspension, in writing, by certified mail, to the last known address setting forth the reason or reasons for the suspension.
Any unauthorized alarm system or equipment may be disconnected by Town personnel for noncompliance with this chapter, and any person installing or maintaining an unauthorized alarm system equipment shall be prosecuted for violation of this chapter, and each day such equipment is in operation shall be considered a separate violation.
Any person aggrieved by the action of the Chief in the denial or suspension of a permit for an alarm system shall have the right of appeal to the Town Manager. The appeal shall be taken by filing with the Town Manager, within 15 calendar days after the notice of action complaint has been mailed to the person's last known address, a written statement setting forth fully the grounds for appeal. The Town Manager shall set a time and place for hearing of the appeal and notice of the hearing shall be given to the appellant by certified mail to his last known address at least five calendar days prior to the date set for hearing. The decisions of the Town Manager and the reasons therefor shall be set forth in writing by the Town Manager within 15 calendar days of the hearing.
In the case of a false alarm, any person, permittee or his agent or representative having knowledge thereof shall immediately notify the Town Police Department.
Where a person, permittee or his agent or representative notifies the Town Police Department within 60 seconds of the activation of the alarm, the actuation shall not be deemed to be a false alarm for the purpose of imposing penalties upon the permittee.
The Chief shall cause an investigation to be made of all false alarms and a record of such false alarms kept on file.
If registration is obtained within 10 calendar days of the first warning, the penalty of $100 shall be waived.
All fines under this chapter may be joint and several against all persons owning an alarm system, any occupant of a premises in which an alarm system is installed, and any alarm company or contractor.
For all false alarms, commencing with the first, which occur while construction, alteration or renovations are occurring at the site, or when the alarm systems are being serviced, maintained or repaired, and the person conducting such work fails to notify the Town Fire and Police Departments that such work is being conducted, a summons may be issued to the individual or contractor performing the construction, alteration or renovations, and carry a penalty of $200, in addition to any and all other penalties provided in this chapter.
Where the investigation of the Police Department discloses the failure of a permittee or occupant to take remedial steps to prevent false alarms, the Chief may require said permittee or occupant to disconnect the alarm system.
All fines shall be issued by summonses, which are answerable to the Newton Municipal Court.
Neither the Town nor the Police Department shall assume any responsibility whatsoever with respect to the adequacy, operation or maintenance of any alarm system. No action taken by the Town or the Police Department pursuant to the provisions of this chapter, including disconnection of alarms, shall create any liability upon the Town or the Police Department by reason of any failure of any alarm system, any failure to respond to any emergency or any act or omission relating to any alarm system.
By installing an alarm system and registering same with the Town, each alarm user agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Town, its agents, servants and employees from and against all claims, suits, damages, costs, losses and expenses and to release the Town, its agents, servants and employees from any and all liability or damages in any way resulting from or arising out of or connected with the installation, operation or maintenance of the alarm system or any act or omission connected therewith.
The Chief may from time to time promulgate written rules and regulations supplementing this chapter to provide for recordkeeping and efficient management of the system, provided that no such rules and regulations shall be effective until the Town Council shall first approve such rules and regulations, or any amendments thereto, by appropriate resolution.
Any person found guilty in the Municipal Court of the Town for violation of the terms of this chapter, other than for violating the terms of § 45-11, which provides specific penalties for violations thereof, shall be subject to a fine of not more than $2,000 or imprisonment for a period not exceeding 90 days, or both. Responsibility for enforcement of the provisions of this chapter, including but not limited to fines, disconnections, summons and permit suspensions, shall be the Police Department, Construction Official or Fire Official.

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