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Alarm Systems Bylaw

Chapter 59

ALARM SYSTEMS

§~59-1. Definitions.
§~59-2. Dialing devices; permits; limitations; compliance.
§~59-3. Delay on transmission of signal; exceptions; compliance.
§~59-4. Timing device required.
§~59-5. Filing requirements.
§~59-6. Permit required; fee; revocation.
§~59-7. False alarms.
§~59-8. Disconnection.
§~59-9. Violations and penalties.
[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town of Sheffield 5-12-1980 Annual Town Meeting, Art. 35. Amendments noted where applicable.]

GENERAL REFERENCES

  • Unpaid fees -- See Ch. 4.
  • Licenses and permits of delinquent taxpayers -- See Ch. 132, Art. II.

§~59-1. Definitions.

As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:

  • ALARM SYSTEM -- Any device which automatically dials the emergency telephone number of the Police and uses a pretaped or prerecorded massage to alert the Police that an emergency exists or that the services of that Department or of the Fire Department are needed. "Alarm system" shall also mean any alarm device which automatically emits an audible, visual or other response upon the occurrence of any hazard or emergency and which is intended to alert persons outside the building and/or any person who in turn notifies the Police and/or Fire Department to the existence of said hazard or emergency. The term shall also include fire alarms for the purposes of this chapter. [Amended 5-9-1983 ATM, Art. 22]
  • DIAL ALARM OR DIALING DEVICE -- Any fire or police alarm device which is a telephone device or telephone attachment which automatically or electronically selects a telephone line connected to police headquarters and/or the Fire Department and reproduces a prerecorded message to report a criminal act or other emergency requiring Police or Fire Department response.
  • FALSE EMERGENCY ALARM -- Any signal actuated by an emergency alarm to which the Police or Fire Department responds which is not the result of fire, holdup, robbery or other crime emergency.
  • POLICE EMERGENCY NUMBER -- Any telephone number designated by the Chief of Police as a telephone number through which members of the public may report an emergency or request public assistance.

§~59-2. Dialing devices; permits; limitations; compliance.

  1. All dialing devices operated by automatic means shall transmit messages only to such numbers as may be designated for that purpose by the Police and/or Fire Department of the town.
  2. After six (6) months following the effective date of this chapter, no person shall use, operate or install any device which will, upon activation by automatic means, initiate the dialing, calling or other connection with the Police and/or Fire Department of the town, either at its regularly constituted telephone number or any other number which may be designated by said Police or Fire Department as a police/fire emergency number, without a permit issued by the Board of Selectmen.
  3. No person shall use, operate or install any dialing device that will, upon activation, automatically dial, call or connect with the telephone number designated by the Chief of Police and/or Fire Chief for the purpose of receiving such alarm messages more than twice for any one (1) incident.
  4. Any system installed on or after the effective date of this chapter must comply with this chapter. Preexisting installations must comply within six (6) months of the effective date of this chapter.

§~59-3. Delay on transmission of signal; exceptions; compliance.

  1. Upon the activation of a burglary (break-in) alarm, there shall be a mandatory delay of at least fifteen (15) seconds before the transmission of a signal to the Police Department to enable the user to abort the signal in the event that is was triggered inadvertently.
  2. This delay shall not be applicable to a robbery (holdup), fire or medical emergency alarm.
  3. Any system installed on or after the effective date of this chapter must comply with this section. Preexisting installations must comply within six (6) months of the effective date of this chapter.

§~59-4. Timing device required.

The user of every alarm system emitting an audible, visual or other response as of the effective date of this chapter, in the case of existing systems, shall install or cause to be installed an automatic timing device which shall deactivate such alarm so that it will be activated for no more than fifteen (15) minutes.

§~59-5. Filing requirements.

  1. The user of every alarm system maintained in the town, except those installed in motor vehicles, shall within ten (10) days of the installation thereof or within sixty (60) days of the enactment of this chapter, file the following information with the Police Department of the town:
    1. The type of alarm system.
    2. The street address and the nearest cross street of the building which houses the alarm.
    3. In the case of a commercial premises, the name, address and telephone number of an authorized representative and/or an alternate who will be able to respond when called by police to deactivate the alarm system, if necessary.
    4. In the case of a private residence, the name, address and telephone number of a person who is not a resident of the private residence in question and who will be able to deactivate the alarm system. An external shutoff to the alarm system shall be available to the Police Department to deactivate the alarm.
  2. Such filing requirements are not applicable to all alarm systems, whether the same are or are not directly connected to the Police and/or Fire Department or are merely audible alarms. Such filing must be made within the time period specified above even though there shall have been previous notification of the existence of such alarm systems to the Police and/or Fire Department or other department of the town.

§~59-6. Permit required; fee; revocation.

  1. The Board of Selectmen is hereby authorized to grant a revocable permit to any owner, lessee or occupant of property located in the town to operate, maintain, install or modify a police or fire alarm device, and no such device shall be operated unless such permit shall have first been issued.
  2. The Board of Selectmen shall charge a fee of twenty-five dollars ($25.) for the issuance of such permits, which are to be renewed annually. Permits will expire on December 31 of each year. [Amended 5-9-1983 ATM, Art. 22; 5-14-1990 ATM, Art. 28]
  3. Revocation.
    1. A permit issued pursuant to this chapter may be revoked at any time or from time to time by the Board of Selectmen upon the giving of ten (10) days' notice, in writing, by registered or certified mail, to the permittee, sent to the address shown on the permit.
    2. The violation of this chapter shall constitute grounds for the revocation of the permit.

§~59-7. False alarms. [Amended 5-9-1983 ATM, Art. 22; 5-14-1990 ATM, Art. 28]

After the issuance of a permit, a fee will be charged for response to the building/residence in which an alarm malfunction or alarm activation is caused by the occupant or persons having control of the building/residence. A fee of twenty dollars ($20.) will be charged for the first response, thirty dollars ($30.) for the second response and forty dollars ($40.) for the third response when responding to a burglar alarm. A fee of twenty dollars ($20.) will be charged for the first response, forty dollars ($40.) for a second response and sixty dollars ($60.) for a third response by the Fire Department to an alarm malfunction or accidental activation. The Police Chief and/or Fire Chief or senior officer to an alarm response will determine whether the alarm was a malfunction by the alarm system or accidental activation. After the third response within a twelve-month period, the permit shall be revoked by the Board of Selectmen until the alarm system has been recertified by a reputable installer of alarms.

§~59-8. Disconnection.

In the event that an alarm system emitting an audible, visual or other similar response shall fail to be deactivated within the time limitation specified in §~59-4 above, the town shall have the right to take such action as may be necessary in order to disconnect any such alarm.

§~59-9. Violations and penalties.

Any person operating an alarm system without a permit from the Board of Selectmen violates the provisions of this chapter and shall be subject to a fine of fifty dollars ($50.) for each offense.