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Chapter 29 ALARM SYSTEMS § 29-1. Legislative intent. [HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Board of the Town of Bedford 5-18-1983. Section 29-17 amended at time of adoption of Code; see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I. Other amendments noted where applicable.] GENERAL REFERENCES Noise-See Ch. 83. The Town of Bedford recognizes the need to regulate the installation and use of emergency alarm systems designed to require Police Department or Fire Department response, investigation and safeguarding of property at the location of an event reported by such a signal. [t is the intent of this chapter to reduce in number false alarms and to encourage the use and proper maintenance of reliable emergency signal systems. For the purpose of this chapter, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to them by this section: ALARM LICENSE--The written authorization of the license authority granted to any person to engage in the business of installing and/or servicing police and fire alarm devices in the Town of Bedford ALARM LICENSEE-Any business, firm, corporation or other commercial entity which is in the business of owning, operating, maintaining, installing, leasing or selling a police or fire alarm device or devices, which business, firm, corporation or other commercial entity is, as owner, operator, provider of maintenance service, installer, lessor or seller of said device, devices or system of devices, subject to the license requirements of this chapter. ALARM PERMIT-The written authorization of the license authority granted to any person, business, firm, corporation or other commercial entity to install or cause to be installed in his or her place of residence or business any police or fire alarm device, devices or system of police or fire alarm devices. CENTRAL ALARM STATION-Any facility operated by a private firm that owns or leases a system of police or fire alarm devices, which facility is manned by operators who receive, record or validate alarm signals and relay information about such validated signals to the Police Department or Fire Department when appropriate. FALSE ALARM-Any signal actuated by a police or fire alarm device, devices or system of police or fire alarm devices which is not the result of a natural disaster, act of God, a criminal act, fire or other emergency requiring police or fire response. The term "false alarm" shall include human error and equipment malfunction causing the alarm to be activated, except when the owner or lessee of such equipment has telephoned or otherwise informed the Police Department of a possible "false alarm" to shortly ensue, resulting from equipment servicing, opening and/or closing the establishment or residence, or similar activity. LICENSING AUTHORITY-The Town of Bedford Police Department. POLICE OR FIRE ALARM DEVICE-Any device which, when actuated by a criminal act, fire or other emergency, transmits a prerecorded message or other signal by telephone, radio, central alarm station or audible or visible signal designed to cause any person within audible or visible range to notify the Police Department or Fire Department, requiring their respective emergency response. § 29-3. Automatic telephone-dialing device. It shall be a violation of this chapter for any automatic telephone-dialing device to be directly connected to the emergency telephone lines of the Police Department or Fire Department. Any such automatic telephone-dialing device may be connected to a central alarm station, other answering service or to the Police Department on the specified telephone line only. § 29-4. Direct connections restricted. It shall be a violation of this chapter for any alarm devices other than a police or fire alarm device to be connected to the Police Department or Fire Department. Any such other alarm devices may be connected to a central alarm station or other answering service for notification to appropriate repair service. § 29-5. Licenses and permits required. A. Alarm license required. It shall be a violation of this chapter for any person to engage in the business of installing and/or servicing any police or fire alarm device without having obtained an alarm business license or alarm agent license. B. Alarm permit required. It shall be a violation of this chapter for any owner or lessee of any police or fire alarm device to install or cause to be installed the same in his or her place of residence or business without having obtained an owner's alarm permit. § 29-6. Applications for license and permit [Amended 8-4-1987; 6-7-1988] All applications for an alarm license and alarm permit shall be submitted to the licensing authority on a form to be supplied by the licensing authority. A. Alarm permit. Said application shall include a description of the police or fire alarm device, devices or system of police or fire alarm devices installed or to be installed. All applications and renewals having a history of one (1) or more false alarms during the previous twelve (12) months thereof shall require certification that a maintenance inspection by a licensed alarm agent has been conducted within the previous twelve (12) months. Renewal applications having a history of zero (0) false alarms during the previous twelve (12) months shall be exempt from certification of maintenance inspection. B. Alarm license. A Westchester County alarm license is required. § 29-7. License and permit fees. [Amended 8-4-1987; 6-7-1988] A. Alarm license. A Westchester County alarm license is required. B. Alarm permit. The initial permit fee for an alarm permit shall be ten dollars ($10.) for the license year in which it is issued. Any permit issued shall become valid on the first day of the month of issue of any given year and shall expire twelve (12) months thereafter. Permits may be renewed each year upon the payment of ten dollars ($10.), provided that such application for renewal is made on or before the expiration of the current permit. If renewal is made subsequent to sixty (60) days after the due date, the license fee shall be twenty-five dollars ($25.) for the balance of the twelve-month period. § 29-8. Installation and maintenance. Under no circumstances shall the cost of any police or fire alarm device, devices or system of police or fire alarm devices, including any connections to the Police Department or Fire Department, and the maintenance of same be charged to the town or Fire Department. The owner or lessee shall be responsible for the service of his or her equipment and for correcting any malfunction of same that may occur. If the location of the Police Department or Fire Department should be changed, the town shall not be held responsible for any expense incurred by the owner or lessee of such police or fire alarm device, devices or system of police or fire alarm devices for moving or reconnecting to the relocated Police Department or Fire Department. Direct connection to the fire district fire alarm lines shall be as regulated by the Fire Commissioners of each district. § 29-9. False alarms. [Amended 8-4-1987] A. [Amended 5-21-1991] The Police Chief of the Town of Bedford shall cause to be kept an up-to-date and accurate log of all false alarms occurring in the town. Any owner or lessee of property having a police or fire alarm device, devices or system of police or fire devices on his or its premises shall pay to the town a charge for each and every false alarm occurring on his or its premises in a manner as follows: (1) Police alarms. In excess of two (2) such alarms during any calendar year: Number of False Alarms Charge 3rd $ 20.00 All over 3 100.00 (2) Fire alarms. In excess of one (1) such false alarm during the entire period the permit premises is under the control of the same owner: Number of False Alarms Charge 2nd $100.00 All over 2 200.00 B. In addition to the above charges, should more than six (6) false alarms occur at any one (1) location while under the control of the same owner, the licensing authority may order the owner or lessee of same to disconnect or dismantle or otherwise remove from the Police Department or Fire Department and/or central alarm station any police or fire alarm device, devices or system of police or fire alarm devices causing such false alarms at no expense to the town, and any refusal by the owner or lessee to do the same shall be deemed a violation of this chapter, subject to the penalties of this chapter. The designation of a false alarm will be as determined by the Fire Department and reported to the Police Department. C. Upon the third false alarm occurring at any one (1) location during any one (1) calendar year while under the control of the same owner, the licensing authority may order the owner or lessee to provide certification that a maintenance inspection by a licensed alarm agent has been conducted to correct any and all deficiencies causing such false alarms. [Added 5-21-1991] § 29-10. Powers of licensing authority. The licensing authority is hereby authorized to grant revocable alarm licenses and alarm permits, pursuant to rules and regulations promulgated by the Town of Bedford or its duly authorized representative. Such licenses and permits may be revoked for good cause shown. The licensing authority is authorized to prescribe the location and the manner of installation of private and regular business telephone lines into the Police Department or Fire Department from a central alarm station for the express purpose of providing direct telephone communication between a central alarm station and the Police Department or Fire Department for use in reporting emergencies. The licensing authority is further authorized to prescribe the location and the manner of installation of all cabinets, accessories, connections and equipment of an approved direct alarm system where the visible and audible signals therefrom may be readily seen and heard by police or fire personnel. The licensing authority shall administer and enforce the provisions of this chapter and any rules and regulations promulgated by the Town Board in accordance with the provisions of this chapter. § 29-11. Rules and regulations. The Town Board or its duly authorized representative is hereby empowered to promulgate reasonable rules, regulations and standards that may be necessary for the purpose of assuring the proper implementation of the provisions of this chapter. Said rules and regulations shall be set forth in writing, and copies shall be available for applicants. § 29-12. Collection and disposition of fees and charges. All police and fire alarm license and permit fees and false alarm charges shall be collected by the licensing authority and paid to the Town Clerk. § 29-13. Duties of Town Clerk and licensing authority. A. It shall be the duty of the Town Clerk to receive fees and charges and to keep a record thereof. B. It shall be the duty of the licensing authority to maintain a record of alarm licenses and alarm permits issued and to make a monthly report of same to the Town Board. In order to implement the orderly institution of all the requirements, rules and regulations of this chapter, the owners or lessees of any police or fire alarm device, devices or systems of police or fire alarm devices currently in use and required under the provisions of this chapter to obtain an alarm permit shall obtain said permit no later than June 1, 1983. Any practicing installer of alarms must obtain an alarm license no later than June 1, 1983. Furthermore, any alarm license or alarm permit obtained between the effective date of this chapter and December 31, 1983,shallbevaliduntilDecember315 ]984. None of the provisions of this chapter shall apply to a police alarm device, devices or system of devices installed in a motor vehicle or trailer or to employees of a public utility company engaged in the business of providing communications services or facilities. The Town of Bedford shall take every reasonable precaution to assure that emergency alarm signals and prerecorded alarm messages received by the town are given appropriate and immediate attention. Nevertheless, the town shall not be liable for any defects in operation of emergency alarm systems, for any failure to respond appropriately on any emergency alarm signal, or for the transmission of alarm signals or messages or the relaying of such signals or messages. In the event that the town finds it necessary to order the disconnection or removal of a defective automatic or signaling device, the town shall incur no liability therefrom. § 29-17. Penalties for offenses. [Amended 5-1-1984 by L.L. No. 2-1984] Any person, business, firm, corporation or other commercial entity who does not pay any fee or charge established in this chapter or who violates any provisions of this chapter shall be subject to a fine not in excess of two hundred fifty dollars ($250.) or imprisonment for fifteen (15) days, or both, for each offense. A separate offense shall be deemed committed upon each day during which a violation occurs or is committed. |