4-2.3   Private Alarm Systems Requirements.

a.     Permit Required. No person shall install, maintain, use, or cause or permit to be used any private alarm system within the Township unless a permit has been issued by the Chief of Police of the Township in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.

 No private alarm system serving a property located outside of the Township shall be connected with or cause communications to the Chatham Township Police Department Command Desk unless a permit has been issued by the Chief of Police of the municipality within which the property is located and has been approved by the Chief of Police of the Township of Chatham in accordance with the provisions of this section. The holder of a permit approved for any property located outside the Township will comply with all of the provisions of this section.

        No person shall use a private alarm system during any period when the permit therefore has expired or is suspended.

b.     Application for Permit. Any person desiring to use a private alarm system upon improved property owned or occupied by such person shall submit a written application to the Chief of Police for a permit for the system. The application shall be on a form to be furnished by the Chief of Police which shall require the following information over the signature of the applicant:

1.     The name, address and telephone number of the applicant.

2.     The location of the property to be served.

3.     The name, address and telephone number of the company which will furnish and maintain the private alarm system.

4.     The name and telephone number of a person to be notified of a faulty private alarm system at any time when no one is present on the property served by the system.

5.     The particular type of private alarm system as defined in subsection 4-2.2 for which the permit is sought.

c.     Fees. At the time an application is submitted to the Chief of Police for a permit for a Lease Line System, an initial fee of eighty-five ($85.00) dollars shall be paid to the Township for the year in which the initial permit is issued for each alarm position assigned at the Chatham Township Police Department Command Desk.(NO LONGER AVAILABLE)

        At the time an application is submitted to the Chief of Police for a permit for a Digital System, an initial fee of sixty ($60.00) dollars shall be paid to the Township for the year in which the initial permit is issued. (NO LONGER AVAILABLE)

        At the time an application is submitted to the Chief of Police for a Tape Dialer System or a Telephone Call System, an initial fee of thirty-five ($35.00) dollars shall be paid to the Township for the year in which the initial permit is issued.

        At the time an application is submitted to the Chief of Police for a Radio Transmitter/Digital Dialer System, an initial fee of thirty ($30.00) dollars shall be paid to the Township for the year in which the initial permit is issued.

        At the time an application is submitted to the Chief of Police for a permit for an Outside Audible Alarm System, an initial fee of twenty-five ($25.00) dollars shall be paid to the Township for the year in which the initial permit is issued.

        The aforesaid fees shall not be prorated by reason of the date upon which an application is filed, but the fee shall be refunded to the applicant in the event that a permit is not issued.

d.     Investigation and Issuance of Permit. The Chief of Police shall issue a permit for a private alarm system unless he finds that the system covered by the application does not meet applicable standards. Whenever the Chief of Police shall refuse to issue a permit, he shall advise the applicant in writing of the reason or reasons for refusal.

e.     Expiration and Renewal of Permit; Renewal Fees. Every permit for a private alarm system shall expire on December 31 of the year in which it is issued.

        Every application for the renewal of a permit for a Lease Line System shall be accompanied by an annual fee of eighty-five ($85.00) dollars for each alarm position assigned at the Chatham Township Police Department Command Desk.

        Every application for the renewal of a permit for the Digital System shall be accompanied by an annual fee of sixty ($60.00) dollars for each such system.

        Every application for the renewal of a permit for a Tape Dialer System or a Telephone Call System shall be accompanied by an annual fee of thirty-five ($35.00) dollars for each such system.

        Every application for the renewal of a permit for a Radio Transmitter/Digital Dialer System or a Telephone Call System shall be accompanied by an annual fee of thirty-five ($35.00) dollars for each such system.

        Every application for the renewal of a permit for an Outside Audible Alarm System shall be accompanied by an annual fee of twenty-five ($25.00) dollars for each such system.

        Application and fees for permit renewals shall be made prior to the expiration of the current permit.

        Applicants are subject to a mandatory late payment fee of twenty ($20.00) dollars in addition to any other penalties that may be imposed by law.

f.      Terms and Conditions of Permit. All permits for private alarm systems shall be issued upon the following terms and conditions:

1.     A permit shall be issued for each separate improved property, store, building or other facility, and no permit shall be transferred or assigned in any manner.

2.     All warning devices which are incorporated in a private alarm system shall be equipped with a mechanism which will automatically reset the device so as to limit the audible signal of the alarm to a period of no more than twenty (20) continuous minutes.

3.     If required, an applicant shall furnish complete information and specifications for the system. Such information shall include specific data relating to testing procedures and the prevention of false alarms.

4.     Every private alarm system shall be maintained in proper working condition and shall meet standards which may from time to time be promulgated by the Chief of Police to prevent faulty systems.

5.     Any private alarm system connected directly to the Township Police Department command desk shall have a voltage compatible therewith.

6.     No private alarm system which automatically dials a telephone trunk line at the Township Police Department shall dial any number except one (1) specified by the Chief of Police.

7.     Any prerecorded telephone message to the Township Police Department resulting from the operation of a private alarm system shall be worded in a form approved by the Chief of Police.

8.     No prerecorded telephone message to the Township Police Department resulting from the operation of a private alarm system shall repeat for a continuous period of more than three (3) minutes.

9.     Every permit shall be subject to rules and standards which may be promulgated by the Chief of Police with respect to private alarm systems. Such rules shall be in writing and shall be given to each permittee at the time of issuance or renewal of any permit or at the time of promulgation or amendment.

10.   Whenever following the issuance of a permit pursuant to this section there is a change in the information previously provided by the applicant, the holder of the permit shall promptly notify the Chief of Police of the Township of such change.

g.     Suspension of Permit; Termination of Suspension. Any permit issued for a private alarm system may be suspended by the Chief of Police if it shall appear that:

1.     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 of Police with respect to private alarm systems;

2.     The permittee or his agents failed to immediately comply with a request by a member of the Chatham Township Police Department to proceed to a property served by a private alarm system for purposes of providing access to a building or deactivating or resetting the system;

3.     The permittee or his agents knowingly installed or maintained a faulty private alarm system; or

4.     The permittee or his agents failed to comply with a request by the Chief of Police to render necessary services to a faulty private alarm system within thirty-six (36) hours after such request is made or failed to disconnect such system within such period and until such system has been repaired.

        Five (5) false alarms within any calendar year shall constitute prima facie evidence that a private alarm system is faulty.

        In the event that the Chief of Police shall determine that a permit for a private alarm system should be suspended by reason of the provisions of this section, the Chief of Police shall notify the permittee of the suspension in writing by certified mail to his last known address, setting forth the reason or reasons for the suspension.

        A suspension shall be terminated by the Chief of Police when he is satisfied that the conditions stated in the notice of suspension have been corrected.

h.     Appeal. Any person aggrieved by the action of the Chief of Police in the denial or suspension of a permit for a private alarm system shall have the right of appeal to the Township Committee. The appeal shall be taken by filing with the Township Clerk, within fourteen (14) days after the notice of the action complained of has been mailed to the person's last known address, a written statement setting forth fully the grounds for appeal. The Township Committee 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 (5) days prior to the date set for hearing. The decision of the Township Committee and the reasons therefore shall be set forth in the minutes of the Township Committee.

i.      Prohibition Against New Tape Dialer Systems. No application for initial permits shall be filed or accepted for any Tape Dialer System. This prohibition against new Tape Dialer Systems shall have no effect upon the renewal of a permit for any such system for which an initial permit has previously been issued.

        (Ord. No. 16-77 Art. 3 § 1–9; Ord. No. 8-79 §§ 2–5; Ord. No. 25-80 §§ 2–5; Ord. No. 23-84 §§ 3–6; Ord. No. 93-19 § 1; Ord. No. 2000-010 § 1)

4-2.4   Warning Devices.

a.     Notification of Use. Every person who installs, maintains or uses a warning device with the Township shall notify the Chief of Police of such device by completing and filing with the Chief of Police a form to be furnished by the Chief of Police providing for the following information:

1.     The name, address and telephone number of the owner or occupant of the property served by the warning device.

2.     The location of the property served.

3.     The name, address and telephone number of any company maintaining the warning device.

4.     The name and telephone number of a person to be notified of a faulty warning device at any time when no one is present on the property served by the warning device.

b.     Proper Maintenance. All warning devices shall be equipped with a mechanism which will automatically reset the device so as to limit the audible signal of the alarm to a period of no more than twenty (20) continuous minutes. Every person who installs, maintains or uses a warning device to serve an improved property within the Township shall promptly correct or disconnect any faulty device upon notice from the Chief of Police. Five (5) false alarms within any calendar year shall constitute prima facie evidence that a warning device is faulty.

        (Ord. No. 16-77 Art. 4 § 2; Ord. No. 23-84 § 7)

4-2.5   Disclaimer of Responsibility.

Neither the Township nor the Township Police Department shall assume any responsibility whatsoever with respect to the adequacy, operation or maintenance of any private alarm system or warning device. No action taken by the Township or the Township Police Department pursuant to the provisions of this section shall create any liability upon the Township or the Township Police Department by reason of any failure of any private alarm system or warning device; any failure to respond to any emergency or any act of omission or commission relating to any private alarm system or warning device. Every permittee who accepts a permit for a private alarm system or warning device agrees to hold and save harmless the Township, its agents and employees from any liability whatsoever in connection with the system or device covered by the permit or its operation. (Ord. No. 16-77 Art. 5; Ord. No. 8-79 § 6)

4-2.6   Service Fees for False Alarms.

   If in any calendar year a private alarm system or warning device serving a property located within the Township causes false alarms in excess of four (4), the permit holder shall be assessed the following service fees:

   All service fees shall be paid within ten (10) business days after written notification is received by the permit holder. Failure to pay false alarm service fees will result in immediate revocation of the permit, effective upon receipt of notice by the permit holder.

   If a service fee is not paid within the prescribed period of time and the revocation of the permit occurs, there will be an additional fee of twenty ($20.00) dollars that must be paid by the permit holder prior to the re-hookup of their private alarm systems.

   All notices required by this section shall be sent to the last known address of the permit holder by certified mail, return receipt requested.

(Ord. No. 16-77 Art. 6; Ord. No. 23-84 § 8; Ord. No. 99-018 § 1)