The text
FOOTNOTE(S):
--- (2) --- REFEDITOR ENDPAGE Editor's note— An ordinance of September 13, 1990, §§ 1—5, did not specifically amend the Code; therefore, inclusion as §§ 4-51—4-55 was at the discretion of the editor. This article shall take effect September 13, 1990.
refcharter or refcross or refstatelaw Cross reference— Fire prevention and protection, Ch. 5; police department, Ch. 11.
Sec. 4-51. - Intent and purpose.#
It is the intent and purpose of this article to provide minimum standards and regulations applicable to users and installers of burglar, fire, hold-up and automatic telephone dialer alarms within the Town of Scituate, to provide penalties for noncompliance, and to encourage the installation of protective alarm systems in all dwellings and commercial structures.
Comment Text (parent not a footnote)(Ord. of 9-13-90, § 1)
Sec. 4-52. - Definitions.#
The following definitions shall apply to this article:
Alarm system means an assembly of equipment and devices (or a single device, such as a solid state unit, which may operate from a 110-volt AC line) arranged to signal the presence of a hazard requiring urgent attention and to which police or fire department personnel are expected to respond. This includes all burglar alarms, fire alarms, hold-up alarms and automatic telephone dialer alarms, but does not include smoke detectors which do not signal outside an alarmed premises or alarm systems on motor vehicles.
Alarm user means any person, firm or corporation on whose premises any alarm system is maintained within the Town of Scituate.
Automatic telephone dialing device refers to an alarm system which automatically sends over regular telephone lines, by direct connection or otherwise, a prerecorded voice message indicating the existence of the emergency situation that the alarm system is designed to detect.
Calendar year. The period commencing January 1 and ending December 31.
False alarm means the activation of an alarm system through mechanical failure, malfunction, improper installation, or the negligence of the owner or lessee of an alarm system or of his employees or agents. "False alarm" does not include alarms caused by hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes or other normally infrequent violent natural conditions or acts of God.
Fire alarm is an alarm system designed to detect fire hazards or emergencies.
Town shall mean the Town of Scituate.
Comment Text (parent not a footnote)(Ord. of 9-13-90, § 2)
Sec. 4-53. - Registration.#
Any person, firm or corporation installing an alarm system other than a fire alarm within the town shall register with the Scituate Police Department at least ten (10) days prior to the installation. Alarm users shall register all unregistered alarms systems except for fire alarms with the Scituate Police Department within sixty (60) days of the effective date of this article or within ten (10) days of installation, whichever date is later.
Any person, firm or corporation installing a fire alarm within the town shall register with the Scituate Fire Department at least ten (10) days prior to the installation. Alarm users shall register all unregistered fire alarms with the Scituate Fire Department within sixty (60) days of the effective date of this article, or within ten (10) days of installation, whichever date is later.
Comment Text (parent not a footnote)(Ord. of 9-13-90, § 3)
Sec. 4-54. - Installation and requirements.#
(a)
No alarm system shall be installed by other than a licensed person or other person meeting the requirements set forth in the building and electrical codes of the State of Rhode Island. No alarm system shall be installed unless an electrical permit to install an alarm system has been obtained from the town building official, or his designated representative as required by the building and electrical codes of the State of Rhode Island.
(b)
Automatic telephone dialing devices in existence as of the effective date of this article shall be programmed to a special telephone number or numbers which are to be designated by the chief of police, within sixty (60) days of the effective date of this article.
(c)
No person, firm or corporation shall install or maintain an automatic telephone dialing device within the town terminating at any number other than the numbers referred to in subsection (b) above after the effective date of this article.
(d)
All alarm systems which sound an audible signal which may be heard outside of the protected premises shall be equipped with a device which shall limit the duration of such audible signal to not more than thirty (30) minutes.
(e)
A maximum of two (2) false alarms per calendar year shall be allowed from any alarm system of any person, firm or corporation. Upon receipt of a third or fourth false alarm during the calendar year, the alarm user shall be assessed a user fee by the chief of police or, in the case of fire alarms, by the fire chief, in the amount of fifty dollars ($50.00). Upon receipt of a fifth false alarm during the calendar year, and for each subsequent false alarm in the calendar year, the alarm user shall be assessed a user fee by the chief of police, or in the case of fire alarms, by the fire chief, in the amount of one hundred dollars ($100.00). Said fee shall be paid to the Scituate Police Department. Alarms originating from any building owned by any federal, state or local government shall be exempt from the user fee requirement. The determination of whether a particular alarm was false shall be made by the chief of police except that with respect to fire alarms, the determination shall be made by the fire chief.
Comment Text (parent not a footnote)(Ord. of 9-13-90, § 4)
Sec. 4-55. - Violations and penalties.#
(a)
Any person, firm or corporation found to be in violation of subsection 4-54(c) of this article shall be fined one hundred dollars ($100.00) for each violation.
(b)
Any person, firm or corporation who shall fail to pay a user fee assessed as provided in subsection 4-54(e) of this article within thirty (30) days of written notice thereof by the town shall be fined one hundred dollars ($100.00). Each day a user fee remains delinquent shall constitute a separate offense.
(c)
Any person, firm or corporation found to be in violation of any other provisions of this article shall be fined fifty dollars ($50.00) for each violation.
Comment Text (parent not a footnote)(Ord. of 9-13-90, § 5)