For the purpose of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning:
ALARM SYSTEM: An assembly of equipment and devices or a single device, such as a solid state unit arranged to signal the presence of a hazard requiring urgent attention, and to which the police department is expected to respond.
ALARM USER: Any person, firm, partnership, association, corporation, or other organization of any kind in control of any building, structure, or facility where an alarm system is maintained or activated within the municipality, except for alarm systems on motor vehicles. Also included are those systems which employ an audible signal emitting sounds, or a flashing light or beacon designed to alert or signal persons outside the premises of an alarm activation.
AUTOMATIC PROTECTION DEVICE: An electrically operated instrument composed of sensory apparatus and related hardware which automatically sends over regular telephone lines, by direct connection or otherwise, a prerecorded voice alarm on receipt of a stimulus from the sensory apparatus that has detected a physical force or condition inherently characteristic of an unauthorized intrusion. Also included are devices which are stimulated by direct action by the alarm user or his employees.
DIRECT LINE: A telephone line leading directly into the communications center of the police department that is for use only to report emergency messages and signals on a person to person basis.
FALSE ALARM: Any type of alarm signal necessitating a response by the police, or other municipal department, where an emergency situation does not in fact exist.
LOCAL ALARMS: A signaling system which, when activated, causes an audible or visual signaling device to be activated in or on the premises within which the system is installed.
PERSON: Any individual, partnership, corporation, association, or society, but such term does not include the village of Monee.
POLICE CHIEF: The chief of the police department of the village, or his authorized representative.
PUBLIC TRUNK LINE: A telephone line leading into the communications center of the police department that is for the purpose of handling emergency and administrative calls on a person to person basis. (Ord. 720, 1-9-1991)
The following provisions shall apply to "false alarms", as defined in section 5-5-1 of this chapter:
A. Warning From Police Chief; Issuance Of P-Ticket: When three (3) or more false alarms are received within a twelve (12) month period, commencing on May 1 of each year, by the village, the chief of police or his representative shall cause a written warning to be sent via first class mail to the alarm user notifying him of the number and dates of the false alarms. If further false alarms are received by the police department after the initial three (3) false alarms, a P-ticket or quasi-criminal complaint may be initiated against the alarm user for each additional false alarm subsequent to those identified in the first class mailing mentioned above.
B. Uncontrollable Circumstances: There shall be no penalty assessed for a false alarm when, upon investigation by the police department, it was determined that the false alarm was caused by an uncontrollable extraordinary circumstance to include an act of God.
C. Appeal For Reconsideration: An alarm user may appeal to the chief of police, for consideration of a designated false alarm if that alarm user presents written documentation to the chief of police, that he had undertaken reasonable action to discover and eliminate the cause or causes of any false alarm. The appeal must be made within seven (7) days after the false alarm in question, which time may be extended by the chief of police for a reasonable time. The decision of the chief of police on such reconsideration shall be final.
D. Permission For Testing: No alarm system designed to transmit emergency messages directly to the police department shall be tested or demonstrated without first obtaining permission from the police department. Permission is not required to test or demonstrate alarm devices not transmitting emergency messages directly to the police department, unless the messages are to be relayed to the police department.
E. Failure To Notify Police Department: Failure to notify the police department prior to the testing of an alarm system shall constitute a false alarm. (Ord. 720, 1-9-1991)
The following provisions shall apply to "local alarms" as defined in section 5-5-1 of this chapter:
A. Automatic Shut Off Devices: All local alarms shall be equipped with an automatic shut off device which will deactivate within thirty (30) minutes of the initial alarm. The person owning or operating an outside ringer shall have one year from the date of the amendatory ordinance to provide such automatic shutoff.
B. Owner Responsibility: It shall be the sole responsibility of the persons owning or operating a local alarm to maintain the system at the sole expense of the owner or operator.
C. Remedial Action: In addition to all other remedies provided by ordinance, the chief of police or his authorized representative, whenever he shall have knowledge of the misuse or improper maintenance of a local alarm system, may order the removal or deactivation of the system.
D. Alarms On Vehicles Exempt: Alarms affixed to vehicles of any type are not classified as local alarms and are exempt. (Ord. 720, 1-9-1991)
The following provisions shall apply to "automatic protection devices" defined in section 5-5-1 of this chapter:
A. Telephone Devices: No person shall use or cause or permit to be used any telephone device or telephone attachment that automatically selects a public trunk line of the police department of the village and then reproduces any prerecorded message to report any robbery, burglary, fire or other emergency.
B. Disconnection: Within ninety (90) days after the effective date hereof, all automatic protection devices in the village that were keyed on that date to a public trunk line shall be disconnected therefrom. The owner or lessee of any such device shall be responsible for its disconnection and any related costs. (Ord. 720, 1-9-1991)
The following penalties shall apply to the violation of the provisions of this chapter:
A. Issuance Of Ticket; Fines: For each false alarm, the village police department may issue a P-ticket for such violation defined in the amount of twenty five dollars ($25.00) per occurrence, which fine shall be payable to the village clerk within the time specified in said ticket. If said ticket is not paid within said time, the police department may issue a written quasi-criminal complaint for each false alarm for which the fine shall be not less than fifty dollars ($50.00) nor more than two hundred dollars ($200.00) upon conviction for each violation.
B. Penalty Imposed: Any person violating any other provision of this chapter shall, on conviction thereof, be subject to a fine of not less than fifty dollars ($50.00) nor more than two hundred dollars ($200.00) for each offense. (Ord. 720, 1-9-1991)