(A) In the case of a false alarm, any person having knowledge thereof shall immediately notify the Police Department or the Fire Department, as the case may be, in a manner to be prescribed by the rules and promulgated in accordance with §100.05 (J) of this chapter in addition. In the case of false alarms, the Chief shall cause an investigation to be made and keep a record of all such alarms on file. Upon the occurrence of a false alarm, the Chief shall cause a notice of false alarm on a form prescribed by the Chief and approved by the Township Committee to be forwarded to the property owner indicating the date and time of the alarm response, comments with respect to the incident and information with respect to the number of false alarms during the given calendar year. The form shall be signed by the Chief or the designated representative responding to the false alarm and investigating the matter. Fines may be imposed for repeated false alarms generated at the same property in any given calendar year based on the following schedule:
(1) Residential properties. For the first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth false alarm in any given calendar year, a warning shall be issued. For the seventh and eighth false alarm in any calendar year, a fine of $100 for each false alarm occurrence shall be imposed. For the ninth, tenth and eleventh false alarm in any calendar year, a fine of $200 for each occurrence shall be imposed. For the twelfth, thirteenth and fourteenth false alarm which occurs in any calendar year a fine of $300 for each occurrence shall be imposed.
(2) Non-residential property. For the first, second, third and fourth false alarm in any given calendar year, a warning shall be issued. For the fifth and sixth false alarm in any calendar year, a fine of $200 for each false alarm occurrence shall be imposed. For the seventh, eighth and ninth false alarm in any calendar year, a fine of $300 for each occurrence shall be imposed. For the tenth or subsequent false alarm which occurs in any calendar year a fine of $500 for each occurrence shall be imposed.
(3) If an alarm system for a specific property or location within a property is the subject of false alarm incident reports of 15 or more during any calendar year, a summons to appear before the Municipal Court for each occurrence shall be directed to the property owner and/or the business operator and any and all fines and penalties in accordance with § 100.07 may be imposed by the Court as the Court deems appropriate.
(4) If a fine is imposed on a property owner pursuant to this section, the Chief shall cause a summons to be issued to the property owner stating the amount of fine to be paid. Such fine shall be paid to the Municipal Court Clerk.
(B) False alarms created by any act of God as determined by the Chief shall not be included in the count of false alarm incidents for purposes of calculating the applicable fine under subsection (A) of this section. In addition, the Chief shall have the authority to waive any specific fines or not include any one or more incidents in the count of false alarm incidents for purposes of calculating the applicable fines as the Chief determines is in the best interest of the Township.
(C) In the event that the Municipal Court determines that the false alarm(s) occurred as a direct result of an interruption of electrical power, a telephone system malfunction, an alarm equipment malfunction or other causes clearly beyond the control of the owner, the Municipal Court may waive imposition of the applicable false alarm fines or administrative sanction.
(Ord. 823-97, passed 8-11-97; Am. Ord. 10-02, passed 4-8-02)