[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Meeting of the Town of Walpole as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Enforcement by noncriminal disposition — See Ch. 295, Art. II.
Fire emergency equipment — See Ch. 323.
Fire prevention — See Ch. 327.
Noise — See Ch. 404.
[Adopted as Article XIII, Sec. 26, of the 1973 General Bylaws, as updated through 2002]
A. 
For the purpose of this bylaw the following terms, phrases, words and derivations shall have the meanings given herein.
ALARM SYSTEM
The term "alarm system" means an assembly of equipment and devices or a single device such as solid state unit which plugs directly into a 110 volt AC line, arranged to signal the presence of a hazard requiring urgent attention or an incident to which Police customarily or reasonably are expected to respond. Fire Alarm Systems and alarm systems which monitor temperature, smoke, humidity or any other condition not directly related to the detection of an unauthorized intrusion into a premises or an attempted robbery at a premises are specifically excluded from the provisions of this bylaw.
(1) 
The provisions of § 241-3 of this bylaw shall not be applicable to municipal, county and state agencies.
FALSE ALARM
False alarm means:
(1) 
The activation of an alarm system through mechanical failure, malfunction, improper installation or negligence of the user of an alarm system or of his employees or agents.
(2) 
Any signal or oral communication transmitted to the Police Department requesting or requiring, or resulting in a response on the part of the Police Department when in fact there has been no unauthorized intrusion, robbery, or burglary, or attempt thereat. For purposes of this definition, activation of alarm systems by acts of God, including, but not limited to, power outages, hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes and similar weather or atmospheric disturbances shall not be deemed to be a false alarm.
B. 
When not inconsistent with the context, words used in the present tense include the future; words used in the plural number include the singular number; and words in the singular number include the plural number. The word "shall" is always mandatory and not merely directory.
A. 
Every alarm system user shall submit to the Chief of Police the names and telephone numbers of at least two persons who are authorized to respond to an emergency transmitted by the alarm system, and who can open the premises wherein the alarm system is installed.
B. 
All audible alarm systems installed after the effective date of this bylaw which use an audible horn or bell shall be equipped with a device that will shut off such horn or bell within 10 minutes of the activation of the alarm system.
C. 
Continuous and uninterrupted signal.
(1) 
Any alarm system emitting a continuous and uninterrupted signal for more than 15 minutes which cannot be shut off or otherwise curtailed due to the absence or unavailability of the alarm user or those persons designated under Subsection A of this section and which disturbs the peace, comfort, or repose of a community, a neighborhood, or a number of the inhabitants of the area where the alarm system is located, shall constitute a public nuisance.
(2) 
Upon receiving complaint of such a continuous and uninterrupted signal, the Chief of Police shall endeavor to contact the alarm user, or members of the alarm user's family, or those persons, designated by the alarm user under Subsection A, in an effort to abate the nuisance. If such efforts do not result in the silencing of the alarm within 30 minutes of its activation, the Police Chief may, at the expense of the owner, order its deactivation using whatever means may be appropriate to the occasion.
(3) 
The Police Chief shall cause to be recorded the names and addresses of all complaints, and the time of each complaint.
Upon receipt of three or more false alarms within a calendar year:
A. 
The Police Chief:
(1) 
May order the user to discontinue the use of the alarm,
(2) 
May disconnect any direct connections to the Police Department,
(3) 
May order that further connections to the communications console in the Police Department will be contingent upon the user equipping any alarm system with a device that will shut off any audible horn or bell within 10 minutes after activation of the alarm system.
B. 
The user shall be assessed $25 as a false alarm service fee for each false alarm in excess of three occurring within a calendar year. All fees assessed hereunder shall be paid to the Finance Director for deposit to the General Fund.
[Adopted as Article XV, Secs. 2 and 3, of the 1973 General Bylaws, as updated through 2002]
[1]
Editor's Note: See also Ch. 327, Fire Prevention, Art. II, Fire Protection Rules and Regulations.
A. 
All special fire alarm signal services which provide direct contact, including telephone Walpole Fire Department shall be regulated by permit under the direction of the Select Board. Users of special fire alarm signal services without such permit may be subject to a fine of $50.
[Amended 10-21-2019 FATM, Art. 20]
B. 
Users of such special fire alarm signal services shall provide access to the Walpole Fire Department only via connections to telephone lines approved by the Select Board. In no case shall direct access be provided via the Fire Department emergency telephone number. Penalty for connection to the Fire Department Emergency Line may be $100.
[Amended 10-21-2019 FATM, Art. 20]
C. 
False alarms within a twelve-month period resulting from mechanical failure, malfunction, improper installation or negligence of the user of a fire alarm system may result in the following fines:
[Amended 5-11-2005 SATM, Art. 53]
(1) 
First offense: no charge.
(2) 
Second offense: $100.
(3) 
Third offense: $200.
(4) 
Fourth offense: $300 for each subsequent offense.
[Amended 5-11-2005 SATM, Art. 54]
A. 
Any building other than a residential building of less than six units which has a fire alarm system or other fire protection system shall provide a secure key box installed in a location accessible to the Fire Department in case of emergency. The key box shall contain keys to fire alarm control panels and other keys necessary to operate or service fire protection systems. The key box shall be a type approved by the Chief of the Walpole Fire Department and shall be located and installed as approved by the Chief.
B. 
Any building owner violating this bylaw after receiving due notice by the Fire Department shall be subject to a fine of $50 per day, each day of violation counted as a separate violation.