File #: 20-0038    Version: 1 Name: Ordinance: Amending Burglar and Robbery Alarms
Type: Ordinance Status: Adopted
File created: 1/8/2020 In control: Public Safety
On agenda: 4/1/2020 Final action: 5/6/2020
Title: ORDINANCE AMENDING TITLE XX, OF THE REVISED GENERAL ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY 2000 AS AMENDED AND SUPPLEMENTED, CHAPTER 4, BURGLAR AND ROBBERY ALARMS, AMENDING SECTION 5, FALSE ALARMS, ADDING PENALTIES FOR CONTINUOUS VIOLATIONS REGARDING FALSE ALARMS, SECTION 7, ADDING REGISTRATION FEES FOR COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES, AND SECTION 8, INCREASING THE ANNUAL FEE FOR PERMITS ON COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES.
Sponsors: Council of the Whole
TITLE
ORDINANCE AMENDING TITLE XX, OF THE REVISED GENERAL ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY 2000 AS AMENDED AND SUPPLEMENTED, CHAPTER 4, BURGLAR AND ROBBERY ALARMS, AMENDING SECTION 5, FALSE ALARMS, ADDING PENALTIES FOR CONTINUOUS VIOLATIONS REGARDING FALSE ALARMS, SECTION 7, ADDING REGISTRATION FEES FOR COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES, AND SECTION 8, INCREASING THE ANNUAL FEE FOR PERMITS ON COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES.

Body
WHEREAS, the Department of Public Safety is seeking to increase the fees and penalties for violations of Title XX, Chapter 4, Burglar and Robbery Alarms; and
WHEREAS, officers are required to adhere to Department protocol when they receive a burglar alarm call for service, to ensure the safety of the residents and property associated with the call; and
WHEREAS, the national average for burglar alarm calls for service is twenty-five (25) minutes from the initial time the call is received to its final disposition; and
WHEREAS, the Department of Public Safety, Division of Police spends 5,707 hours on average addressing burglar alarm related calls for service per year; and
WHEREAS, the rate of false alarms for the past three (3) years was nearly equivalent to the number of calls for service; and
WHEREAS, the fee increase would bring the City of Newark at a rate comparable to other larger municipalities.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE MUNICIPAL COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, THAT:
Note: Additions are shown as underlined and bold. Deletions are shown as strikethrough.
SECTION 1: Title XX Offenses, Chapter 4, Burglar and Robbery Alarms of the Revised General Ordinances of the City of Newark, New Jersey 2000, as amended and supplemented, is amended as follows:
CHAPTER 4 BURGLAR AND ROBBERY ALARMS
20:4-5. FALSE ALARMS.
In the event within one (1) year of a second burglar alarm or robbery alarm emitting a sound or message resulting in a response by Law Enforcement Officers when a...

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