§ 93.06. False alarms, malfunctions and penalties.

(A)

In the case of a false alarm or malfunction, any person who is an owner, operator or user, shall immediately notify the Fire Department. It shall be the responsibility of the chief or designee to keep a record of all alarms, whether false or true. The following penalties shall apply to false alarms:

(1)

After four false alarms in a single calendar year, a fee of $100.00 shall be paid to the town.

(2)

Fifth and any subsequent false alarms in a single calendar year, a fee of $200.00 shall be paid to the town.

(3)

If a business owner/occupant can show documentation that the system has been serviced by a fire system technician since the third false alarm, then the fee will be waived and the alarm count will start new for the calendar year. If the false alarms are due to operator/employee error, then the fee will not be waived.

(4)

It shall be the responsibility of all owners of alarm devices to keep them in proper operating condition at all times. The chief may require the disconnection of any alarm device which is malfunctioning or not in proper condition. If this occurs, the responsible party shall post a fire watch until the system is put back in service.

(B)

The sensory mechanism of such devices shall be adjusted so that they suppress false indications and not to be actuated by impulses die to pressure changes, short flashes of light, wind noises, rattling, or vibration of doors or windows or other forces unrelated to general alarms.

(1992 Code, § 8-6; Ord. of 9-11-2017(2) )

State law reference

Giving false fire alarms, see G.S. 14-286.

Cross reference

Penalty, see § 10.99.