1991-0403/13/91
ORDINANCE NO. 91- 40
AN ORDINANCE REGULATING ALARM SYSTEMS
WHEREAS, the Village of Buffalo Grove is a Home Rule Unit
pursuant to the Illinois Constitution of 1970; and
WHEREAS, the purpose of this ordinance is to provide minimum
standards and regulations applicable to burglar and holdup and
automatic alarm systems and alarm users as defined in this
ordinance.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE PRESIDENT AND BOARD OF
TRUSTEES OF THE VILLAGE OF BUFFALO GROVE, COOK AND LAKE COUNTIES,
ILLINOIS, as follows:
Section 1. Chapter 9.04 of the Buffalo Grove Municipal Code
is hereby amended to read as follows:
CHAPTER 9.04
ALARM SYSTEMS
Section
9.04.010
Definitions
Section
9.04.020
Alarm System User Permit
Section
9.04.030
Permit Fees
Section
9.04.040
Revocation or Suspension of Permit
Section
9.04.050
Activation of Alarm
Section
9.04.060
Automatic Systems
Section
9.04.070
Audible Devices
Section
9.04.080
Response to False Alarms
Section
9.04.090
Violation -- Penalties
9.04.010 - Definitions
For the purpose of this Chapter, the following terms,
phrases, words, and their derivations shall have the meaning
given herein:
A. "Alarm system" - manual and automatic electronic
equipment and all components including any telephone lines,
e •
arranged to detect an attempted or actual unauthorized
intrusion into a premise or robbery at a premise and produce
electronic, visual or audible signals or notifications which
normally summon and produce police response. Alarm system
shall include terms commonly known as "automatic holdup
alarm systems ", "burglar alarm systems ", "holdup alarm
systems ", "manual holdup alarm systems" and "burglary,
robbery, trespass alarm
B. "Alarm system user" means any controlling individu
al, firm or corporation on whose premises an alarm system is
maintained within the Village, except for alarm systems on
motor vehicles or proprietary systems. If however, an alarm
system on a motor vehicle is connected with an alarm system
at a premises (other than a proprietary system) the person
using such system is an alarm system user.
C. "False alarm" means the activation of an alarm
system through mechanical failure, malfunction, improper
installation, or the negligence of the owner or lessee of an
alarm system or of his employees or agents. Such terminolo-
gy does not include, for example, alarms caused by hurri-
canes, tornadoes, earthquakes, fire, or other violent condi-
tions which cause actual damage to a secure premises or
alarm system components.
D. "Proprietary systems" is defined as a burglar
and /or holdup alarm system that communicates a signal only
to a point(s) within the interior of the protected premises.
:WZ
o •
They alert or signal persons within the premises in which
the alarm system is located of an attempted, unauthorized
intrusion or holdup attempt. If such a system, however,
employs an audible signal emitting sounds or a flashing
light or beacon designed to signal persons outside the pre-
mises, such system shall be within the definition of alarm
system and shall be subject to this Chapter.
9.04.020 - Alarm System User Permit
A. Every alarm system user shall obtain from the
Village Police Department an annual alarm system user permit
for each alarm system he operates within the Village.
B. The alarm system user applying for the permit
required in paragraph A. of this Section, shall state on a
permit application form to be provided by the Police Depart-
ment information such as, but not limited to, his name, the
address of the residence or business or businesses in, or
upon which the alarm system has been or will be installed,
his telephone number, the type of alarm system (local,
direct connect, central station, etc.), the alarm business
or businesses selling, installing, monitoring, inspecting,
responding to and /or maintaining the alarm system, and the
name and telephone number of at least one other person (in
the case of a commercial alarm system user applicant, at
least two other persons) who can be reached at any time, day
or night, and who is authorized to respond to an alarm
-3-
o •
signal and who can open the premises in which the system is
installed.
C. The information contained in an alarm system user
permit application required by this Section and other infor-
mation received by the Police Department through correspon-
dence or communications with an alarm user shall be securely
maintained and restricted to inspection only by the Police
Chief or certain officers or Village employees specifically
assigned the responsibility for handling and processing
alarm system user permits in the course of official duties.
D. Any alarm system user who operates an alarm system
without first obtaining a permit as required by this Sec-
tion, or who, after having a permit revoked, or suspended
operates an alarm system, shall be in violation of this
Chapter.
9.04.030 - Permit Fees
A. There shall be a $10.00 permit fee for the first
calendar year;
B. There shall be an annual renewal fee of $5.00;
C. Permit fees for local, state and federal government
agencies shall be exempt.
9.04.040 - Revocation or Suspension of Permit
A. The Chief of Police may, after notice and hearing,
revoke or suspend an alarm system user's permit under the
following circumstances:
-4-
1. More than five false alarm responses within any
six (6) month period;
2. Failure to submit first and second response
reports or demonstrate by such reports that satisfacto-
ry steps have or will be taken to eliminate or reduce
false alarms;
3. Failure to pay false alarms fees or permit fees
as required by this Chapter;
4. Failure of an alarm system user to appear and
turn off, reset or inspect an activated alarm system
within one hour of police notification to do so;
5. Failure to comply with any provisions of this
Chapter.
B. Notice of the hearing for revocation or suspension
of permit shall be given in writing, setting forth the
grounds of the violation and the time and place of the
hearing. Such notice shall be sent by certified mail,
return receipt requested, to the permittee at his last known
address at least five days prior to the date set for the
hearing.
C. The permittee shall be permitted counsel and shall
have the right to submit evidence and to cross - examine
witnesses. The Chief of Police shall preside and shall
render the decision.
D. Any person aggrieved by the decision of the Chief
of Police in connection with the revocation or suspension of
-5-
the permit shall have the right to appeal to the Village
Manager. Such appeal shall be taken by filing with the
Village Clerk, within ten days after notice of a revocation
or suspension, a written statement under oath setting forth
specifically the grounds for appeal. The Village Manager
shall thereupon set the time and place for a hearing on such
appeal, and notice of such hearing shall be given to the
permittee. The decision of the Village Manager on such
appeal shall be final.
E. Any revocation or suspension shall not preclude
prosecution and imposition of any other penalties.
9.04.050 - Activation of Alarm
It is unlawful for any person to knowingly activate any
alarm system for the purpose of summoning police, except in
the event of an actual or attempted burglary, robbery or
trespass, or for any person to notify the police of an
activated alarm, and having knowledge that such activation
was apparently caused by an electrical or other malfunction
of the alarm system, to fail at the same time to notify the
police of such apparent malfunction.
9.04.060 - Automatic Systems
Unless previously approved by the Village, no person,
firm or corporation shall use or cause or permit to be used,
or engage in the business of providing any telephone device
or telephone attachment that automatically selects a public
trunkline of the police or fire department of the Village
cm
and then reproduces any pre- recorded message to report any
robbery, burglary, fire, or other emergency.
9.04.070 - Audible Devices
A. No person, firm or corporation shall install equip-
ment or allow to exist on any alarm system:
1. An outside audible device which emits electron-
ically amplified audio sound through speaker, speaker
horn, speaker driver, or other similar audio device.
2. Any mechanical device which produces audible
sounds in any manner similar to sirens of emergency
public safety vehicles of the Village.
3. Any outside audible device not equipped with an
automatic shut off which will deactivate within five
minutes of the initial alarm.
B. Any activated system audible device``in violation
hereof, is hereby declared a public nuisance and may be
immediately abated by deactivation, disconnection or removed
by any reasonable means by the Police Department.
9.04.080 - Response to False Alarms
A. For a police response to any false alarms the
Village shall charge and collect from the person having or
maintaining such burglary and /or robbery or trespass alarm
on premises owned or occupied by him, fees as follows:
1. For the first response to premises at which no
other false alarm has occurred within the first or last
six months of any calendar year, no fee shall be
-7-
charged, but the person having or maintaining such
burglary and /or robbery or trespass alarm shall, within
three working days after notice to do so, make a writ-
ten report to the Chief of Police on forms prescribed
by him setting forth the cause of such false alarm, the
corrective action taken, whether such alarm has been
inspected by an authorized serviceman, and such other
information as the Chief of Police may reasonably
require to determine the cause of such false alarm and
corrective action necessary.
2. For a second response to premises within the
first or last six months of any calendar year, no fee
is charged, but a written report shall be required as
for a first response and the Chief of Police shall be
authorized to inspect or cause to be'- inspected the
alarm system at such premises, prescribe necessary
corrective action, and give notice to the person having
or maintaining such alarm system of the conditions and
requirements of this Section.
3. For any additional response to premises within
the first or last six months of any calendar year, the
following fees shall be charged: third through fifth
$50.00, sixth through ninth $75.00, tenth or more
$150.00.
9.04.080 - Violation -- Penalties
In addition to the revocation or suspension of a permit
as provided for herein, any person violating any provision
of this Chapter shall be punished as provided in Chapter
1.08 hereof.
Section 2. This ordinance shall be effective from and after
its passage, approval and publication except that Sections
9.04.020 and 9.04.070 shall not be effective until 90 days after
the effective date of this ordinance. This ordinance may be pub-
lished in pamphlet form.
AYES: 6 - Marienthal, Reid, Shifrin, Mathias, O'Malley, Kahn
NAYES : 0 - None
ABSENT: 0 - None
PASSED: March 18 , 1991.
APPROVED: March 18 , 1991.
PUBLISHED: March 19 , 1991.
ATTEST:
Village Clerk,
APPROVED•
Village President
MM
VILLAGE OF BUFFALO GROVE
ORDINANCE N0.
ADOPTED BY THE PRESIDENT �?
AND BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE VILLAGE
OF JUFFALO GROVE /
THIS DAY OF 197/
Published in pamphlet form by authority of the
President and Board of Trustees of the Village
of Buffalo Grove, Cook & Lake Counties, Illinois,
this _ day of 9 /-L- .
l:age'Clerk
By
Deputy Village Clerk
r
3/13/91
ORDINANCE NO. 91- 40
AN ORDINANCE REGULATING ALARM SYSTEMS
WHEREAS, the Village of Buffalo Grove is a Home Rule Unit
pursuant to the Illinois Constitution of 1970; and
WHEREAS, the purpose of this ordinance is to provide minimum
standards and regulations applicable to burglar and holdup and
automatic alarm systems and alarm users as defined in this
ordinance.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE PRESIDENT AND BOARD OF
TRUSTEES OF THE VILLAGE OF BUFFALO GROVE, COOK AND LAKE COUNTIES,
ILLINOIS, as follows:
Section 1. Chapter 9.04 of the Buffalo Grove Municipal Code
is hereby amended to read as follows:
CHAPTER 9.04
ALARM SYSTEMS
Section
9.04.010
Definitions
Section
9.04.020
Alarm System User Permit
Section
9.04.030
Permit Fees
Section
9.04.040
Revocation or Suspension of Permit
Section
9.04.050
Activation of Alarm
Section
9.04.060
Automatic Systems
Section
9.04.070
Audible Devices
Section
9.04.080
Response to False Alarms
Section
9.04.090
Violation -- Penalties
9.04.010 - Definitions
For the purpose of this Chapter, the following terms,
phrases, words, and their derivations shall have the meaning
given herein:
A. "Alarm system" - manual and automatic electronic
equipment and all components including any telephone lines,
arranged to detect an attempted or actual unauthorized
intrusion into a premise or robbery at a premise and produce
electronic, visual or audible signals or notifications which
normally summon and produce police response. Alarm system
shall include terms commonly known as "automatic holdup
alarm systems ", "burglar alarm systems ", "holdup alarm
systems ", "manual holdup alarm systems" and "burglary,
robbery, trespass alarm ".
B. "Alarm system user" means any controlling individu
al, firm or corporation on whose premises an alarm system is
maintained within the Village, except for alarm systems on
motor vehicles or proprietary systems. If however, an alarm
system on a motor vehicle is connected with an alarm system
at a premises (other than a proprietary system) the person
using such system is an alarm system user.
C. "False alarm" means the activation of an alarm
system through mechanical failure, malfunction, improper
installation, or the negligence of the owner or lessee of an
alarm system or of his employees or agents. Such terminolo-
gy does not include, for example, alarms caused by hurri-
canes, tornadoes, earthquakes, fire, or other violent condi-
tions which cause actual damage to a secure premises or
alarm system components.
D. "Proprietary systems" is defined as a burglar
and /or holdup alarm system that communicates a signal only
to a point(s) within the interior of the protected premises.
CM
They alert or signal persons within the premises in which
the alarm system is located of an attempted, unauthorized
intrusion or holdup attempt. If such a system, however,
employs an audible signal emitting sounds or a flashing
light or beacon designed to signal persons outside the pre-
mises, such system shall be within the definition of alarm
system and shall be subject to this Chapter.
9.04.020 - Alarm System User Permit
A. Every alarm system user shall obtain from the
Village Police Department an annual alarm system user permit
for each alarm system he operates within the Village.
B. The alarm system user applying for the permit
required in paragraph A. of this Section, shall state on a
permit application form to be provided by the Police Depart-
ment information such as, but not limited to, his name, the
address of the residence or business or businesses in, or
upon which the alarm system has been or will be installed,
his telephone number, the type of alarm system (local,
direct connect, central station, etc.), the alarm business
or businesses selling, installing, monitoring, inspecting,
responding to and /or maintaining the alarm system, and the
name and telephone number of at least one other person (in
the case of a commercial alarm system user applicant, at
least two other persons) who can be reached at any time, day
or night, and who is authorized to respond to an alarm
-3-
signal and who can open the premises in which the system is
installed.
C. The information contained in an alarm system user
permit application required by this Section and other infor-
mation received by the Police Department through correspon-
dence or communications with an alarm user shall be securely
maintained and restricted to inspection only by the Police
Chief or certain officers or Village employees specifically
assigned the responsibility for handling and processing
alarm system user permits in the course of official duties.
D. Any alarm system user who operates an alarm system
without first obtaining a permit as required by this Sec-
tion, or who, after having a permit revoked, or suspended
operates an alarm system, shall be in violation of this
Chapter.
9.04.030 - Permit Fees
A. There shall be a $10.00 permit fee for the first
calendar year;
B. There shall be an annual renewal fee of $5.00;
C. Permit fees for local, state and federal government
agencies shall be exempt.
9.04.040 - Revocation or Suspension of Permit
A. The Chief of Police may, after notice and hearing,
revoke or suspend an alarm system user's permit under the
following circumstances:
-4-
M
1. More than five false alarm responses within any
six (6) month period;
2. Failure to submit first and second response
reports or demonstrate by such reports that satisfacto-
ry steps have or will be taken to eliminate or reduce
false alarms;
3. Failure to pay false alarms fees or permit fees
as required by this Chapter;
4. Failure of an alarm system user to appear and
turn off, reset or inspect an activated alarm system
within one hour of police notification to do so;
5. Failure to comply with any provisions of this
Chapter.
B. Notice of the hearing for revocation or suspension
of permit shall be given in writing, setting forth the
grounds of the violation and the time and place of the
hearing. Such notice shall be sent by certified mail,
return receipt requested, to the permittee at his last known
address at least five days prior to the date set for the
hearing.
C. The permittee shall be permitted counsel and shall
have the right to submit evidence and to cross - examine
witnesses. The Chief of Police shall preside and shall
render the decision.
D. Any person aggrieved by the decision of the Chief
of Police in connection with the revocation or suspension of
-5-
the permit shall have the right to appeal to the Village
Manager. Such appeal shall be taken by filing with the
Village Clerk, within ten days after notice of a revocation
or suspension, a written statement under oath setting forth
specifically the grounds for appeal. The Village Manager
shall thereupon set the time and place for a hearing on such
appeal, and notice of such hearing shall be given to the
permittee. The decision of the Village Manager on such
appeal shall be final.
E. Any revocation or suspension shall not preclude
prosecution and imposition of any other penalties.
9.04.050 - Activation of Alarm
It is unlawful for any person to knowingly activate any
alarm system for the purpose of summoning police, except in
the event of an actual or attempted burglary, robbery or
trespass, or for any person to notify the police of an
activated alarm, and having knowledge that such activation
was apparently caused by an electrical or other malfunction
of the alarm system, to fail at the same time to notify the
police of such apparent malfunction.
9.04.060 - Automatic Svstems
Unless previously approved by the Village, no person,
firm or corporation shall use or cause or permit to be used,
or engage in the business of providing any telephone device
or telephone attachment that automatically selects a public
trunkline of the police or fire department of the Village
and then reproduces any pre- recorded message to report any
robbery, burglary, fire, or other emergency.
9.04.070 - Audible Devices
A. No person, firm or corporation shall install equip-
ment or allow to exist on any alarm system:
1. An outside audible device which emits electron-
ically amplified audio sound through speaker, speaker
horn, speaker driver, or other similar audio device.
2. Any mechanical device which produces audible
sounds in any manner similar to sirens of emergency
public safety vehicles of the Village.
3. Any outside audible device not equipped with an
automatic shut off which will deactivate within five
minutes of the initial alarm.
B. Any activated system audible device in violation
hereof, is hereby declared a public nuisance and may be
immediately abated by deactivation, disconnection or removed
by any reasonable means by the Police Department.
9.04.080 - Response to False Alarms
A. For a police response to any false alarms the
Village shall charge and collect from the person having or
maintaining such burglary and /or robbery or trespass alarm
on premises owned or occupied by him, fees as follows:
1. For the first response to premises at which no
other false alarm has occurred within the first or last
six months of any calendar year, no fee shall be
-7-
charged, but the person having or maintaining such
burglary and /or robbery or trespass alarm shall, within
three working days after notice to do so, make a writ-
ten report to the Chief of Police on forms prescribed
by him setting forth the cause of such false alarm, the
corrective action taken, whether such alarm has been
inspected by an authorized serviceman, and such other
information as the Chief of Police may reasonably
require to determine the cause of such false alarm and
corrective action necessary.
2. For a second response to premises within the
first or last six months of any calendar year, no fee
is charged, but a written report shall be required as
for a first response and the Chief of Police shall be
authorized to inspect or cause to be inspected the
alarm system at such premises, prescribe necessary
corrective action, and give notice to the person having
or maintaining such alarm system of the conditions and
requirements of this Section.
3. For any additional response to premises within
the first or last six months of any calendar year, the
following fees shall be charged: third through fifth
$50.00, sixth through ninth $75.00, tenth or more
$150.00.
WE
• .. ti
ti r
9.04.080 - Violation -- Penalties
In addition to the revocation or suspension of a permit
as provided for herein, any person violating any provision
of this Chapter shall be punished as provided in Chapter
1.08 hereof.
Section 2. This ordinance shall be effective from and after
its passage, approval and publication except that Sections
9.04.020 and 9.04.070 shall not be effective until 90 days after
the effective date of this ordinance. This ordinance may be pub-
lished in pamphlet form.
AYES: 6 - Marienthal Reid Shifrin Mathias O'Malley. Kahn
NAYES : 0 - None
ABSENT: 0 - None
PASSED: March 18 , 1991.
APPROVED: March 18 , 1991.
PUBLISHED: March 19 , 1991.
APPROVED-
Vi
llage President
ATTEST:',!);; r;
Vi1�.age Clerk.
\, -9-