NAPD Alarm Registration

The Town of North Attleboro enacted a by-law relative to the regulation of residential and commercial alarms. The purpose of this regulation is to encourage alarm users and alarm companies to properly use and maintain the operational effectiveness of alarm systems within the Town of North Attleboro. This by-law is necessary to improve the reliability of alarm systems and reduce or eliminate false alarms. This regulation governs alarm systems intended to summon the North Attleboro Police Department. Alarm registration is now required for each alarm system. Each alarm site must be registered with the North Attleboro Police Department.

There is no fee to register your alarm.

To view the secure registration form visit the Wufoo website.

The pertinent Town by-law is provided on this page. You may also find the most up-to-date version of the by-laws in their entirety by following the Town Clerk By-Laws (PDF).

As of this article date, the section pertaining to alarms and registration begins on page 89.

Alarm System Police Response

Section 11. ALARM SYSTEM - POLICE RESPONSE

A. Definitions

1. For the purpose of this by-law, the following terms, phrases, words, and their derivations shall have the meanings given herein. When not inconsistent with the context, words used in the present tense include the future; words 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. The term "Alarm System" means an assembly of equipment and devices or a single device such as a solid state unit which plugs directly into a 11 O-volt AC line, arranged to signal the presence of a hazard requiring urgent attention and to which police 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 by-law. The provisions of Section 3 of this by-law shall apply to all users.

ARTICLE XIIA. POLICE REGULATIONS 

b. The term "False Alarm" means (a) 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; (b) 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 threat. For the purpose 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. Control and Curtailment of Signals Emitted by Alarm Systems

1. Every alarm user shall submit to the Police Chief the names and telephone numbers of at least two other persons who are authorized to respond to an emergency signal transmitted by an alarm system and who can open the premises, wherein the alarm system is installed.

2. All alarm systems installed after the effective date of this ordinance, which use an audible horn or bell shall be equipped with a device that will shut off such horn or bell within ten (10) minutes after activation of the alarm system.

3. Any alarm system emitting a continuous and uninterrupted signal for more than fifteen

(15) minutes between 7 pm and 6 am which cannot be shut off or otherwise curtailed due to the absence or unavailability of the alarm user or those persons designated by him under paragraph

(a) of this section and which disturbs the peace, comfort or repose of a community, a neighborhood or a considerable number of inhabitants of the area where the alarm system is located, shall constitute a public nuisance. Upon receiving complaints regarding such a continuous and uninterrupted signal, the Police Chief shall endeavor to contact the alarm user, or members of the alarm user's family or those persons designated by the alarm user under paragraph (a) of this section in an effort to abate the nuisance. The Police Chief shall cause to be recorded the names and addresses of all complainants and the time each complaint was made.

C. Penalties

1. Upon receipt of three or more false alarms within a calendar year, the Police Chief may

order the user:

a. to discontinue the use of the alarm;

b. may disconnect any direct connections to the Police Department;

c. 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 ten minutes after activation of the alarm system.

2. The user shall be assessed fifty dollars ($50) 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 Town Treasurer for deposit to the general fund.