HomeMy WebLinkAbout2002-07
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Ordinance 2002-07
Authority of the Chief of the Fire Department and Police Department
and the Fire Marshal as to False Alarms
ADOPTED: June 4, 2002
EFFECTIVE: June 4, 2002
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• ORDINANCE 2002-07
AUTHORITY OF THE CHIEF OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND POLICE
DEPARTMENT AND THE FIRE MARSHAL AS TO FALSE ALARMS
WHEREAS, the Town Council sitting in regular session have determined that problems exist in the
Town of Pulaski Police and Fire Department concerning the receipt of false alarms from members of the
public.
Now therefore considering it in the public interest to do so, it is hereby ordained as follows:
(a) That the purpose of this section is to:
(1) Provide for the overall safety, health and welfare of the public.
(2) Enhance the safety of police and fire department personnel.
(3) Reduce an undue burden on the resources of the town and its police and fire
departments; and
(4) Encourage property owners to remedy conditions which lead to excessive
alarms.
(b) The chief of the fire department, police department, and the fire marshal each are
authorized to bill to the owner of any premises from which a false alarm
originated a charge or penalty as set forth in the schedule given in subsection (d) of this
ordinance, for any false alarms in excess of two during a consecutive 12-month period.
Any fee charged will be due and payable within 30 days after mailing to the owner at the
address from which the alarm originated or address of the owner shown on the real estate
tax records for such premises. The town finance department will receive such payments
and shall take any and all actions reasonably necessary to collect such payments if not
paid in a timely manner.
(c) No fee will be charged, and an alarm will not be counted toward the allowance of two
free calls, where the false alarm was caused by an act of nature; power outages; erroneous
but good faith based on the reasonable suspicion that a fire was occurring; or intentional
or malicious false alarms triggered by third parties over whom the owner has no control
or responsibility.
(d) The following charges will apply:
(1) Only false alarm in preceding 12 months........ No charge
(2) Second in preceding 12 months .................... No charge
(3) Third in preceding 12 months ...................... $50.00
(4) Fourth in preceding 12 months ..................... $100.00
(5) Fifth in preceding 12 months ....................... $200.00
(6) Sixth or more in preceding 12 months............ $400.00
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(e) Any property owner who disputes the calculation of the charge or who claims an exception
under subsection(c) may appeal the charge in writing to the Town Manager within the 30 day
payment period. The Town Manager is authorized to void or modify the charges if he
determines an error was made or an exception applies. Upon determination of the Town
Manager of the correct charges, payment must be made within ten business days thereafter, or
the Town Finance Director is to begin appropriate collection action. Upon exhaustion of the
right to review by the Town Manager, any property owner may contest the charge in an
appropriate court having jurisdiction. (Ord. No.96-33, 6-49, 12-3-1996)
This Ordinance is effective immediately upon its passage.
Lane R. Penn -Aye Bettye H. Steger -Aye
Kenneth M. Fleenor -Aye Daniel Talbert, Jr. -Aye
James M. Neblett, Jr. -Aye Pauline G. Mitchell -Aye
E.G. Black, Jr. -Aye Jeffrey S. Worrell No
Town of Pulaski, Virginia
BY~J.~9f~~.GGt~//' ~C1~~~
Charles W. Stewart Jr.
~ Mayor
Atte d: ,
Patricia Cruise, Clerk
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I, Patricia Cruise, Clerk of Council, certify that the foregoing Ordinance 2002-07,
Authority of the Chief of the Fire Department and Police Department and the Fire
Marshal as to False Alarms, is a true and correct copy as adopted by the Pulaski Town
Council at their regular meeting on June 4, 2002.
Patricia Cruise, Clerk of Council
tp/c/ordinance/certification 2002-07
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