Township Enacts False Alarm Code, Lowers Speed Limit on Cherry Valley

Matthew Hersh

Princeton Township Committee Monday night made into law harsher fines for repeat offenders of false fire and burglar alarms.

Under the new law, approved unanimously, a residence would be allowed one false fire alarm and one false burglar alarm per year, whereupon fines would increase with each violation.

Residents with up to 10 false burglar and fire alarms within a one-year period would be required to disconnect their systems for the remainder of the year, or 90 days, depending on the date of notification.

The law was enacted in response to concerns about an increased level of false alarms in the Township last year. There were 179 false fire alarms and 709 burglar alarms. Only two of the burglar alarms were legitimate.

Committee also voted to lower the speed limit on Cherry Valley Road from 40 miles per hour to 25 miles per hour near the Princeton Montessori School, consistent with other school zones in the Township. Edwin Schmierer, Township attorney, said signs will be posted indicating where the lower speed zone exists.

Cherry Valley Road straddles the Princeton Township/Montgomery Township border and as such, a reciprocal ordinance needs to be passed by Montgomery Township Committee. That ordinance was slated for passage Tuesday night after Town Topics went to press.

In other business, an ad hoc group lobbying for lower municipal taxes answered an invitation by Township Committee to participate in its public hearing process.

The group, which calls itself the Princeton Taxpayers Association, objected to an ordinance that would appropriate approximately $111,000 for various improvements if recreation facilities.

Sheldon Leitner of Snowden Lane asked Committee that when it votes on "these very worthwhile projects" to please have "pity" on the taxpayer.

Later, Sidney Souter, treasurer for the Taxpayers Association, asked that the Township not consider cutting members of the Police Department in light of a recent study indicating that the force may be overstaffed. "This is not the time to cut the police department," said Mr. Souter, who was joined by his wife, former Deputy Mayor Ellen Souter.