Delaware Code Title 16 Sec. 6635 – Smoke detectors; penalties for noncompliance
(a) Each owner and/or tenant of every building or occupancy required to have smoke detection devices and/or smoke detection systems in accordance with this subchapter, whether an individual or a body corporate, who fails to comply with this subchapter regarding smoke detection devices and/or smoke detection systems, shall be fined not less than $100 nor more than $500 for each offense. The Justice of the Peace Courts shall have jurisdiction over any violation of this subchapter.
Terms Used In Delaware Code Title 16 Sec. 6635
- Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
- Injunction: An order of the court prohibiting (or compelling) the performance of a specific act to prevent irreparable damage or injury.
- Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
- State: means the State of Delaware; and when applied to different parts of the United States, it includes the District of Columbia and the several territories and possessions of the United States. See Delaware Code Title 1 Sec. 302
- Summons: Another word for subpoena used by the criminal justice system.
(b) Anyone who tampers with, damages, destroys or renders inoperative any smoke detection device and/or smoke detection system, shall be fined not less than $100 nor more than $500 for each offense. The Justice of the Peace Courts shall have jurisdiction over these violations.
(c) Where a fire department responds to an alarm of any type at a building or occupancy required to have smoke detection devices and/or smoke detection systems as required by this subchapter or by the State Fire Prevention Regulations, and such building does not have a functional, working smoke detection device and/or the smoke detection system is not operable, is not in service, or is not installed or maintained as required by this chapter or by the State Fire Prevention Regulations; or the Fire Marshal’s Office becomes aware of such building or occupancy, the State Fire Marshal’s Office shall have authority to investigate. The State Fire Marshal may issue a summons, where necessary, to the owner and/or occupant of such building or occupancy, for an appearance in the nearest Justice of the Peace Court.
(d) Each fine specified in this section of this title shall be remitted to the State Fire Marshal’s Office in accordance with § 6612 of this title, which provisions shall be complied with in implementing the requirements of this chapter. All receipts shall be used to subsidize the costs of providing a greater public awareness of the ramifications of not having smoke detectors; and to provide smoke detection devices, where possible and/or permissible, for 1-family and 2-family dwellings, mobile homes, modular homes or townhouses, where enforcement action takes place with respect to the owner and/or occupant of the 1-family and 2-family dwelling, mobile home, modular home or townhouse.
(e) In the enforcement of this subchapter with respect to smoke detection devices and/or smoke detection systems, where the fines are collected within the jurisdictions of the cities of Wilmington, Newark, Dover or New Castle, such fines shall be remitted to the appropriate political subdivision, and shall be utilized for the purposes stated in subsection (d) of this section.
(f) The State Fire Marshal’s Office shall be the state-wide manager and agency for all public awareness programs generated by the proceeds of the fines collected under this section.
(g) With the exception of subsection (f) of this section, where any reference is made to the State Fire Marshal or the State Fire Marshal’s Office, such reference shall be interpreted to also apply to the Assistant State Fire Marshals of the cities of Wilmington, Newark, Dover and New Castle for the enforcement actions of these provisions.
(h) The State Fire Marshal or the Attorney General may, in addition to other remedies provided by this section, institute injunction, mandamus, abatement or any other appropriate action or actions or proceedings to prevent any continued violations of this chapter.