[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Commissioners of the Township
of Aleppo 7-20-2009 by Ord. No. 2009-1. Amendments noted where applicable.]
Those sections of any or all other ordinances or parts of all
other ordinances are repealed insofar as they conflict with the provisions
of this chapter; however, such repeal shall not affect any act done
or any liability or violation accrued under any such prior ordinance
herein repealed or superseded. Furthermore, all such liabilities or
violations of any repealed or superseded ordinances shall continue
and may be enforced in the same manner as if such repeal or supersession
had not been made. Moreover, any offense or violation committed and
any penalty or forfeiture incurred under any such ordinance, herein
repealed or superseded, may be prosecuted in the same manner as if
this chapter had not been approved.
A.Â
The singular shall include the plural, and the plural shall include
the singular. Words used in the present tense shall also include the
future.
B.Â
ALARM
ALARM DEVICE
AUTOMATIC DIALING DEVICE
CHIEF OF POLICE
DEDICATED TELEPHONE TRUNK LINE
EMERGENCY
FALSE ALARM
OWNER OF ALARM DEVICE/BUILDING
REGISTRATION
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings
indicated, unless otherwise expressly stated:
A communication to a public safety agency indicating that
a crime, fire or other emergency warranting immediate action by that
public safety agency has occurred or is occurring.
A device designed to automatically transmit an alarm:
A device which is interconnected to a telephone line and
is programmed to transmit a coded signal of an alarm to a dedicated
telephone trunk line or to dial a predetermined telephone number to
an alarm to a public safety agency.
The administrative head of the Police Department who shall
have responsibility for the registration of all alarm systems within
the Township and the administration and enforcement of this chapter.
A telephone line or lines that serve a public safety agency
dedicated to receiving transmissions from an automatic dialing device.
A police, fire, medical or hazard emergency.
The activation of an alarm device to which a public safety
agency responds when a crime, fire or other emergency has not occurred.
The person that owns the property where the alarm device
is installed. In Zoning Districts R-1, R-2 and R-3, this will be the
owner of the building where the alarm device is installed. In Zoning
Districts C-1, C-2 and PRD, this means the owner of the alarm device.
Written permission duly received upon the filing of all necessary
information and the payment of a fee as required by this chapter.
A.Â
New installation. From the effective date of this chapter, it shall
be unlawful for any alarm system to be installed within Aleppo Township
without first registering such system and paying the required fee
as prescribed by this chapter.
B.Â
Existing installation. Within 90 days from the effective date of
this chapter, every alarm system located within Aleppo Township shall
be registered. Registration and payment of the required fee shall
be the responsibility of the owner, user or lessee of such system.
C.Â
Application. Application forms for the registration of an alarm system
shall be made available by the Township and shall require the following
minimum information:
(1)Â
The name, address and telephone number of both the alarm user and
property owner.
(2)Â
The address where the alarm system is installed, and telephone number
at that location.
(3)Â
The name, address and telephone number of the alarm supplier.
(4)Â
The name, address and telephone number of a person or firm who is
authorized to respond immediately to an emergency or false alarm and
to gain access to the alarm system and who is available on a twenty-four-hour-a-day
basis, seven days a week, to respond for servicing and maintenance
and to correct malfunctions as they occur.
(5)Â
The type of system (i.e., holdup, burglary, fire or medical emergency).
(6)Â
Any other information which shall be required by the Township.
A.Â
Every alarm supplier who sells, leases or furnishes an alarm system
or any individual, firm or corporation who installs his or its own
alarm system shall be required to meet the following minimum requirements:
(1)Â
The system installed shall be listed by Underwriters Laboratories,
Inc., as being electrically safe.
(2)Â
Such system shall be provided with standby battery power, which shall
automatically and immediately take over in the event of a power failure.
(3)Â
Wiring for each system shall meet all applicable Township codes and
be installed using shielded cable to prevent wave interference.
B.Â
Exemptions. A battery-powered (nine-volt, 11.2-volt or similar voltage)
audible alarm system or an electrically energized audible alarm system
whose sole purpose is to notify the occupants of that location of
an emergency shall be exempt from the registration requirements of
this chapter if all of the following conditions are met:
C.Â
Alarms without timing mechanisms prohibited. On and after the effective
date of this chapter, owners and users of audible alarms shall equip
such device with a timing mechanism that will disengage the audible
alarm after a maximum time period of 15 minutes. Alarms without such
a mechanism shall constitute a violation of this chapter and must
be disconnected.
A.Â
For the purpose of defraying the cost to Aleppo Township for responding
to false alarms, and in conjunction 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 7511,
the owners of the buildings where an alarm device is installed (Zoning
Districts R-1, R-2 and R-3) and owners of the alarm device (Zoning
Districts C-1, C-2 and PRD) as defined by this chapter shall be subject
to the following penalties:
B.Â
Following the third false alarm, the Chief of Police shall have the
authority to temporarily revoke the registration of any alarm system
within Aleppo Township. The person to whom the alarm system is registered
shall be notified by both certified and regular mail of such action
and be provided with the effective date of the revocation. No further
response to an alarm device shall be provided until such time that
the Chief of Police has received a certification from a licensed alarm
supplier describing the basis for malfunction and also certification
that the alarm system is free of defect. If no report or certification
is received within 45 days from the effective date of revocation,
the registration for the calendar year issued shall be considered
void, and the alarm system shall be disconnected. Where determined
necessary in the opinion of the Chief of Police, an annual maintenance
agreement shall be required as a condition for reinstatement of the
registration.