[HISTORY: Adopted by the Mayor and Council of the Borough of Folsom 3-9-2016 by Ord. No. 04-2016. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Housing Code — See Ch. 118.
An ever increasing number of homeowners and business owners are installing alarm systems in an effort to prevent crime. The installation of these systems should certainly be encouraged, because they tend to make the community safe. A result, however, of having so many properties with alarm systems is that the State Police are called upon to respond to false alarms. It is the purpose of this chapter to curtail the number of false alarms received by the State Police.
If the State Police receives a call which requires an officer to be dispatched to a residence or dispatched to a business or dispatched to any location in the Borough of Folsom and upon arrival it can be determined that no property or person was in threat of harm or injury and the call or alarm to the State Police was made by mistake, neglect or with the purpose to annoy and there is no justifiable reason to initiate the dispatch, the alarm shall be considered false.
An individual shall be considered to have violated this chapter if he or she initiated the false alarm or negligently allowed the false alarm to be made. It shall be presumed that the owner of any property that has an alarm system is the person who initiates or allows the alarm to be made. The presumption may be rebutted.
[Amended 6-8-2016 by Ord. No. 05-2016]
Anyone who is convicted of violating this chapter in the Borough of Folsom Municipal Court is subject to the following penalties:
A. 
First offense and second offense: a warning.
B. 
Third offense: a fine of $50 payable through the Violations Bureau in the Borough of Folsom.
C. 
Fourth offense: A fine of $100 payable through the Violations Bureau in the Borough of Folsom.
D. 
Fifth offense: A fine of $200 payable through the Violations Bureau in the Borough of Folsom.
E. 
Sixth and subsequent offenses: A fine of $300 payable through the Violations Bureau in the Borough of Folsom. A court appearance shall not be required unless noted by an officer in the performance of his duties.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
SECOND OFFENSE or SUBSEQUENT OFFENSE
Any false alarm which occurs within a twelve-month period from January 1 through December 31 annually.
A. 
All security providers who maintain a panel within the Borough of Folsom State Police for security systems for homeowners and businesses are required to notify all such users annually as to the false alarm ordinance by certified mail, return receipt requested, and provide a copy of said letter and proof of service to the office of the Borough of Folsom Clerk/Administrator and State Police.
B. 
Any failure on the part of a provider to provide notice as contained within this section shall not be considered a defense to the violation of this chapter.
C. 
Any provider who fails to comply with the notification requirements contained herein shall forfeit his/her right to maintain a direct connection panel within the Borough of Folsom State Police.