[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Supervisors of the Township of
Dallas 8-15-1995 by Ord. No. 1995-1. Amendments
noted where applicable.]
Every person utilizing any direct or indirect communication, burglar,
fire or medical emergency alarm system which, when activated, would cause
the emergency dispatch of the police, fire or ambulance services of the Township
of Dallas shall register such system and pay annually to the Township of Dallas
for the benefits and advantages received, a license as set from time to time
by resolution of the Board of Supervisors as set from time to time by resolution
of the Board of Supervisors.
Said license fee shall be payable annually during the month of January
of each calendar year, or within 30 days after the installation of the alarm
system. Any person who fails to pay such license fee shall have his alarm
service with the Township suspended until such time as the annual license
fee for the current year has been paid. This fee shall not be prorated.
A person that owns, uses or possesses an alarm device or automatic dialing
device may not, after causing or permitting three false alarms to occur in
a consecutive twelve-month period, cause or permit a subsequent false alarm
to occur in the same consecutive twelve-month period. A person that violates
this section commits a summary offense and shall, upon conviction, be sentenced
to pay a fine of not more than $300 pursuant to 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 7511.
A false alarm shall be excused only under the following circumstances:
A.
If the alarm system has been activated and is followed
within three minutes by a telephone call to the Emergency Services Dispatch
Center or related emergency service agency with the proper coded identification
canceling the alarm.
B.
If the alarm has been caused by an act of God such as
wind storms, thunder and lightning.
C.
If the alarm has been activated by the failure of equipment
not located on the premises or location from which the alarm seems to have
been activated.
D.
If the owner or lessor, if he desires to make a test
of the system, has notified the Emergency Services Dispatch Center or an affected
agency in advance of the test. Such notification shall be made using a nonemergency
phone number. The owner or lessor in addition shall make the same type of
notification when the testing has been completed.
No alarm system which operates by causing the telephone to be rung at
the Emergency Services Dispatch Center or respective agency, using a device
referred to as an "automatic dialer," shall be installed unless such alarm
system includes an automatic disconnecting device which would be effective
within 30 seconds after the call has been answered at the Emergency Services
Dispatch Center or respective agency. In addition, the taped message shall
clearly indicate the type of emergency, the exact location or address of the
emergency, and directions from the nearest cross street or landmark.
No alarm system which has, as a feature or part, an exterior audible
device (i.e., siren, horn or whistle) shall have such feature, part or device
activate unless the device is capable of automatic disconnect and reset after
having been activated for a period of time of 15 minutes or less.
The Township of Dallas and its Police Department shall have the right
to inspect or test, at reasonable times and upon notice, the connection, operation
and maintenance of any alarm system connected with or to the Emergency Services
Dispatch Center or respective emergency service, or which, when activated,
would cause the emergency dispatch of police, fire or ambulance services.
In this chapter the word "person" shall be deemed to include any individual,
establishment, partnership, corporation or other organization utilizing any
alarm system. In all cases, the owner of the premises in which the alarm system
is installed shall be responsible for the payment of license fees and other
charges as set forth in this chapter.
The installation of an alarm without a license and without the payment
of a license fee shall, upon conviction in a summary proceeding brought before
a District Justice under the Pennsylvania Rules of Criminal Procedure, be
considered a summary offense and shall be punishable by a fine of not more
than $1,000, plus costs of prosecution. In default of payment thereof, the
defendant may be sentenced to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 90 days.
Each day or portion thereof that such violation continues or is permitted
to continue shall constitute a separate offense, and each section of this
chapter that is violated shall also constitute a separate offense.
