[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Commissioners of the Township
of Robinson as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where
applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Building construction — See Ch. 105.
[Adopted 4-12-1982 by Ord. No. 7-1982 (Ch. 13, Part 4, of
the 1989 Code)]
For purposes of this article, the following terms are defined
as follows:
A communication to the Police Department indicating that
a crime, fire or other emergency situation warranting immediate action
by the Police Department has occurred or is occurring.
A mechanical device designed to automatically transmit an
alarm by wire, telephone, radio or other means:
The alarm console or control panel installed in the Police
Department for the purpose of giving visual or audio response to direct
alarm devices.
An alarm device, other than a telephone dialer alarm, designed
to transmit the alarm directly to the Police Department.
An alarm to which the Police Department responds resulting
from the activation of an alarm device when a crime, fire or other
emergency warranting immediate action by the Police Department has
not, in fact, occurred.
An alarm device designed to transmit an alarm to a person
who is instructed to notify the Police Department of the alarm.
A false alarm resulting from the intentional activation of
an alarm device by an individual under circumstances where that individual
has no reasonable basis to believe that a crime, fire or other emergency
warranting immediate action by the Police Department has occurred
or is occurring.
A person to whom the Police Department has issued an alarm
device permit.
An individual, corporation, partnership, incorporated association
or other similar entity.
The Police Department of Robinson Township.
An alarm device designed to automatically transmit a recorded
message over regular telephone lines directly to the Police Department.
The Volunteer Fire Department of the Township of Robinson.
[Added 4-14-2015 by Ord.
No. 1-2015]
[Amended 8-14-1989 by Ord. No. 16-1989]
A.
It shall be unlawful for a property owner, lessee of property, or
a person otherwise occupying a premises within Robinson Township to
put an alarm device into operation on his premises or to allow an
alarm device to be put into operation on his premises without first
obtaining an alarm device permit from the Police Department. It shall
also be unlawful for a property owner, lessee of property or a person
otherwise occupying a premises outside of Robinson Township to put
an alarm device which terminates at the Police Department into operation
on his premises or to allow such an alarm device to be put into operation
on his premises without first obtaining an alarm device permit from
the Police Department.
B.
In order to apply for an alarm device permit, a person must submit
an application to the Police Department stating the following:
(1)
His name;
(2)
His home and business addresses and the telephone number of each;
(3)
The location at which the alarm device will be installed and operated;
(4)
The names, addresses and telephone numbers of at least two individuals
who have keys to the premises at which the alarm device is located
and who are authorized to enter the premises at any time, but who
do not reside at the location of the alarm device;
(5)
A complete description of the alarm device; and
(6)
If the alarm device is to be leased or rented from or is to be serviced
pursuant to a service agreement by a person other than the person
making application for an alarm device permit, the name, address and
telephone number of that person.
(a)
In addition, each person submitting an application for an alarm
device permit shall submit a signed statement in the following form:
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"I(We) the undersigned applicant(s) for an alarm device permit,
intending to be legally bound hereby, state that neither I(we), nor
anyone claiming by, through or under me(us), shall make any claim
against Robinson Township for any damage caused to the premises at
which the alarm device, which is the subject of this application,
is or will be located, if such damage is caused by a forced entry
to said premises by employees of Robinson Township in order to answer
an alarm from said alarm device at a time when said premises are or
appear to be unattended or when, in the discretion of said employees,
circumstances appear to warrant a forced entry.
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"Further, I(we) hereby agree that, periodically and upon five days' written notice, representatives of the Police Department of Robinson Township shall be allowed to enter my(our) premises between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. on weekdays for the purpose of inspecting my(our) alarm device installation in order to determine whether or not it is in accordance with the operation standards set forth in § 80-3 of the Robinson Township Code of Ordinances."
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(b)
The Police Department shall furnish forms upon which any person
wishing to apply for an alarm device permit may submit his application.
C.
A person applying for an alarm device permit for a telephone dialer
alarm device or an indirect alarm device shall submit a fee, as established
from time to time by resolution, along with his application to cover
the cost of issuing the permit.
D.
The Police Department shall, within 10 weekdays from receipt of an
application for an alarm device permit, either grant an alarm device
permit to the applicant or notify the applicant in writing that his
application has been denied and the reason or reasons why it has been
denied.
E.
An application for an alarm device permit may only be denied for
the following reasons:
F.
Notwithstanding the language contained in § 80-2A of this article, it shall not be unlawful for a person to continue to operate an alarm device on his premises without an alarm device permit for a period of 90 days after the effective date of this article, provided that said alarm device was in operation on the effective date of this article.
G.
The Police Department shall have the power to revoke an alarm device
permit. An alarm device permit shall be revoked by notifying the permit
holder in writing that his alarm device permit has been revoked and
the reason or reasons why it has been revoked. Said written notice
shall be:
H.
An alarm device permit may only be revoked for the following reasons:
(1)
Failure of an alarm device to conform with the operational standards set forth in § 80-3 of this article.
(2)
Failure of a permit holder to pay a false alarm charge assessed to him by the Police Department under the provisions of § 80-4 of this article within 30 days of the mailing to him of a notice of the assessment of a false alarm charge.
(3)
The occurrence of more than 25 false alarms from an alarm device
during any calendar year.
(4)
The occurrence of an intentional false alarm caused by the permit
holder or by an individual over the age of 15 who resides on the premises
where the alarm device is located.
I.
A person who has had his alarm device permit revoked under § 80-2G and H of this article may reapply for an alarm device permit 45 days after the effective date of such revocation; provided, however, that if a person's alarm device permit was revoked for nonpayment of a false alarm charge or for nonpayment of installation or maintenance fees, or both, the Police Department shall deny said application unless such charge or fee, or both, have been paid. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a person who has had his alarm device permit twice revoked on the basis of an occurrence of an intentional false alarm may not reapply for an alarm device permit for one year from the effective date.
A.
If an alarm device is designed to transmit a recorded message directly
to the Police Department, the duration of such recorded message shall
not exceed 15 seconds. The contents of the recorded message shall
be intelligible and in a format approved by the Police Department.
B.
An alarm device shall be designed so that a thirty-second delay occurs
between the time the alarm device receives a triggering stimulus and
the time the alarm device transmits an alarm.
C.
A telephone dialer alarm device shall be designed so that it dials
only specific telephone numbers designated by the Police Department.
It shall be the duty of the Police Department to designate telephone
numbers for use by permit holders with telephone dialer alarm devices.
D.
A direct alarm device shall be designed so that it interfaces with
the central receiving station maintained by the Police Department.
E.
If an alarm device is designed to cause a bell, siren or sound-making
device to be activated on or near the premises on which the alarm
device is installed at the time it gives an alarm, said alarm device
shall be designed to deactivate the bill, siren or other sound-making
device after five minutes of operation.
F.
All alarm devices shall meet the applicable standards of the Underwriters'
Laboratories and/or the National Fire Protection Association and/or
other recognized industry standards. The applicant for a permit may
be required to submit evidence of the reliability and suitability
of the alarm device.
G.
The sensory mechanism used in connection with an alarm device must
be adjusted to suppress false indications of fire or intrusion, so
that the alarm device will not be activated by impulses due to transient
pressure change in water pipes, short flashes of light, wind noises
such as the rattling or vibrating of doors or windows, vehicular noises
adjacent to the premises, or other forces unrelated to genuine alarm
situations.
H.
The alarm device must be maintained by the permit holder in good
repair to assure reliability of operation.
I.
Representatives of the Police Department shall, periodically and upon five days' written notice, have the authority to enter the premises at which an alarm device is located between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. on weekdays for the purpose of inspecting the alarm device installation in order to determine whether or not it is in accordance with the operational standards set forth in this § 80-3. Said representative may require the repairs be made whenever he has determined that such are necessary to assure proper operation.
It shall be unlawful to cause an intentional false alarm.
[Amended 4-14-2015 by Ord. No. 1-2015]
A.
A permit holder shall pay to the Police Department of Robinson Township
a charge for each false alarm emanating from his alarm device during
any calendar year as follows:
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Number of False Alarms
|
Fee
| |
|---|---|---|
|
1st to 5th
|
No charge
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|
6th to 10th
|
$5
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|
11th to 15th
|
$10
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|
16th to 20th
|
$15
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21st to 25th
|
$25
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B.
A permit holder shall pay to the Volunteer Fire Department of Robinson
Township a charge for each false alarm emanating from his alarm device
during any calendar year as follows:
|
Number of False Alarms
|
Fee
| |
|---|---|---|
|
1st to 3rd
|
No charge
| |
|
4th
|
$300
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|
After 5th
|
$500
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C.
When a false alarm occurs, the Police Department and Volunteer Fire
Department, within 10 days from the date of each false alarm, shall
notify the permit holder of the alarm device from which the false
alarm emanated that a false alarm charge is due and the amount thereof,
if any. Such notice shall be in writing and mailed to the permit holder
at his last known address by regular mail, postage prepaid. Failure
of the Police Department and/or the Volunteer Fire Department to mail
notice of assessment of a false alarm charge within 10 days from the
occurrence of a false alarm shall preclude Robinson Township from
assessing a false alarm charge for said false alarm.
D.
A false alarm charge shall be due and payable at the office of the
Police Department 30 days from the date of the mailing of the notice
of assessment of the false alarm charge.
[Amended 8-14-1989 by Ord. No. 16-1989]
A.
A permit holder who has a direct alarm device which is connected
to a central receiving station at the headquarters of the Police Department
shall be required to pay to Robinson Township a fee for the connection
of his direct alarm device to the central receiving station and a
yearly fee for the maintenance of the central receiving station.
B.
The fee for connection of a direct alarm device to a central receiving
station at the headquarters of the Police Department shall be in an
amount established from time to time by resolution plus the actual
cost of interfacing into the central receiving station for each such
connection.
C.
In addition, a permit holder who has a direct alarm device shall
pay a yearly fee for the maintenance of the central receiving station.
This maintenance fee shall be determined by the Police Department
on an annual basis each July by prorating the maintenance costs among
the number of permit holders at the time using the central receiving
station, regardless of how long a permit holder has been connected
to the central receiving station. The Police Department shall annually
notify each permit holder who has a direct alarm device of the amount
of the assessment for the maintenance of the central receiving station.
Such notice shall be in writing and mailed to the permit holder at
his last known address by regular mail, postage prepaid. The maintenance
fee shall be due and payable to the office of the Police Department
30 days from the date of the notice of assessment of the maintenance
fee.
D.
The fee for connection of a direct alarm device to a central receiving
station shall be due and payable at the headquarters of the Police
Department at the time an alarm device permit is issued to an applicant
for such a permit. The Police Department shall not issue an alarm
device permit to an applicant until such fee is paid.
E.
The Police Department shall not in any way be obligated to provide
or continue to provide a central receiving station facility or facilities
for direct alarm devices; provided, however, that, if the Police Department
decides to discontinue operation of a central receiving station facility,
it shall notify all permit holders serviced by said facility of its
intention to discontinue operation of the facility by sending written
notice thereof to each permit holder at his last known address by
regular mail, postage prepaid, at least 60 days prior to the discontinuance
of the operation of said facility.
F.
Failure of a permit holder to pay a yearly fee for the maintenance of the central receiving station to which his direct alarm device is connected within 30 days of the date said payment is due shall subject such permit holder to the disconnection of his direct alarm device from the central receiving station and to the revocation of his alarm device permit under § 80-2G and H.
If the location of the headquarters of the Police Department
should change at any time, Robinson Township shall be responsible
for any cost incurred by permit holders or other persons in the relocation
of alarm devices because of said change in location.
The issuance of any permit shall not constitute acceptance by
Robinson Township of any liability to maintain any equipment, to answer
alarms or for anything in connection therewith.
Whenever under the provisions of this article the Police Department
is empowered to make a decision with respect to the installation,
operation or maintenance of any alarm device, or with respect to the
denial or revocation of any permit relating thereto, any applicant
for a permit or permit holder aggrieved by said decision may, within
10 days following said decision, file a written appeal therefrom with
the Board of Commissioners of Robinson Township, whereupon the Board
of Commissioners shall promptly conduct a hearing and affirm, modify
or reverse the decision appealed from. The decision of the Board of
Commissioners shall be final.
[Amended 8-14-1989 by Ord. No. 16-1989; 4-14-2015 by Ord. No. 1-2015]
[Adopted 8-14-1989 by Ord. No. 16-1989 as Ch. 7, Part 1,
of the 1989 Code]
For purposes of this article, the following words shall have
the following meanings:
A structure or portion thereof, building or portion thereof,
arranged for the use of one or more individuals living together as
a housekeeping unit on a permanent, temporary or transient basis,
which may or may not include sanitary facilities or facilities for
preparation, storage or serving of food.
Any person who, alone or jointly or severally with other
persons, has legal title to any premises. This includes any person
who has charge, care or control over any premises as: a) an agent,
officer, fiduciary, or employee of the owners; b) the committee, conservator
or legal guardian of an owner who is incompetent, a minor or otherwise
under a disability; c) a trustee, elected or appointed, or a person
required by law to act as a trustee, other than a trustee under a
deed of trust to secure the payment of money; or d) an executor, administrator,
receiver, fiduciary officer appointed by any court, attorney-in-fact,
or other similar representative of the owner or his or her estate.
This does not include a lessee, a sublessee or other person who merely
has the right to occupy or possess a premises.
A device which detects visible or invisible particles of
combustion and is capable of providing a suitable audible alarm of
at least 85 decibels at 10 feet, either ionization or photo-electric
type.
In each dwelling unit or individual apartment within buildings
used as a multiple dwelling, there shall be provided by the owner
of the real estate a minimum of one smoke detector/sensing device,
which has received Underwriters' Laboratories' approval.
Said smoke detector/sensing device shall provide an alarm suitable
to warn occupants within individual dwelling units in the event of
fire.
The smoke detector/sensing device shall be installed as above
in all multiple dwellings immediately and shall be installed by the
owner in all other buildings within the Township of Robinson not later
than upon change of ownership of the real estate upon which the building
is erected.
Any person, firm or corporation who shall violate any provision
of this article shall, upon conviction thereof, be sentenced to pay
a fine of not more than $600 and, in default of payment, to imprisonment
for a term not to exceed 30 days. Every day that a violation of this
article continues shall constitute a separate offense.
