[HISTORY: Adopted by the Borough Council of the Borough of
New Britain 10-8-1991 by Ord. No. 248. Amendments noted where
applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Uniform construction codes — See Ch. 165.
For the purpose of this chapter, certain words and phrases are
defined as follows:
Any mechanical, electrical or electronic device which is
designed or used for the detection of an unauthorized entry into a
building, structure or facility or for alerting others about the commission
of an unlawful act within a building, structure or facility or for
alerting others about the existence of any other condition requiring
response of police, fire or ambulance personnel; and which emits and/or
transmits an audible and/or visual signal or message when actuated.
"Alarm systems" include, but are not limited to, direct-dial telephone
devices, audible alarms and subscriber alarms.
A device that emits an audible signal from the premises that
it is designed to protect.
New Britain Borough.
A device that, when actuated, causes a recorded message to
be transmitted, via telephone, to any emergency service, including,
but not limited to, fire companies, ambulance, rescue squad and/or
police departments serving any New Britain Borough residence or business,
stating that emergency response is necessary.
That primary phone number advertised to the public for requesting
emergency services.
An alarm signal, necessitating response by the emergency
agency where an emergency situation does not exist. An alarm that
has been activated by an external source that is beyond the reasonable
control of the subscriber shall not be considered false.
Central Bucks Regional Police Department.
Audible alarms must be silenced within 30 minutes after a designated
responsible person is notified to do so by the police, or the alarm
system may be equipped with a timing device that will automatically
silence the audible alarm within 30 minutes after it is actuated.
The direct-dial alarms shall not be connected to the emergency
agency emergency phone number. A secondary phone may be provided by
the responding agency for direct-dial alarms only. Direct-dial alarms
must be equipped with a device that will prevent more than three repeated
transmissions of an alarm for the same emergency.
Prior to installation of any alarm to any approved agency other
than the Central Bucks Regional Police Department, the owner shall
provide the Police Department with a letter signed by an authorized
representative of the agency granting permission for such installation.
A.
It shall be the responsibility of all persons, entities, firms and
corporations installing such systems within the Borough to prevent
the transmission of false alarms through a program of training and
periodic inspection and maintenance of the system. The maximum permissible
number of false alarms from any one location shall be as follows:
B.
False alarms in excess of these standards shall be considered to
be a violation of this chapter.
A.
Any owner, lessee or user found guilty of violating this chapter
in a summary procedure before a Magisterial District Judge shall be
liable to the a fine not exceeding $600, plus costs of prosecution,
and, in default of payment of such fine and costs, imprisonment for
a term not exceeding 30 days. Failure to comply with any notice sent
by New Britain Borough within three days of receipt shall be deemed
an offense.
B.
False alarm violation. 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 twelve-month
period. A person violating this subsection 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, or such other
amount as established by state law.