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Township of Upper Chichester, PA
Delaware County
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Table of Contents
Table of Contents
[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Commissioners of the Township of Upper Chichester 10-14-2010 by Ord. No. 661. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Fire Department — See Ch. 34.
Police Department — See Ch. 82.
Carbon monoxide detectors — See Ch. 219.
Construction standards — See Ch. 240.
Fire prevention and protection — See Ch. 307.
The following definitions shall apply to the interpretation of this chapter:
ALARM
A communication to a public safety agency indicating that a crime, fire, carbon monoxide, medical or other emergency warranting immediate action by that public safety agency has occurred or is occurring.
ALARM DEVICE
A device designed to automatically transmit an alarm:
A. 
Directly to a public safety agency; or
B. 
To a person that is instructed to notify the public safety agency of the alarm.
AUTOMATIC DIALING DEVICE
A device which is interconnected to a telephone line and preprogrammed to transmit the 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.
AUTOMATIC PROTECTION DEVICE
Any instrument which emits at the premises or automatically transmits (via an alarm device) directly or indirectly, any form of alarm or signal, including, but not limited to, a prerecorded voice alarm from the premises upon receipt of a stimulus from a sensory apparatus that has detected a physical force or condition inherently characteristic of intrusion or fire.
DEDICATED TELEPHONE TRUNK LINE
A telephone line or lines which serve a public safety agency which is dedicated to receiving transmission from an automatic dialing service.
FALSE ALARM
The activation of an alarm device to which a public safety agency responds when a crime, fire, carbon monoxide, medical or other emergency has not occurred.
PERMIT HOLDER
A person to whom written approval has been received from a public safety agency to use the automatic dialing device to alert the public safety agency of an alarmed condition.
PERSON
An individual, corporation, partnership, incorporated association or other similar entity.
PUBLIC SAFETY AGENCY
The Upper Chichester Township Police or any other volunteer fire or emergency services of Upper Chichester Township.
A person may not attach or use an automatic dialing device without first doing all of the following:
A. 
Providing disclosure under § 150-3 of this chapter.
B. 
Obtaining written approval from a public safety agency.
A. 
A person seeking approval under § 150-2 of this chapter shall disclose the telephone number of a person to be contacted if the automatic dialing device is activated and all relevant facts concerning the design and layout of the premises to be protected by the automatic dialing device. The person shall inform the public safety agency of any change in the information required by this subsection.
B. 
All information furnished pursuant to this section shall be kept confidential and shall be used solely for the purposes of this chapter.
Audible and visible automatic protection devices must be equipped with a timing device which will disconnect an audible signal or alarm at the premises after a maximum of 15 minutes, but a light alarm (silent) signal outside the building or structure may continue to flash the alarm for 30 minutes. Automatic protection devices without such a device will be unlawful in the Township and a timing device to disconnect an audible signal or alarm within the designated time must be installed within 90 days from the effective date of this chapter.
A. 
One false alarm in a consecutive twelve-month period may result in the issuance of a written notice from the Township or the public safety agency responding to the false alarm to the permit holder, or his agent.
B. 
Two false alarms in a consecutive twelve-month period may result in the issuance of a written warning from the Township or the public safety agency responding to the false alarm to the permit holder, or his agent.
C. 
A permit holder, or his agent, that causes or permits three false alarms to occur in the same consecutive twelve-month period shall upon conviction be sentenced to pay a fine of not more than $300. The violation under this Subsection C shall be deemed to have occurred whether or not the notices and warnings under Subsections A and B above are or have been issued.
A. 
Whenever an alarm is sounded, it is the responsibility of the permit holder, or his agent, to respond to said alarm within 30 minutes after being notified as set forth in § 150-3A of this chapter.
B. 
Failure of a permit holder, or his agent, to respond to one alarm in a consecutive twelve-month period may result in the issuance of a written notice from the Township or the public safety agency responding to the alarm.
C. 
Failure of a permit holder, or his agent, to respond to two alarms in a consecutive twelve-month period may result in the issuance of a written warning from the Township or the public safety agency responding to the alarm.
D. 
Failure of a permit holder, or his agent, to respond to three alarms in a consecutive twelve-month period shall upon conviction be sentenced to pay a fine of not more than $300. The violation under this Subsection D shall be deemed to have occurred whether or not the notices and warnings under Subsections A, B and C above have been issued.
Venue for prosecution of an offense under this chapter shall lie at any of the following places:
A. 
Where the alarm originated.
B. 
Where the alarm was received by the:
(1) 
Public safety agency; or
(2) 
Third person designated to notify the public safety agency.
Fines imposed under this chapter shall be paid to the Township, only if:
A. 
The public safety agency which responded to the false alarms serves the Township; and
B. 
The prosecution of the violation of this chapter was brought by the Township or the public safety agency.