[Ord. 414, 6/21/2006, § 2]
1.
ALARM
ALARM DEVICE
ALARM SYSTEM
FALSE ALARM
FIRE DEPARTMENT
PERSON
POLICE DEPARTMENT
YEAR
As used in this Part, the following terms shall have the meanings
indicated, unless a different meaning clearly appears from the context:
A communication to the police departments or fire departments
which serve the Township of Richland indicating that a crime or fire
or other emergency situation warranting immediate response has occurred
or is occurring.
A self-contained device present inside a building and which
is designed to detect the presence of smoke, heat, carbon monoxide
or motion and to then emit a sound audible within the building to
warn persons therein of such presence.
A system designed to automatically transmit an alarm, by
wire, telephone, radio or other means, to the County of Allegheny's
911 Dispatch Center or to a person who is instructed to so notify
the County of Allegheny's 911 Dispatch Center of the alarm or to activate
a bell or other sounding device to be heard outside a building and
which is intended to alert the police or others to the existence of
a crime or fire or other emergency situation warranting immediate
official response.
An alarm to which the Northern Regional Police Department
of Allegheny County responds and which results from the activation
of an alarm system or alarm device when an actual crime, fire or other
emergency warranting immediate responsive action by such Police Department
has not, in fact, occurred.
Any fire company serving any portion of the Township of Richland.
An individual, corporation, partnership, unincorporated association
or other similar entity.
The Northern Regional Police Department of Allegheny County.
Calendar year.
2.
In this Part, the singular shall include the plural; the plural shall
include the singular; and the masculine shall include the feminine
and the neuter.
[Ord. 414, 6/21/2006, § 3]
1.
Any person causing or reporting accidental false alarms for any reason
to which the Northern Regional Police Department of Allegheny County
responds or the permit holder of an alarm system that transmits such
false alarm for any reason shall pay to the Northern Regional Police
Department of Allegheny County a charge for each and every false alarm,
in each calendar year, as follows:
A.
False alarm:
(1)
First false alarm, each calendar year: $50 or proof of yearly
maintenance contract in effect for any alarm system involved in transmittal
of the false alarm.
(2)
Second false alarm, each calendar year: $50.
(3)
Third false alarm, each calendar year: $75.
(4)
Fourth false alarm, each calendar year: $100.
(5)
Each false alarm in excess of four, each calendar year: the
amount of the charge assessed for the immediately preceding false
alarm during that calendar year, plus an additional $25.
2.
When a false police alarm occurs, the Northern Regional Police Department
of Allegheny County shall, within 45 days from the date of the false
alarm, notify the permit holder for the alarm system, or owner of
the alarm device from which the false alarm originated, or other person
causing said false alarm, that a false alarm charge is due and the
amount thereof. Such notice shall be in writing and mailed by regular
mail, postage paid, to the last known address of the permit holder
or other person causing said false alarm.
3.
A false police alarm charge shall be due and paid to the Northern
Regional Police Department of Allegheny County and shall be payable
at its headquarters location (230 Pearce Mill Road, Wexford, PA 15090)
30 days from the date of the mailing of the notice of assessment of
the charge.
[Ord. 414, 6/21/2006, § 4]
1.
Any person causing or reporting accidental false alarms for any reason
to which the Fire Department responds or the permit holder of an alarm
system that transmits such false alarm for any reason shall pay to
the Township of Richland a charge for each and every false alarm,
in each calendar year, as follows:
A.
False alarm:
(1)
First false alarm, each calendar year: $50 or proof of yearly
maintenance contract in effect for any alarm system involved in transmittal
of the false alarm.
(2)
Second false alarm, each calendar year: $50.
(3)
Third false alarm, each calendar year: $75.
(4)
Fourth false alarm, each calendar year: $100.
(5)
Each false alarm in excess of four, each calendar year: the
amount of the charge assessed for the immediately preceding false
alarm during that calendar year, plus an additional $25.
2.
When a false fire alarm occurs, the Township of Richland shall, within
45 days from the date of the false alarm, notify the permit holder
for the alarm system, or owner of the alarm device from which the
false alarm originated, or other person causing said false alarm,
that a false alarm charge is due and the amount thereof. Such notice
shall be in writing and mailed by regular mail, postage paid, to the
last known address of the permit holder or other person causing said
false alarm.
3.
A false fire alarm charge shall be due and paid to the Township of
Richland of Allegheny County and shall be payable at the Township
of Richland Municipal Building, 4011 Dickey Road, Gibsonia, Pennsylvania,
15044, 30 days from the date of the mailing of the notice of assessment
of the charge.
[Ord. 414, 6/21/2006, § 5]
No person shall conduct or test any alarm device without first
obtaining permission from the Northern Regional Police Department
of Allegheny County. Where the equipment is keyed through an intermediary,
no such permission is necessary unless the alarm or signal is to be
relayed to the central receiving station.
[Ord. 414, 6/21/2006, § 6]
The issuance of a permit for an alarm system shall not constitute
acceptance by the Township of Richland of any liability to maintain
any such equipment or to answer alarms nor shall it otherwise render
the Township of Richland liable to any person for any loss or damage
relating to the alarm system or procedure.
[Ord. 414, 6/21/2006, § 7]
Administration and enforcement of this Part shall be the function
of the Township of Richland and the Northern Regional Police Department
of Allegheny County (to the extent specified herein).
[Ord. 414, 6/21/2006, § 8; as amended at time of
adoption of Code (see Ch. AO)]
Any person who violates or permits a violation of this Part
shall, upon being found liable therefor in a civil enforcement proceeding
commenced by the Township before a Magisterial District Judge, pay
a fine of not more than $600, plus all court costs, including reasonable
attorneys' fees, incurred by the Township in the enforcement of this
Part. If the defendant neither pays nor timely appeals the judgment,
the Township may enforce the judgment pursuant to the applicable Rules
of Civil Procedure. Each day a violation exists shall constitute a
separate offense. Further, the appropriate officers or agents of the
Township are hereby authorized to seek equitable relief, including
injunction, to enforce compliance herewith.