[Ord. 2002-5, 6/12/2002, Art. 1]
The following definition shall apply in the interpretation and
enforcement of this Part:
Any signal activated by an automatic protection device, any
audible alarm or any other kind of direct or indirect signal given
to which police, fire department or emergency response agencies respond
which is not the result of an attempted illegal entry, burglary, intrusion,
fire, medical or other similar emergency excluding, weather extremes
and utility interruptions, which activates a protection device.
[Ord. 2002-5, 6/12/2002, Art. 2; as amended by A.O.]
The Township Board of Supervisors by authority granted to them
as specified in the Second Class Township Code, as amended, hereby
enacts this Part.
[Ord. 2002-5, 6/12/2002, Art. 3]
1.
The Board of Supervisors of the Township find and declare that:
A.
The majority of emergency alarms to which the Township emergency
personnel respond are false. False alarms are herewith determined
to be nuisances resulting in a waste of Township manpower and creating
the potential for serious injury to police officers, fire department
personnel and other emergency personnel responding to a false alarm.
Further, when the said personnel are responding to false alarms, they
are not available for the protection of residents and the general
public in other parts of the Township.
B.
The danger created through emergency responses created by nuisance
alarms is unnecessary and hazardous.
C.
The unnecessary waste of public and private revenue through responses
to nuisance alarms must be eliminated.
D.
Nuisance alarms have created conditions causing danger and annoyance
to the general public.
[Ord. 2002-5, 6/12/2002, Art. 4]
It shall be unlawful for the property owner, lessee or any person
occupying or otherwise on any premises within the Township, to make
or cause to be made, a false fire or security alarm, directly or indirectly
to any fire department or emergency response agency responding to
alarms within the Township, when the false alarm is caused by faulty
detection or alarm equipment or by the negligence of said property
owner, lessee or person.
[Ord. 2002-5, 6/12/2002, Art. 5; as amended by A.O.]
1.
The status of an alarm is to be determined by the Township Zoning
Officer after consultation with the police department, fire company
or other affected emergency response agency, and the decision shall
be final.
2.
Upon notification by the Township Zoning Officer of a false alarm,
a written report shall be made within 14 days by the owner or lessee
to the affected emergency response agency and shall contain what steps
have been taken to eliminate future false alarms.
3.
Service fees for false alarms shall be assessed by the Township in
an amount as established, from time to time, by resolution of the
Board of Supervisors.
[Ord. 2002-5, 6/12/2002, Art. 6; as amended by A.O.]
1.
In the event a violation of this Part occurs, in addition to such
other remedies as may be available under existing law, the Township
may institute an action in equity to prevent, restrain, correct, abate
or enjoin such violation.
2.
Any person, firm or corporation who shall violate any provision of
this Part, upon conviction thereof in an action brought before a magisterial
district judge in the manner provided for the enforcement of summary
offenses under the Pennsylvania Rules of Criminal Procedure, shall
be sentenced to pay a fine of not more than $1,000 plus costs and,
in default of payment of said fine and costs, to a term of imprisonment
not to exceed 90 days. Each day that a violation of this Part continues
or each section of this Part which shall be found to have been violated
shall constitute a separate offense.
3.
The Township Zoning Officer shall be responsible for the enforcement
of the within part, including, but not limited to, filing and prosecuting
with the assistance of the Township Solicitor, violations in the appropriate
jurisdiction including the office of magisterial district judge in
whose jurisdiction the violation occurred.
