[Ord. 199, 5/12/1982]
It is the intent of this Part to reduce the false alarms and
false notifications to the Police Department and fire company that
emergencies exist or situations exist wherein police or fire assistance
or investigation is required, as they are detrimental to the welfare
and safety of the citizens of Northampton Township and the members
of the Police Department and the fire company and the receipt of said
false alarms and notifications detracts from the efficiency of the
Departments in discharging their responsibilities to the citizens
of Northampton Township. It is hereby declared to be the policy to
safeguard and protect the citizens, the members of the Police Department
and the members of all fire companies, present and future, from such
hazards or risks.
[Ord. 199, 5/12/1982]
1.
Word Usage. Words in the singular number include the plural, and
words in the plural number include the singular; the present tense
includes the future; the word "building" shall be deemed to include
the word "structure." An individual shall be deemed to include any
person, group, group of persons and/or partnership or corporation.
2.
ALARMS
FALSE ALARM
FIRE COMPANY
FIRE MARSHAL
POLICE DEPARTMENT
Words Defined. Unless otherwise expressly stated, the following words
shall, for the purposes of this Part, have the meanings herein stated:
Any mechanical, electrical or electronic signal reporting
by means of telephone cables or other means of transmission received
by the Police Department or fire company, or audible alarm which is
heard and/or called in by another, that an emergency exists at the
sounding location. Said alarms shall include but are not limited to
those types installed to indicate robberies, burglaries and fires.
Any report or request for police and/or fire service or assistance
by any means of communication as herein defined wherein the situation,
condition, incident or emergency did not and does not exist.
The Northampton Township Fire Company or any other fire company
which may operate in Northampton Township in the future.
The Fire Marshal of Northampton Township.
The Northampton Township Police Department.
[Ord. 199, 5/12/1982]
The Police Department and the Fire Marshal shall have the power
and the duty to enforce the provisions of this Part insofar as they
relate to any false alarm or request for service or assistance.
[Ord. 199, 5/12/1982; as amended by Ord. 282, 10/12/1988]
1.
It shall be unlawful for any person or persons, including, but not
limited to, an owner or lessee of any building in which a fire, holdup
or burglar alarm has been installed:
A.
To cause, suffer, allow or permit the accidental or purposeful transmission
of a false alarm signal from any public or private place to the Police
Department or fire company.
B.
To cause, suffer, allow or permit to be made any report or request
for police or fire service or assistance by any means of communication
wherein the situation, condition, incident or emergency did not and
does not exist.
C.
To fail to register with the Police Department an alarm system, to
include, but not be limited to, burglary, robbery and fire, within
24 hours of the installation. Registration is to include the name,
address and telephone number of the subscriber and of the installer
and the name, address and telephone number of at least one person
who has the knowledge and means to reset the alarm.
[Ord. 199, 5/12/1982; as amended by Ord. 211, 5/9/1984, § 46-5; by Ord. 222, 3/13/1985; by Ord. 282, 10/12/1988; by Ord. 285, 2/22/1989; by Ord. 561, 4/25/2012; by Ord. 567, 12/11/2013; and by Ord. 572, 9/17/2014]
1.
In the event of a violation of this Part, any police officer of the
Township of Northampton may present to the owner, tenant or occupant
a notice indicating the nature of the offense and bearing the statement
that no prosecution shall be instituted for 48 hours hereafter if
during said forty-eight-hour period, the offender shall voluntarily
appear at the office of the Police Department of the Township of Northampton,
50 Township Road, Richboro, Pennsylvania 18954, and voluntarily enter
a plea of guilty and pay a penalty of $25 for the first offense, $50
for the second offense, and $75 for the third offense to the Township.
In the event such persons fail to comply with such notice, the offense
will thereafter be prosecuted and the penalty collected in a manner
prescribed by existing laws.
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.
