[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Supervisors of the Township of
Hanover 2-13-1996 by Ord. No. 96-1. Amendments
noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Noise — See Ch. 118.
The purpose of this chapter is to provide standards and regulations
for police, fire and other emergency alarm and protection devices, whether
by direct line, radio, telephone or other means actuating a device requiring
a response by police, fire department, ambulance or other governmental agencies.
The Board of Supervisors of the Township finds and declares that:
A.
The majority of emergency alarms to which police and
emergency personnel respond are false. Such false alarms are nuisances resulting
in a waste of manpower and could cause serious injury to those police officers
and other emergency personnel who may be responding to a false alarm. While
responding to false alarms they are not available to protect the citizens
of the Township.
B.
The dangers to citizens through emergency responses created
by false alarms is unnecessary and hazardous.
C.
False alarms have created conditions causing danger and
annoyance to the general public.
D.
Tax dollars are wasted through responses to false alarms.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings
indicated:
Any device designed or used for detection of fire, smoke, carbon
dioxide, gas or of intrusion into a building, property, structure or facility
or for alerting any person in the attempt or commission of a crime or any
emergency situation involving potential death or injury or any other device
which summons any emergency service agencies and which is directly connected
to an audible alarm or the transmission of a related signal or message which
is used to evoke an emergency response by emergency service agencies to any
address or separate component of any system.
The Hanover Township Volunteer Fire Company, ambulance service and
police.
The activation of an alarm system due to other than the purpose for
which the alarm system is designed. Any activation of an alarm system due
to any malfunction caused by a violent, natural catastrophic condition, including
electrical storms or power outages, or conditions beyond the control of the
permittee will not constitute a false alarm. A false alarm shall also include
the accidental activation of alarms by employees, permittees, cleaning services
or any other persons permitted on the property by the permittee.
An individual and/or entity who has secured a permit in accordance
with this chapter.
Written permission duly granted to an applicant by the Township,
upon payment of the required fee.
The Colonial Regional Police Department.
A.
Every applicant for a permit shall file with the Secretary-Treasurer
of the Township, on forms provided by the Township, a written application
stating the name, address and telephone number of the applicant; a description
of the property or properties where the proposed alarm system shall be installed;
the location, road, name of development including the office or industrial
complex and location within the office or industrial complex and name which
is conspicuously displayed on the house, building or mailbox of the premises,
a description of the type or types of alarm system to be used including name
and model number of the manufacturer; the name of the person or company who
will install the alarm system at the location; the name, address and telephone
number of any person or company who will be available to be contacted in the
event of an alarm activation; and such other information as shall be determined
appropriate by the Township. In the case of more than one building site in
which the alarm system shall be installed, the applicant must provide the
Township with information concerning how the alarm for each building shall
be distinguishable from the other alarms in said buildings.
B.
In the event the name, mailing address or telephone number
of the person to be contacted changes, the applicant shall supply corrected
information to the Township within five days of the change. If requested by
the Township or its duly authorized representative, including but not limited
to the police, the persons listed shall be required to be present at the alarm
location within a reasonable length of time after being advised that the police
or other emergency departments have received any signal or message of an alarm
activation.
A.
Permits shall not be transferable from one individual
and/or entity to another, or from one location to another, without the express
written authorization from the Township. In the event that the premises in
which the alarm system has been installed is to be conveyed or transferred
to another individual and/or entity, it shall be the responsibility of the
permittee to notify the Township of the name and telephone number of the other
person to be contacted in case of the alarm activation.
B.
Any individual and/or entity who obtains title and/or
possession of premises in which an alarm system has been installed and a permit
has been issued by the Township, shall notify the Township and make application
for registration specifying all information necessary for the police or other
emergency departments to respond to the alarm activation.
A.
Every individual and/or entity applying for a permit
under the provisions of this chapter shall pay a fee as set from time to time
by resolution of the Board of Supervisors to obtain a permit prior to the
installation of the new alarm system on the premises.
B.
Any individual and/or entity who owns or obtains a title
or possession to premises in which an alarm system has already been installed
shall pay the fee as set from time to time by resolution of the Board of Supervisors
to register their name, address, telephone number and individual to be contacted
in case of the activation of the alarm system in accordance with the provisions
of this chapter.
C.
All fees shall be payable to the Township, and the fees
described above may be revised from time to time by resolution of the Board
of Supervisors of the Township.
[Amended 2-12-2002 by Ord. No. 02-01]
A.
Any individual and/or entity who fails to make application
or register with the Township prior to the installation of an alarm system
on the premises shall, upon conviction in a summary proceeding brought before
a District Justice under the Pennsylvania Rules of Criminal Procedure, be
guilty of a summary offense and shall be punishable by a fine of not less
than $300 nor more than $1,000, plus costs of prosecution. In default of payment
thereof, the defendant may be sentenced to imprisonment for a term not exceeding
90 days. Each day or portion thereof that such violation continues or is permitted
to continue shall constitute a separate offense, and each section of this
chapter that is violated shall also constitute a separate offense.
B.
Any individual or entity who owns or acquires title and/or
possession to premises in which an alarm system has already been installed
and fails to register with the Township shall, upon conviction in a summary
proceeding brought before a District Justice under the Pennsylvania Rules
of Criminal Procedure, be guilty of a summary offense and shall be punishable
for a first offense by a fine of not less than $100 nor more than $1,000,
plus costs of prosecution, and for the second and any subsequent offense by
a fine of not less than $500 nor more than $1,000, plus costs of prosecution.
In default of payment thereof, the defendant may be sentenced to imprisonment
for a term not exceeding 90 days. Each day or portion thereof that such violation
continues or is permitted to continue shall constitute a separate offense,
and each section of this chapter that is violated shall also constitute a
separate offense.
C.
Any individual and/or entity who, after receiving notice
from the Township that emergency service agencies have responded to three
false alarms as defined in this chapter during the term of any sixty-day period,
shall, upon conviction in a summary proceeding brought before a District Justice
under the Pennsylvania Rules of Criminal Procedure, be guilty of a summary
offense and shall be punishable by a fine of not less than $300 nor more than
$1,000, plus costs of prosecution. In default of payment thereof, the defendant
may be sentenced to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 90 days. Each day
or portion thereof that such violation continues or is permitted to continue
shall constitute a separate offense, and each section of this chapter that
is violated shall also constitute a separate offense.
D.
Any individual and/or entity who continues to operate an alarm system more than five days after the date of mailing of notice of suspension, pursuant to § 38-7A, shall, upon conviction in a summary proceeding brought before a District Justice under the Pennsylvania Rules of Criminal Procedure, be guilty of a summary offense and shall be punishable by a fine of not less than $500 nor more than $1,000, plus costs of prosecution. In default of payment thereof, the defendant may be sentenced to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 90 days. Each day or portion thereof that such violation continues or is permitted to continue shall constitute a separate offense, and each section of this chapter that is violated shall also constitute a separate offense. For each occasion on which a false alarm is activated after notice of suspension and pending restoration of the suspended permit, the permittee shall pay a fine of not less than $500 nor more than $1,000, plus costs of prosecution.
A.
In addition to any penalties which may be imposed for
violation of certain provisions of this chapter, the Township may, pursuant
to the provisions of this section, suspend the permit of any permittee for
failure to correct any deficiencies in equipment or operation within 30 days
after receipt of written notice of same from the Township ("permit suspension").
Such permit suspension shall continue until the permittee shall give satisfactory
proof to the Township that the alarm system has been properly repaired and/or
persons have been trained in the proper use of the alarm system, and that
no future false alarms will be activated.
B.
A suspended permit shall be restored upon satisfactory
proof to the Township that the alarm system has been properly repaired and/or
persons have been trained in the proper use of the alarm system and that no
further false alarms will be activated.
The information furnished and secured pursuant to this chapter shall
be confidential in character and shall not be subject to public inspection,
and shall be so kept in order that the contents thereof shall not be known
except to Township and police officials charged with the administration of
this chapter.
[Added 6-14-2005 by Ord. No. 05-05[1]]
It shall be unlawful for any person to misuse the 911 Emergency Telephone
System as defined herein.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings
indicated:
Includes the following:
Misdials: calls received at the Northampton County Control Center that
are the result of the caller attempting to dial any other number, or has mistakenly
placed the call using preprogrammed speed dial for 911, fax machines or other
mechanical activation, or other means of erroneously calling 911 without the
need for emergency response. Mechanical or technical misdials shall be the
sole responsibility of the property owner, or in the case of a business premises
the owner, manager, or agent employed or on the premises at the time of the
occurrence.
Hang-up calls: calls received at the Northampton County Control Center
that are the result of the caller disconnecting after mistakenly calling 911,
calls placed from minors as the result of lack of parental supervision, or
other means of erroneously calling 911 without the need for emergency response.
Prank calls: calls received at the Northampton County Central Center
that are the direct result of the caller intentionally disclosing false information,
calling 911 as a joke and hanging up, calls placed from minors as the result
of lack of parental supervision, or other means of calling 911 without the
need for emergency response.
Includes any natural person, partnership, joint stock company, unincorporated
association of society, or cooperation of any character whatsoever.
Penalties for the misuse of the 911 system shall be as follows:
A.
First offense. The responding officer shall issue the
offender/caller a false alarm notice outlining the penalties regarding the
subsequent misuse of the 911 system.
B.
Second offense. If a second infraction is made within
60 days of the first offense, the responding officer shall file the false
alarm report and forward it to the appropriate authority (same procedure as
for the false alarm reports) for the issuance of a citation. A fine in the
amount of $25 and cost of prosecution shall be imposed.
C.
Third offense. If a third infraction is made within 30
days of the second offense, the responding officer shall file the false alarm
report and forward it to the appropriate authority for the issuance of a citation.
A fine in the amount of $100 and the cost of prosecution shall be imposed.
D.
Subsequent offense. If a fourth or subsequent infraction
is received within 30 days of the third offense, the responding officer shall
file the false alarm report and forward it to the appropriate authority for
the issuance of a citation. A fine in the amount of $300 and costs of prosecution
for each offense shall be imposed.
Notice of the violation shall be given to the person(s) residing on
such premises. In the case of a business premises, the owner, manager, or
agent employed or on the premises at the time of the occurrence of the deliberate
misuse of the 911 system shall be presumed to be the person to whom notice
shall be given.
