[HISTORY: Adopted by the Borough Council of the Borough of Shippensburg
as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]
[Adopted 10-16-1984 by Ord. No. 529,
approved 10-16-1984]
Property owners and/or tenants ("owner") who repeatedly, either directly
or indirectly, request that municipal services be supplied, in the form of
Police or Fire Department emergency equipment, in responding to false alarms
originating from their real estate ("real estate"), shall be charged municipal
service fees, as set forth in this article.
[Amended 7-15-1997 by Ord. No. 680,
approved 7-15-1997; 8-15-2000 by Ord.
No. 725, approved 8-15-2000]
Each false alarm, which is requested for fire or police services that
are unnecessary, over two, during a calendar year, shall result in a fee of
$100. The false alarm fee shall be billed not more than 90 days following
the occurrence.
The false alarm fee shall only be charged if the Police and/or Fire
Department emergency equipment is dispatched.
The false alarm fees shall not be charged for alarms that are caused
by reasons beyond the reasonable control of the owner if the owner provides
the borough with clear and convincing evidence that the cause for the false
alarm was beyond his control; provided, however, that exoneration of fees
charged hereunder shall not extend to alarms due to malfunctioning alarm equipment.
The failure of the owner to pay the fee within 30 days of the date of
the bill shall be deemed a violation of this chapter, and a collection fee
shall be imposed in the amount of $50.
The borough may proceed to collect unpaid false alarm fees and collection
fees as municipal claim, including the filing and enforcement of a lien, and
may take such other legal action to collect the same, as is provided for by
the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania applicable thereto.
[Added 8-15-2000 by Ord. No. 725,
approved 8-15-2000]
Located at or on the control panel for all fire alarm systems shall
be a listing of at least three maintenance and/or supervisory persons who
are responsible for the maintenance of the fire alarm system. The list shall
be updated on an annual basis or as changes in personnel occur. The list shall
include the name and telephone number of such persons as well as the date
the list was posted. If the system is supervised or monitored by an outside
service, the name and telephone number of that service shall be listed.
[Added 8-15-2000 by Ord. No. 725,
approved 8-15-2000]
No fire alarm system activation to which the Fire Department has responded
shall be reset until given permission by the fire official in charge.
[Added 8-15-2000 by Ord. No. 725,
approved 8-15-2000[1]]
All detectors, flow sensors and pull stations included in a system shall
be numbered with numbers that are legible when standing on the floor. A map
showing the location of these detectors and a listing of the numbers shall
be kept at the control panel. This section shall not apply to single-family
dwelling units or duplexes that are not rental units.
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance provided that this section shall
become effective six months after adoption.
[Added 8-15-2000 by Ord. No. 725,
approved 8-15-2000]
After three false alarms in a consecutive twelve-month period, any person,
partnership, firm or corporation who or which owns, uses or possesses an alarm
device or automatic dialing device is subject to conviction of a summary offense
for causing or permitting a subsequent false alarm to occur in the same consecutive
twelve-month period. The violator shall, upon conviction, be sentenced to
pay a fine of an amount not to exceed that allowed under the Pennsylvania
Crimes Code, 18 Pa. C.S.A. § 7511. Prosecution of the violation
shall be in accordance with the Pennsylvania Crimes Code, 18 Pa. C.S.A. § 7511.
