[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Commissioners of the Township of
Ridley as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]
[Adopted 3-19-1975 as Ch. 105 of the 1975 Code]
A license is hereby required from the operators of all supermarkets,
shopping centers, drive-in moving-picture establishments, publicly operated
swimming pools and other places of business and industry.
[Amended 5-18-1983 by Ord. No. 1553]
The fee for said license shall be based upon a reasonable estimate of
the number of policemen which, in the opinion of the Police Committee of the
Township of Ridley, are necessary to protect the public safety at, near or
on the licensed premises, at the rate of $15 per man hour.
The license so issued shall be for a period of 30 days and shall be
renewable upon application to the Township Secretary and upon payment of the
license fee for the license for the ensuing thirty-day period.
The Police Committee of the Township of Ridley shall make a survey in
order to determine the reasonable estimate of the number of policemen necessary
to protect the public at, near or on any supermarket, shopping center, drive-in
moving-picture establishment, publicly operated swimming pool and other place
of business and industry, and the Township Secretary shall immediately notify
such private business enterprise of the requirement to obtain such license
and the cost thereof.
No person, firm or corporation shall operate any supermarket, shopping center, drive-in moving-picture establishment, publicly operated swimming pool or other place of business and industry, after having received the notice set forth in § 220-4 of this article, without having obtained a license so to do within 24 hours after such notice.
No police officer of the Township of Ridley shall station himself, in
uniform, at, by or near any supermarket, shopping center, drive-in moving-picture
establishment, publicly operated swimming pool or other place of business
and industry unless he shall be directed so to do by the Captain of Police.
The Captain of Police shall keep and maintain a record of his assignments
of police officers to such licensed premises and shall certify the same to
the Police Committee at least once monthly, and upon approval of such certification
by the Police Committee, an order shall be issued to the Township Treasurer
to pay the said police officers from the license fee so collected.
[Adopted 7-26-1995 by Ord. No. 1740]
The Board of Commissioners of the Township of Ridley finds and determines:
A.
That certain private properties require a disproportionate
amount of police service, with many calls requiring response to maintain order
and public peace and to stop public disturbances. These excess calls result
in less police personnel and resources available for other locations, emergencies
and duties in the Township, and extraordinary police service at such properties
puts a disproportionate and unfair burden upon the citizens and taxpayers
of the Township.
B.
That owners and/or rental agents in charge of private
properties requiring excessive police attention derive a benefit from such
police service.
C.
That owners and/or rental agents in charge of such private
properties have a responsibility to manage their properties to minimize required
police service to maintain order and public peace, and to thus minimize the
burden upon citizens and taxpayers of the Township and to promote the health,
safety and welfare of the public in general.
D.
That owners and/or rental agents in charge of such private
properties can minimize required police service to maintain order, public
peace and to stop public disturbances by diligent and strict management and
regulation of their properties.
E.
That assessment of costs as provided in this article
is reasonable and will have a deterrent effect and encourage more responsible
management of such properties. It is not the intent of this article to discourage
or suppress requests for police service, but rather to encourage and stimulate
diligent and strict management and regulation of private property by owners
and/or rental agents in charge.
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings
indicated:
A person, persons, corporation or other entity who is (are) the comprising
record owner or owners of any land or building.
An amount fixed by the Township Commissioners to cover estimated
compensation of officers for amount of time normally spent in responding to
a call or otherwise maintaining order and public peace, appropriate administrative
costs, medical treatment to injured officers and the cost of repairing damaged
Township equipment or property. This amount shall be fixed from time to time
by resolution and shall be based upon an average cost for a typical police
response.
Any land or building, including single and multifamily dwellings
and commercial and industrial buildings, not owned by a public entity.
Any party, gathering, event or disturbance involving disorderly conduct
as described by the Pennsylvania Statutes.[1]
Any Federal, State or Local Government or School District or agency
or authority created and organized thereby.
Every owner of and/or rental agent with responsibility to manage private
property within the Township is required to pay police service costs to maintain
order and public peace at such private property for each response by the police
in excess of one response per thirty-day period. Such amount shall be fixed
by resolution of the Board of Commissioners. Provided, however, that police
service in connection with crimes against residents and/or property by nonresidents,
invited guests or otherwise lawful occupants of the private property shall
not be considered responses for purposes of this article. Provided further,
the police service in connection with spousal abuse or abuse of children by
parents, or service in connection with crimes classified as misdemeanors or
felonies under the Pennsylvania Crimes Code shall not be considered responses
for purposes of this article.
The Captain of Police or other duly authorized agent of the Township shall notify the owner of and/or rental agent with responsibility to manage private property that a response has been made to such property to maintain order or public peace. Such notice shall be given by regular mail to the last known address of such owner and/or rental agent. Provided, however, that an owner and/or rental agent with responsibility to manage private property shall be required to pay these service costs in accordance with § 220-10 of this article whether or not such a notice has been given.
Police service costs due in accordance with § 220-10 hereof shall be billed to the owner and/or rental agent with responsibility to manage private property by the Township Secretary or her duly authorized agent and shall be due and payable within 30 days of such billing.
Unpaid police service costs may be collected by civil action by the
Township against the owner and/or rental agent with responsibility to manage
private property and/or may be imposed or assessed such private property as
a municipal claim under the Act of May 16, 1923, P.L. 207, as amended (53
P.S. § 7101). In either event, a penalty of 10% and interest at
the rate of 10% per annum shall be added and collected as provided by law.
