[Ord. 173, 11/28/1989, § 1; as amended by Ord.
277, 3/27/2001, § 1]
ALARM — A communication to any police, fire
department, control center or "911" system indicating a situation
warranting immediate action by the Fire or Police Department has occurred
or is occurring, whether communicated verbally or automatically through
the use of an alarm device.
A mechanical device designed to automatically transmit an
emergency alarm by wire, telephone, radio, or other means to the control
center.
The "911" or centralized communication center or centers,
including "911" system, for the geographical area of and surrounding
North Strabane Township for purposes of transmitting an emergency
communication or alarm device.
An alarm to which the Fire or Police Department responds,
resulting from a communication to the control center or from the activation
of an alarm device when no fire, crime or other emergency warranting
immediate action or response by either the Fire or Police Department
has occurred.
The Fire Department of North Strabane Township or any mutual
aid fire department responding within North Strabane Township.
An alarm device that transmits an alarm to a private agency
that, in turn, notifies the control center of the alarm.
A false alarm that results from the intentional activation
of an alarm device by an individual under circumstances where said
person has no reasonable basis to believe that a fire, crime or other
emergency warranting immediate action by the Fire or Police Department
has occurred or is occurring.
Any individual, syndicate, association, partnership, firm,
corporation, trust, estate, institution, agency, authority or other
entity recognized by law as the subject of rights and duties.
The Police Department of North Strabane Township or any assisting
police department responding within North Strabane Township.
[Ord. 173, 11/28/1989, § 2]
1.Â
It shall be unlawful for any real property owner, lessee of real
property or a person otherwise occupying a premises within North Strabane
Township to install an indirect alarm system on his or her premises
without first completing an indirect alarm system application at the
Township Building. The application form shall be prepared and furnished
by the Township. Upon completion by the applicant, the application
will be forwarded to the IGCO Control Center and maintained as part
of their records.
[Ord. 173, 11/28/1989, § 3; as amended by Ord.
240, 10/28/1997; and by Ord. 277, 3/27/2001, § 2]
1.Â
False alarm fees. Any persons who cause or allow to occur an accidental
or intentional false alarm for any reason shall pay to North Strabane
Township, in addition to any fees or costs that may be assessed by
another governmental entity, for each and every false alarm to which
the Police and/or Fire Department responds in each calendar year,
a fee or fees established by resolution of the Board of Supervisors.
The Board of Supervisors may, by resolution, change from time to time
the fees authorized by this section. If it is determined by the Fire
Chief or Chief of Police that such false alarm was set off by an unavoidable
cause, the fee shall not be imposed.
2.Â
Fines and penalties.
A.Â
Any person, firm or corporation who shall violate any provision of
this Part, upon conviction thereof in an action brought before a District
Justice 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. Whenever any person violating any of the provisions of this
Part is notified of such violation, in writing, by the Township Manager,
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.
B.Â
In addition to and not in lieu of the foregoing, the Township may
seek equitable and legal relief to compel compliance with this Part.
[Ord. 173, 11/28/1989, § 4]
This Part is enacted and adopted based on findings by the Board
of Supervisors that the Police Department and the North Strabane Volunteer
Fire Department are called to sites having alarm devices when, in
fact, the alarm is false or accidental, this unnecessarily involving
the expenditure of manpower and Township funds.
