[Ord. 1856, 5/28/1996, § 701]
For the purposes of this Part, the following terms shall have
the following meanings:
A communication to the Township Police Department, or a warning
sound audible outside the premises from which it is produced, indicating
that a crime, fire or other emergency situation warranting immediate
action by either the Fire Department or Police Department has occurred
or is occurring.
A mechanical, electrical or electronic device designed to
automatically sound an alarm or to transmit an alarm by wire, telephone,
radio or other means:
Any person or entity engaging in any enterprise for profit.
An alarm to which either the Fire Department or Police Department
responds resulting from the activation of an alarm device to the Police
Department when a crime, fire or other emergency warranting immediate
action by either the Fire Department or the Police Department has
not, in fact, occurred.
Any fire company serving any portion of Harrison Township.
A person to whom the Township has issued a permit pursuant
to the terms of this Part.
Any individual, corporation, partnership, incorporated association
or other similar entity.
The Police Department of the Township of Harrison.
[Ord. 1856, 5/28/1996, § 702]
No property owner, tenant or other person occupying premises
within the Township may install, or cause the installation of, an
alarm device after the effective date of this Part without first obtaining
a permit from the Township to do so. No person may install, or cause
the installation of, an alarm device serving premises outside the
Township which results in the activation of an alarm device directly
to the Police Department after the effective date of this Part without
first obtaining a permit from the Township to do so in the event that
such alarm device triggers an alarm. A permit shall also be required
for the revision or upgrading of an existing alarm device. A permit
shall also be required to maintain an alarm device in place before
the effective date of this Part. Such permit need not be obtained
until 90 days after the effective date of this Part.
[Ord. 1856, 5/28/1996, § 703; as amended by Ord.
1864, 2/24/1997, § 1]
1.
The Township Police Chief will be in charge of administering all
matters pertaining to permit issuance and revocation. The Ordinance
Enforcement Officer, or such other Township officer as may be designated
by resolution, is authorized and directed to enforce this Part. The
Township shall be empowered to require any person applying for a permit
to follow such reasonable rules and regulations in the installation
and maintenance of the alarm device as the Township Police Chief shall
promulgate to carry out the purposes of this Part; provided, however,
that such rules and regulations shall require that person to comply
with the following:
A.
List of Names. That person shall agree, as a condition to obtaining
of the permit, to give the Township the names of at least two individuals
having access to the premises serviced by the alarm device and to
the alarm device itself in the event that such individuals do not
reside at the premises and are authorized to enter the premises at
any time, except where the Police Department itself has keys to the
premises and is adequately informed how to operate the alarm device.
2.
Commercial premises with fire alarm systems that do not have personnel
on premises 24 hours a day, seven days per week, shall install a Knox
Box Access System, or equivalent, providing the keys to the Knox Box
to the Fire Department.
3.
A permit may be denied for failure of the applicant to supply the
required information or fee or for failure of the alarm device to
be properly installed. In the event that more than 10 false alarms
occur at any premises in one calendar year, or if the Police Chief
has cause to believe that a permit holder has intentionally caused
a false alarm or has violated any regulation pertaining to alarm permits,
the Police Chief may, in writing, revoke a permit which has been issued.
Permit denials or revocations shall state the reason therefor.
4.
Any person aggrieved by a permit denial or revocation may, within
30 days of such denial or revocation, appeal by requesting a Local
Agency Law hearing in front of the Board of Commissioners. The request
shall be in writing and be filed with the Township Secretary.
[Ord. 1858, 5/28/1996, § 704]
Fees for obtaining a permit will be fixed by the Board of Commissioners,
which may do so by way of resolution.
[Ord. 1856, 5/28/1996, § 705; as amended by Ord.
1864, 2/24/1997, § 2]
A permit holder, or the owner of an alarm device that does not
have a permit, shall be subject to being fined in accordance with
the following schedule for each false alarm triggered by the alarm
device:
A.
First Through Third False Alarms. The first three false alarms in
a twenty-four-month period commencing on the date of the first false
alarm; no fine for permit holders; $50 for false alarms from devices
not covered by a permit.
B.
Fourth Through Sixth False Alarms. The fourth through sixth false
alarms in a twenty-four-month period commencing on the date of the
first false alarm; $200 per false alarm for permit holders; $250 for
false alarms from devices not covered by permit.
C.
Calls Beyond the Sixth. All false alarms beyond the sixth in a twenty-four-month
period commencing on the date of the first false alarm; $300 per false
alarm for permit holders; $350 for false alarms from devices not covered
by a permit.
D.
Enforcement Costs. Any cost incurred by the Township for enforcement
of this Part and collection of the fines shall be charged to the permit
holder or owner of the alarm device.
[Ord. 1856, 5/28/1996, § 706; as amended by Ord.
1864, 2/24/1997, § 3]
Each owner of an alarm device triggering false alarms and each
permit holder with an alarm device triggering false alarms shall be
informed in writing by the Township Police Chief, or his delegate,
of the third and subsequent false alarms generated at a particular
premises within a twenty-four-month period since the first false alarm.
The notice shall state the amount of fines due and owing and shall
give the permit holder or the owner of the alarm device the opportunity
to pay the fines then due within a specified time to avoid prosecution.
[Ord. 1856, 5/28/1996, § 707]
The fines or penalties for each and every such violation or
failure shall be limited as follows:
A.
False Alarm. The fine for a false alarm may in no event exceed the
fine prescribed in § 705.
B.
Other Provisions. The fine for each and every failure to obtain a
permit under § 702 hereof, for each and every failure to
comply with any provision set forth in § 703 hereof and
for each and every failure to pay the fee for obtaining a permit under
§ 704 hereof shall not exceed $600 plus costs per each failure,
with each day of violation or failure constituting a separate violation.
[Ord. 1856, 5/28/1996, § 708]
An audible alarm system is an alarm system that produces an
alarm audible outside the premises from which it is produced; whether
or not such system transmits such alarm to the Township Police Department.
