[Ord. 1987-7, 6/15/1987]
This Part shall be known as the "Emergency Alarm Control Ordinance
of Doylestown Borough".
[Ord. 1987-7, 6/15/1987]
The purpose of this Part is to promote the health, safety, and
general welfare of the inhabitants of the Borough of Doylestown by
discouraging false alarms reported to the Police Department, fire
companies, and similar emergency services; and by controlling and
regulating automatic alarm systems and installations thereof.
[Ord. 1987-7, 6/15/1987]
ALARM BUSINESS — Any business operated by a
person, partnership, corporation, or other business entity for profit
which engages in the activity of altering, installing, leasing, maintaining,
repairing, replacing, selling, servicing, monitoring or responding
to burglary, holdup, fire, medical emergency, or similar emergency,
alarm systems, or which causes these activities to take place.
Any electronic or mechanical device which upon receipt or
detection of a stimulus or signal characteristic of a fire, intrusion,
or other emergency situation, automatically transmits a prerecorded
voice or other alarm signal over telephone lines by direct or indirect
connection; or which causes a visual or audible signal to be generated
which can be detected from outside the premises in which it is installed
and which is intended to result in the summoning of an Emergency Service
Agency. Indirect connection includes answering services and all other
persons monitoring and relaying information to an Emergency Service
Agency
The Central Bucks Regional Police Department, volunteer fire
companies operating within Doylestown Borough, rescue squads, ambulance
companies, and any other similar service or agency.
[Amended by Ord. 2013-15, 12/16/2013]
Any signal activated by an AAD, or any other kind of direct
or indirect signal given or caused to be given to an Emergency Service
Agency to which Emergency Service Agency personnel respond and which
is not the result of a burglary, fire, injury, robbery, or similar
emergency. For the purpose of this part, any alarm transmitted or
activated by an AAD without physical sign of entry, fire, or other
emergency shall be considered a false alarm.
Any resident, person, corporation, partnership, institution,
company, or other entity which has installed an AAD designed or intended
to alert an Emergency Service Agency and to elicit their response.
[Ord. 1987-7, 6/15/1987]
1.
Within 30 days from the effective date of this Part, every user of
an AAD shall register with the Chief of Police of the Central Bucks
Regional Police Department on a form provided by the Police Department,
any existing or new installation of an AAD. The information to be
provided shall include the following:
[Amended by Ord. 2013-15, 12/16/2013]
A.
The name, residence address, and telephone number of the user.
B.
The address where the AAD is installed and the telephone number of
that address.
C.
The names, addresses, and telephone numbers of at least two persons
who are authorized to gain entry into the protected premises, and
who are available to respond within 30 minutes of notification.
D.
The name, address, and telephone number of the alarm equipment supplier
and person responsible for maintenance and repair of the AAD.
2.
All information furnished pursuant to this section shall be kept
confidential and shall be for the exclusive use of the Police Department.
3.
Each user shall register the operation of an AAD with the Chief of
Police. A fee of $5 shall be paid for each such registration or such
other fee as Borough Council shall impose from time to time by Resolution.
4.
Each registrant of an AAD shall be given a notice summarizing the
provisions of this Part.
[Ord. 1987-7, 6/15/1987]
1.
The following schedule for false alarms within a one-year period
and fees therefor shall apply; provided, however, that Borough Council
may, from time to time, change said fees by Resolution.
|
Within a One-Year Period
|
Fee
| |
|---|---|---|
|
1
|
Notice
| |
|
2
|
Notice
| |
|
3
|
Notice
| |
|
4
|
$10
| |
|
5
|
$25
| |
|
6
|
$50
| |
|
7
|
$75
| |
|
8 or more
|
$100 for each false alarm
|
2.
For the first three false alarms within a one-year period, the Police
Department shall send a suitable notice of the false alarm to the
user of the AAD generating is causing the false alarm at his mailing
address if known, or to the address of the location at which the AAD
is located. After the third false alarm in a one-year period, the
Police Department shall send a suitable notice to the user advising
him of the fee, the amount to be paid to the Borough therefor, the
time limitations for payment, the place of payment, and that failure
to pay the fee within the prescribed time is a violation of this Part.
3.
The fee shall be paid by the user within 10 days of notice, to the
Borough of Doylestown.
4.
Failure to pay any fee as described in this section shall be a violation
of this part subject to the penalties provided in § 509.
Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Part, a grace period
of 30 days shall be permitted for any new installation of an AAD,
provided that a permit for such AAD has been obtained as set forth
in this Part. During the 30 day grace period, which shall begin on
the day that the installation is completed, no false alarms will be
considered for purposes of determining fees for false alarms as set
forth in § 505.
[Ord. 1987-7, 6/15/1987]
1.
The sensory mechanism used in connection with any AAD must be designed
and adjusted to suppress false indications of intrusion or fire so
that the device will not be activated by impulses due to momentary
pressure changes in water pipes, normal changes in atmospheric pressure
or humidity, flashes of light, normal rattling or vibrating of doors
and windows, the vibrations to the premises caused by passing vehicles,
or any other occurrence not related to a genuine emergency. All such
devices must be maintained by the user in good repair to insure maximum
reliability of operation and minimum occurrences of false alarms.
2.
AADs which use automatic telephone dialing mechanisms shall transmit
a message approved by the Chief of Police. Such AADs shall not make
more than two telephone calls to an Emergency Service Agency during
any one cycle of the alarm function. The message shall be no longer
than 15 seconds in duration, and shall not be repeated more than twice.
3.
AADs which generate an audible alarm which can be heard outside the
premises in which the AAD is installed shall be designed to stop generating
the audible alarm after 30 minutes of operation. After 90 days of
the effective date of this Part all audible alarms not in compliance
with this section shall be unlawful and must be disconnected.
[Ord. 1987-7, 6/15/1987]
1.
All Alarm Businesses operating within Doylestown Borough shall obtain
a permit from the Chief of Police, and pay a fee of $25 for each year
in which they operate within the Borough. The permit fee may be changed
from time to time by Resolution of Borough Council.
2.
It shall be unlawful for any Alarm Business or its representatives
to represent to any customer, user, or sales prospect that Doylestown
Borough or the Central Bucks Regional Police Department endorses,
recommends or otherwise approves of the Alarm Business's service or
equipment. It shall be unlawful to represent that the Borough or the
Central Bucks Regional Police Department furnished any information
concerning any customer, user or sales prospect to the Alarm Business
or its representatives.
[Amended by Ord. No. 2013-15, 12/16/2013]
3.
It shall be unlawful to conduct a test or demonstration of any AAD
without the permission of the Chief of Police or his designate. No
permission is required, however, if the alarm or signal will not cause
the response of an Emergency Service Agency.
[Ord. 1987-7, 6/15/1987; as amended by Ord. 2013-15, 12/16/2013]
Failure of any person, corporation, partnership, business, institution,
or other entity to comply with the provisions of this Part or any
section thereof shall constitute an offense punishable by a fine of
not more than $300, payable to the Central Bucks Regional Police Department,
or 30 days' imprisonment, or both. Failure to pay a false alarm fee
within the prescribed time limits shall result in a penalty in addition
to the amount of the fee assessed.
[Ord. 1987-7, 6/15/1987]
It is declared to be the intention of Doylestown Borough that
if a Court of competent jurisdiction declares any provision of this
part to be invalid or ineffective in whole or in part, the effect
of such a decision shall be limited to those provisions which are
expressly stated to be invalid or ineffective, and all other provisions
of this part shall continue to be separated and fully effective.
