[Adopted 9-11-1990 by Ord. 22-1990]
[Adopted 11-19-1990 by Ord. 25-1990]
As used in this article, the following terms
shall have the meanings indicated:
AUTOMATIC ALARM DEVICE
Any alarm system which communicates or transmits alarms or
prerecorded messages of intrusion, fire, smoke, flood or other peril
as a result of the activation of the system.
[Added 10-20-2009 by Ord. No. 15-2009]
ACT OF GOD
An electrical storm, lightening or other power fluctuation
or power surge beyond the control of the alarm system owner.
[Added 12-2-1991 by Ord. No. 14-1991]
FALSE ALARM
Any erroneous or unfounded communication or sound, whether
caused by a malfunction of an automatic alarm device, power failure
or inadvertence, negligence or intentional or unintentional act of
any person, firm or corporation, either directly or indirectly, to
a commercial alarm service or to any person causing the communication
of peril to the Township of Logan Fire and/or Police Department.
[Amended 12-2-1991 by Ord. No. 14-1991; 10-20-2009 by Ord. No. 15-2009]
PERSON
Any person, firm, partnership or corporation owning an automatic
alarm device within the scope of this article.
[Added 10-20-2009 by Ord. No. 15-2009]
PROPERTY OWNER
Any individual, entity, corporation, tenant or other person
having a legal interest in a property having an alarm system.
It is unlawful for a property owner to have
more than three false alarms at any one location in any calendar year.
[Amended 10-20-2009 by Ord. No. 15-2009]
Any person having knowledge of alarm activation
shall immediately notify the Logan Township Fire Department and/or
Police Department. The Police and/or Fire Department shall cause an
investigation to be made of all alarm activations, and a record of
same shall be kept on file.
It shall be the responsibility of all persons
that maintain alarm systems within the Township to prevent the transmission
of false alarms through training programs, periodic inspection and
maintenance of the alarm system.
[Amended 12-2-1991 by Ord. No. 14-1991; 3-16-1999 by Ord. No. 3-1999; 10-20-2009 by Ord. No. 15-2009]
A. For burglar alarms, the first through third false
alarms in one calendar year, the Logan Township Police Chief shall
issue warning letters to the property owner, and a record of same
shall be kept on file.
B. For burglar alarms, the fourth false alarm, a fine
of $250, plus court costs, shall be payable to the Township of Logan.
C. For each burglar alarm violation thereafter, fines shall be imposed in accordance with the schedule of fines listed in Subsection
H, plus court costs.
D. For fire alarms, The Logan Township Fire Marshal or Fire Department representative will issue a false alarm warning for all false alarms to the person on location representing the business. A copy of this form will be reviewed by the Fire Marshal. There shall be a fine as indicated in Subsection
H to be paid by the owner of the business located upon the premises where the alarm is situated beginning with the fourth and each subsequent false alarm thereafter in any calendar year.
E. A record of all false fire alarms shall be kept on
file for all fire alarms in the office of the Bureau of Fire Prevention.
F. Failure to pay a fire alarm penalty will result in
a written complaint from the Logan Township Bureau of Fire to the
Township of Logan Municipal Court for collection of penalties.
G. False alarm activations determined after investigation
by the Police and/or Fire Department to be caused by an act of God
shall not be penalized per the violation schedule.
H. Violations and penalties for false burglar and fire
alarms shall be imposed in accordance with the schedule of fines below,
plus court costs:
(1) First
through third: No fine.
(2) On the
fourth alarm a penalty of $250.
(3) On the
fifth alarm a penalty of $300.
(4) On the
sixth alarm a penalty of $350.
(5) On the
seventh alarm a penalty of $400.
(6) On the
eighth alarm a penalty of $450.
(7) On the
ninth alarm a penalty of $500.
(8) On the
10th alarm a penalty of $550.
(9) On the
11th alarm a penalty of $600.
(10) On
the 12th alarm a penalty of $650.
(11) On
the 13th alarm a penalty of $700.
(12) On
the 14th alarm a penalty of $750.
(13) On
the 15th alarm a penalty of $800.
(14) On
the 16th alarm a penalty of $850.
(15) On
the 17th alarm a penalty of $900.
(16) On
the 18th alarm a penalty of $950.
(17) On
the 19th alarm a penalty of $1,000.
When an investigation by the Logan Township
Police Department reveals a continued abuse of the privilege of having
an alarm system within the Township and a disregard of the owner for
taking remedial steps to avoid false alarms, the Chief of Police reserves
the right to disconnect any alarm system after giving notification
in writing to the owner. All persons, firms or corporations so notified
may appeal to the Township Council for a final decision.
The provisions of this article shall not apply
to the general alerting alarms that may be used by fire companies,
ambulance squads or other municipal agencies to summon response of
their members. The provisions of this article shall not apply to alarm
systems that are affixed to motor vehicles.