[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Supervisors of the Township of
Pine 6-5-2006 by Ord. No. 334.[1] Amendments noted above applicable.]
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance also repealed former Ch. 91, Alarm Devices,
adopted 12-5-2005 by Ord. No. 328.
A.
ALARM
ALARM DEVICE
ALARM SYSTEM
FALSE ALARM
PERSON
POLICE DEPARTMENT
YEAR
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have
the meanings indicated, unless a different meaning clearly appears from the
context:
A communication to the Police Department or Fire Departments which
serve the Township of Pine indicating that a crime or fire or other emergency
situation warranting immediate action by such Police Department or Fire Departments
has occurred or is occurring.
A self-contained device present inside a building and which is designed
to detect the presence of smoke, heat, carbon monoxide or motion and to then
emit a sound audible within the building to warn persons therein of such presence.
A system designed to automatically transmit an alarm, by wire, telephone,
radio or other means, to the County of Allegheny's 911 Dispatch Center or
to a person who is instructed to so notify the County of Allegheny's 911 Dispatch
Center of the alarm or to activate a bell or other sounding device to be heard
outside a building and which is intended to alert the police or others to
the existence of a crime or fire or other emergency situation warranting immediate
official response.
An alarm to which the Fire Department and/or Police Department serving the Township of Pine responds and which results from the activation of an alarm system or alarm device when a crime, fire or other emergency warranting immediate action by such Police Department or Fire Department has not in fact occurred. For the purpose of the imposition of charges set forth in § 91-2 of this chapter concerning false alarms to which the Fire Department serving the Township of Pine responds, a "response" by such Fire Department shall not be deemed to have occurred until and unless its emergency equipment actually arrives at the scene or site of the alleged emergency in answer to a fire false alarm.
An individual, corporation, partnership, unincorporated association
or other similar entity.
The Northern Regional Police Department of Allegheny County.
Calendar year.
B.
In this chapter, the singular shall include the plural;
the plural shall include the singular; and the masculine shall include the
feminine and the neuter.
A.
Any person causing or reporting accidental false alarms
for any reason or the permit holder of an alarm system that transmits a false
alarm for any reason shall pay a charge for each and every false alarm to
which such Police Department and/or Fire Departments serving the Township
of Pine responds, in each calendar year, as follows:
(1)
Police false alarm (payable to the Northern Regional
Police Department of Allegheny County):
(a)
First false alarm from an alarm system, each calendar
year: $50 or proof of yearly maintenance contract in effect.
(b)
Second false alarm, each calendar year: $50.
(c)
Third false alarm, each calendar year: $75.
(d)
Fourth false alarm, each calendar year: $100.
(e)
Each false alarm in excess of four, each calendar year:
the amount of the charge assessed for the immediately preceding false alarm
during that calendar year, plus an additional $25.
(2)
Fire false alarm (payable to the Township of Pine).
(a)
First false alarm from an alarm system, each year: $100
or proof of yearly maintenance contract in effect.
(b)
First false alarm from an alarm device, each year: $100 or proof, acceptable to the Township of Pine and submitted within 30 days from the date of the notification described in Subsection D of this section, of the repair or replacement of the alarm device from which the false alarm originated.
(c)
All other false alarms each year: $300 per false alarm.
B.
When a false alarm to which the Police Department responds
shall occur, the Police Department which serves the Township of Pine shall,
within 45 days from the date of the false alarm, notify the permit holder
for the alarm system or owner of the alarm device from which the false alarm
originated or other person causing said false alarm that a police false alarm
charge is due and the amount thereof. Such notice shall be in writing and
mailed by regular mail, postage paid, to the last known address of the permit
holder, owner of the alarm device, or other person causing said false alarm.
C.
A police false alarm charge shall be due to (and payable
at the headquarters of) the Police Department which serves the Township of
Pine (230 Pearce Mill Road) 30 days from the date of the mailing of the notice
of assessment of the charge.
D.
When a false alarm to which the Fire Department which
serves the Township of Pine responds, the Township of Pine shall, within 45
days from the date of such false alarm, notify the permit holder for the alarm
system or owner of the alarm device from which the false alarm originated
or other person causing said false alarm that a fire false alarm charge is
due and the amount thereof. Such notice shall be in writing and mailed by
regular mail, postage paid, to the last known address of the permit holder,
owner of the alarm device, or other person causing said false alarm.
E.
A fire false alarm charge shall be due to (and payable
at its Municipal Building, 230 Pearce Mill Road) the Township of Pine 30 days
from the date of the mailing of the notice of assessment of the charge.
No person shall conduct or test any alarm device without first obtaining
permission from the Police Department which serves the Township of Pine. Where
the equipment is keyed through an intermediary, no such permission is necessary
unless the alarm or signal is to be relayed to the central receiving station.
The issuance of a permit for an alarm system shall not constitute acceptance
by the Township of Pine of any liability to maintain any such equipment, to
answer alarms nor otherwise render the Township of Pine liable to any person
for any loss or damage relating to the alarm system or procedure.
Administration and enforcement of this chapter shall be the functions
of the Township of Pine and the Police Department which serves it (to the
respective extents specified herein).
Any person, firm or corporation who shall violate any provision of this chapter or who shall fail to pay a charge for a false alarm shall, upon conviction before a District Justice, be sentenced to pay a fine of not more than $500, which amount shall be in addition to any charge imposed pursuant to § 91-2 of this chapter.
