Borough of Matamoras, PA Alarm Systems

Any device designed to use for detection of intrusion into a building, structure or facility or for alerting persons in the attempt or commission of a crime or any emergency situation involving potential death or serious injury and which is directly connected to an audible alarm for the transmission of a related signal or message which is used to evoke an emergency response to any address or separate component of any system.

NUISANCE ALARM

The activation of an alarm system due to other than the said purpose for which the alarm system is designed. Any activation of an alarm system caused by its malfunction because of violent natural catastrophic conditions, including electrical storms or power outages, or conditions beyond the control of the property owner will not constitute a "nuisance alarm."

§ 36-2 Application required.

Any property owner wishing to install an alarm system shall file with the Matamoras Police Department, on forms provided by the Borough of Matamoras, a written application stating the name, address and telephone number of the property owner/applicant; a description of the property or properties where the proposed alarm system shall be installed; the location and street address of the property; a description of the type or types of alarm system(s) to be used, including name and model number of the manufacturer; the name of the person or company who will install the alarm system; the name, address and telephone number of any person or company who or which, in the owner's absence, will be available to be contacted in the event of an alarm activation. In the event that the name, mailing address or telephone number of the person or company to be contacted changes, the applicant shall supply this information to the Matamoras Police Department within five (5) days of the change. In case there is more than one (1) building in which the alarm system shall be installed, the applicant must provide the borough with information concerning how the alarm for each building shall be distinguishable from the alarm in said other building. The property owner or his designee, upon the request of the Matamoras Police Department, shall be required to be present at the alarm location within a reasonable period of time after being advised that the police or other emergency departments have received a signal or message of an alarm activation.

Any property owner who presently has an alarm system shall register his name with the Matamoras Police Department and provide said Department with all the information requested under § 36-2A of this chapter, if applicable. The property owner or his designee, upon request of the Matamoras Police Department, shall be required to be present at the alarm location within a reasonable period of time after being advised that the police or other emergency departments have received a signal or message of alarm activation.

§ 36-3 Transfer of permits.

Alarm permits shall not be transferable from one property owner to another or from one location to another without the express written authorization from the Matamoras Police Department. In the event that the premises in which the alarm system has been installed is to be transferred to another individual, it shall be the responsibility of the permittee to notify the Matamoras Police Department of the name, address and telephone number of said transferee.

Any individual who obtains title to premises in which an alarm system has been installed shall register his name with the Matamoras Police Department and provide said Department with all information requested under § 36-2A of this chapter, if applicable.

§ 36-4 Alarm permit fees.

Every person applying for an alarm permit under the provisions of this chapter shall pay a fee of twenty-five dollars ($25.) to obtain the permit prior to the installation of the alarm system on the premises.

Any individual who presently owns or obtains title to premises in which an alarm system has already been installed shall pay the fee of ten dollars ($10.) to register his name, address, telephone number and the individual to be contacted in case of the activation of the alarm system.

All fees shall be made payable to the Borough of Matamoras.

§ 36-5 Suspension of permit.

A permit shall be suspended within fifteen (15) days after a permittee receives written notice from the Matamoras Police Department that three (3) nuisance alarms have occurred on said permittee's premises within a period of thirty (30) days. The suspension of the permit will be lifted when the permittee gives proof that the alarm system has been repaired.

§ 36-6 Violations and penalties.

If any nuisance alarm occurs on any property owner's premises after three (3) nuisance alarms have occurred on said premises within a period of thirty (30) days, upon conviction before a District Magistrate, said property owner will be sentenced to pay a fine of not more than one hundred dollars ($100.) per nuisance alarm that occurred after the first three (3) alarms, together with the cost of prosecution.

Any person who shall violate or fail to meet any of the provisions of the chapter, upon conviction before a District Magistrate, will be sentenced to pay a fine not more than three hundred dollars ($300.), together with the cost of the prosecution, and in default thereof shall undergo imprisonment in the county jail for a period not to exceed ninety (90) days.

§ 36-7 Confidentiality.

The information furnished and secured pursuant to this chapter shall be confidential in character and shall be so kept in order that the contents thereof shall not be known except to persons charged with the administration of this chapter.

§ 36-8 Compliance required for existing systems.

Owners of alarm systems existing at the time of the adoption of this chapter shall have a period of sixty (60) days to comply with all provisions hereof.