Township of Hellam, PA Alarms

A notification to a law enforcement agency, emergency medical services agency, or fire company that an alarm, either manual or automatic, has been activated at a particular alarm site warranting immediate emergency response by a law enforcement agency, fire department or emergency medical services agency.

[Amended 11-3-2011 by Ord. No. 2011-03]

ALARM DEVICE

A mechanical device designed to automatically transmit an alarm by wire, telephone, radio or other means:

(1)

To a person who is instructed to notify York County Control (911) of the alarm; or

(2)

To activate a bell or sounding device to be heard outside a building which is intended to alert the fire company or others to the existence of a fire or other emergency situation warranting Fire Department, law enforcement agency or emergency medical services agency action.

[Amended 11-3-2011 by Ord. No. 2011-03]

COMMERCIAL USE

Use of an alarm system in a building or structure designed for commercial, industrial, or other nonresidential use.

FALSE ALARM

An alarm to which the Fire Department, law enforcement agency or emergency medical services agency responds resulting from the activation of an alarm device when a fire or other emergency warranting immediate action by the Fire Department, law enforcement agency or emergency medical services agency has not in fact occurred.

[Amended 11-3-2011 by Ord. No. 2011-03]

FIRE DEPARTMENT

Any volunteer fire company recognized by Hellam Township to provide fire-fighting, emergency, and nonemergency service in the Township, and any other volunteer fire company which may be assisting or serving as a mutual aid company in the Township.

[Added 11-3-2011 by Ord. No. 2011-03]

HELLAM TOWNSHIP

Includes the Township of Hellam, its supervisors, officers, managers, employees, agents, and any fire department(s) serving it.

INTENTIONAL FALSE ALARM

A false alarm resulting from the intentional activation of an alarm device by an individual under circumstances where that individual has no reasonable basis to believe that a fire or other emergency, warranting immediate action by the Fire Department, law enforcement agency or emergency medical services agency, has occurred or is occurring.

[Amended 11-3-2011 by Ord. No. 2011-03]

LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY

The Hellam Township Police Department or any other authorized representative of the law enforcement agency.

[Added 11-3-2011 by Ord. No. 2011-03]

PERSON

An individual, company, corporation, partnership, incorporated association or other similar entity.

PREMISES

Any property situate in Hellam Township that is provided with fire, emergency, and other services, regardless of whether or not the property is owned by a person residing within Hellam Township.

RESIDENTIAL USE

Use of an alarm in a building or structure designed for occupation as a residence or domicile.

In this article, the singular shall include the plural; the plural shall include the singular; and the masculine shall include the feminine and the neuter.

§ 120-2 False alarms.

Intentional false alarms. No person shall create an intentional false alarm.

Accidental false alarm. No person shall cause an accidental false alarm.

False alarms.

[Amended 11-3-2011 by Ord. No. 2011-03]

(1)

Any person who causes a false alarm for any reason shall be subject to a charge, depending on the number of false alarms within a twelve-month period, not to exceed the following:

	Number of False Alarms	Charge
	First	$0
	Second	$0
	Third	$100
	Fourth	$200
	Fifth or more	$300

(2)

The charge may be waived for good cause.

Hellam Township will notify the alarm user in writing after each false alarm, with the amount of the fine for the false alarm and the penalties which may be assessed if a criminal prosecution is brought under § 120-6A.

[Amended 11-3-2011 by Ord. No. 2011-03]

A false alarm charge shall be due and payable at the municipal office of Hellam Township no later than 30 days from the date of the mailing of the notice of assessment of the charge.

Failure of a person causing a false alarm to pay a false alarm charge on or before the date due shall constitute a violation of this article, and shall subject said person to the penalties set forth in § 120-6 hereof.

§ 120-3 Testing.

No person shall conduct or test any alarm device without first notifying York County Control. Where the alarm is keyed through an intermediary, no such permission is necessary.

§ 120-4 Liability of municipality.

Hellam Township shall not be liable to any person for any loss or damage relating to the alarm device or procedure.

§ 120-5 Administration and enforcement.

Administration and enforcement of this article shall be functions of Hellam Township, or its duly authorized employees or agents.

§ 120-6 Violations and penalties.

Any person who violates or permits a violation of this article shall, upon conviction in a summary proceeding brought before a Magisterial District Judge under the Pennsylvania Rules of Criminal Procedure, be guilty of a summary offense and shall be punishable by a fine of not more than $1,000, plus all costs of prosecution, including, but not limited to, attorneys’ fees, and in default of payment thereof, shall be imprisoned for a term not to exceed 90 days. Each day or portion thereof that such violation continues or is permitted to continue shall constitute a separate offense, and each section of this article that is violated shall also constitute a separate offense.

[Amended 10-15-2009 by Ord. No. 2009-06]

This article, and the terms and conditions thereof, shall supplement the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and any other governmental unit or agency having jurisdiction over Hellam Township. The penalties provided for by this article shall be in addition to those other penalties imposed by law. Any and all persons implementing alarm devices in Hellam Township shall be required to comply with any and all applicable laws subsequently enacted by Hellam Township, the County of York, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States of America or any agency thereof.