For the purposes of this chapter the following terms are defined as
follows:
ALARM
A communication indicating or warning that a crime, fire or other
emergency situation warranting immediate action by the Borough Police, local
fire company or local emergency medical services personnel has occurred or
is occurring.
ALARM DEVICE
A privately owned and operated or a leased electronic, electrical,
mechanical or similar device desired to transmit an alarm by wire, telephone,
radio, audible signal (bell, siren or buzzer) or other means to the Borough
Police, local fire company, local emergency medical services personnel, any
person or firm who or which is instructed to notify the Borough Police, local
fire company or emergency medical services personnel, or any person who is
within the sound transmitting distance limits of such an audible signal. Notwithstanding
the aforesaid, a device designed solely to detect smoke and/or heat and not
connected to a central alarm system shall not be deemed to be an "alarm device."
ALARM DEVICE PERMIT
A permit issued by the Borough Police for the installation and/or
operation of an alarm device.
BOROUGH
The Borough of Kutztown, Berks County, Pennsylvania.
BOROUGH POLICE
The Police Department of the Borough of Kutztown, Berks County, Pennsylvania
or, in the the event of an alarm, the Police Department requested to respond
to an alarm device activation.
FALSE ALARM
An alarm to which the Borough Police, local fire company or local
emergency services personnel respond, resulting from the activation of an
alarm device, when it appears that a crime, fire or other emergency warranting
immediate action by the Borough Police, local fire company or local emergency
medical services personnel has not occurred at the premises where the alarm
was transmitted. Notwithstanding the aforesaid, the activation of an alarm
device caused by an interruption or failure of electrical power supplied by
the borough or any other utility company shall not be deemed a "false alarm."
INTENTIONAL FALSE ALARM
An alarm resulting from the intentional activation of an alarm device
by an individual under circumstances where the individual had no reasonable
basis to believe that a crime, fire or other emergency warranting immediate
action by the Borough Police, local fire company or local emergency medical
services personnel has occurred or was occurring.
NEW INSTALLATION
A business or residence at which an alarm device has been installed
where an alarm device previously did not exist, or a business or residence
which has made a major change to the existing alarm device in respect to sensory
devices, control panels, audible signals, transmission devices or any combination
of the aforementioned system components, or where the ownership or control
of any business operating a preexisting alarm device has changed.
PERMIT HOLDER
A person to whom the Borough Police has issued an alarm device permit.
PERSON
An individual, corporation, partnership, incorporated association,
trust or other legal entity.
It shall be unlawful to cause or knowingly permit an intentional false
alarm.
Any person who shall violate any of the terms or provisions of this
chapter shall, upon conviction before any District Justice, be fined an amount
not less than fifty dollars ($50.) nor more than six hundred dollars ($600.),
and in default of payment of such fine, be imprisoned for not more than thirty
(30) days.