[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Council of the Township of Lower
by Ord. No. 83-21 (Sec. 3-21 of the 1975 Code). Amendments noted where applicable.]
The purpose of this chapter is to provide standards and regulations for the installation and maintenance of alarm systems as defined in § 153-2 below.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings
indicated:
A record of the locations of the alarm systems as maintained in the
radio room of the Township Police Department.
Any and all equipment installed within the Township for the purpose
of transmitting a signal or alarm to the attention of the Police Department
for the purpose of obtaining a response from the Police and/or Fire Departments
of the Township.
Any device which generates an audible sound when activated.
The activation of an alarm system through mechanical failure, malfunction,
improper installation or negligence of the owner or operator of an alarm system.
An alarm signal transmitted by an alarm system utilizing the telephone
lines.
A.
Prior to installation of any alarm system, the owner
and/or operator thereof shall make application with the Chief of Police of
the Township for permission to install said system.
B.
The applicant shall set forth the address of the premises
to contain the alarm system; the name and address of the owner of said premises;
the name of any and all lessees of said premises; a precise description of
the alarm system to be installed, including make, model and type of system;
and such other information as may be deemed necessary by the Chief of Police,
in his sole discretion.
C.
The Chief of Police shall review the said application
and determine, in his sole discretion, whether to approve or disapprove said
alarm system.
D.
In the event that the Chief of Police shall approve the
system, he shall issue said approval in writing to the applicant. In the event
the Chief of Police shall reject the said applicant, he shall so advise the
applicant in writing.
E.
In the event that the applicant is rejected by the Chief
of Police, subsequent installment of the alarm system, without approval, by
the said applicant shall be deemed a violation of this chapter.
F.
The information contained in the said application shall
be deemed confidential and shall be available only to permanent employees
of the Lower Township Department of Public Safety.
[Amended by Ord. No. 84-1; Ord. No. 85-29]
The owner and/or operator of each telephonic alarm system currently
or subsequently installed within the confines of the Township of Lower shall
pay a license fee of $25. Alarms that do not submit automatic calls to the Police
Department are not required to pay the registration of $25, but must register.
Said license fee shall be due and payable on August 1 of each calendar year.
Said license fee shall be in addition to any fees paid to any private alarm
company owning and maintaining equipment in the Township police building.
A.
All alarm systems within the confines of the Township
shall contain an appropriate device or mechanism which shall cause said system
to deactivate within 15 minutes of its activation. Any alarm system which
fails to deactivate within 15 minutes of its activation on two separate occasions
during any one-year period shall constitute conclusive proof that said system
does not contain the required mechanism or device. The Township Police Department
shall maintain a log setting forth the date and time of activation and deactivation
of each alarm system within the Township.
B.
No person or entity shall test an alarm system which
will generate a response from any Police or Fire Department within the confines
of the Township without giving prior written notice to the Chief of Police
and/or Chief of the Fire Department or departments, as the case may be.
C.
No person shall activate an alarm system within the confines
of the Township for the purpose of timing the response of the Police Department
and/or any Fire Department of the Township.
D.
All telephone alarms shall be installed to ring the Police
Department on a special telephone line. The numbers will be provided upon
application.
E.
Act of God shall be an acceptable defense to any purported
violation of this chapter.
[Amended by Ord. No. 85-29]
A.
The owner and/or operator of any alarm system within the Township causing four false alarms in any one calendar year shall be in violation of this chapter. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to apply to § 153-5C above.
B.
The Chief of Police may, in his sole discretion, revoke
the license of the owner of any telephonic alarm system which he deems not
to be in proper working order. The Chief of Police may, in his sole discretion,
require whatever repairs he deems necessary prior to reissuance of said license.
A.
Any person found guilty of § 153-5C of this chapter shall be fined not less than $250 nor more than $500 or imprisoned for a period of not less than 90 days, or both.
B.
Any person convicted of any other section of this chapter shall
be subject to a fine of not more than $500 or imprisoned for a term of not
more than 90 days, or both.
