[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Supervisors of the Township of
North Coventry 6-11-1990 by Ord. No. 89.
Amendments noted where applicable.]
A.
ALARM
ALARM DEVICE
DISPATCHER
FALSE ALARM
FIRE COMPANY
PERSON
POLICE DEPARTMENT
TOWNSHIP
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have
the meanings indicated, unless a different meaning clearly appears from the
context:
An audible signal emitted by a warning device indicating that a crime,
fire or other emergency situation warranting immediate action by the Police
Department or Fire Company has occurred or is occurring. This definition shall
include, but shall not be limited to those alarm devices which provide for
a telephoned warning message to the Pottstown Police Dispatch Center or the
Chester County Emergency Services Center.
An electrical, electronic or mechanical device designed to automatically
transmit an alarm by wire, telephone, radio or other means (1) to a person
who is instructed to notify the dispatcher of the alarm, or (2) to activate
a bell or sounding device to be heard outside a building which is intended
to alert the police or others to the existence of a crime, fire or other emergency
situation warranting police or Fire Company action.
The Pottstown Police Dispatch Center and the Chester County Emergency
Services Center, or either of them.
An alarm to which the Police Department or Fire Company respond resulting
from the activation of an alarm device when a crime, fire or other emergency
warranting immediate action by the Police Department or Fire Company has not
in fact occurred.
The Norco Fire Company and all members thereof.
An individual, corporation, partnership, incorporated association
or other similar entity.
The North Coventry Township Police Department and all the members
thereof.
North Coventry Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania, and its duly
authorized agents, servants or employees.
B.
In this chapter, the singular shall include the plural;
the plural shall include the singular; the masculine shall include the feminine
and the neuter.
A.
If an alarm device is connected to a system required
to transmit a message to the Communication Center, the duration of such message
shall not exceed 30 seconds. The contents of the message shall be intelligible
and in a format approved by North Coventry Township.
B.
An alarm device need not contain a delay service which
causes a delay to occur between the time the alarm device receives a triggering
stimulus and the time the alarm device transmits an alarm.
C.
An alarm device connected to a system required to transmit
a message to the dispatcher shall be designed to dial only specific telephone
numbers designated by the dispatcher, in conjunction with North Coventry Township.
D.
If an alarm device is designed to cause a bell, siren
or sound-making device to be activated on or near the premises on which the
alarm device is installed at the time it gives an alarm, said alarm device
shall be designed to deactivate the bell, siren or other sound-making device
after five minutes of operation. Preexisting units must be modified for a
five minute device unless said unit cannot be modified without replacement.
E.
All alarm devices shall meet the applicable standards
of the Underwriters Laboratories and/or the National Fire Protection Association,
and/or other recognized industry standards, and shall be permitted under this
chapter if in conformity thereto.
F.
The sensory mechanism used in connection with an alarm
device must be adjusted to suppress false indications of fire or intrusion,
so that the alarm device will not be activated by impulses due to transient
pressure change in water pipes, short flashes of light, wind noises such as
the rattling or vibrating of doors or windows, vehicular noise adjacent to
the premises, or other forces unrelated to genuine alarm situations.
G.
The alarm device must be maintained by the owner or occupant
of property protected by such alarm device in good repair to assure reliability
of operation.
A.
False alarms. No person owning or occupying any property
within the Township shall cause or allow to be caused a false alarm.
B.
Penalty for false alarms. Any person causing false alarms
for any reason shall pay to the Township a charge for each and every false
alarm to which the police and/or fire departments respond, in each calendar
year, as follows:
C.
When a false alarm occurs, the Township shall within
30 days from the date of the false alarm notify the person who owns or occupies
the property from which the false alarm emanated or other person causing said
false alarm that a false alarm occurred and whether a false alarm charge is
due and, if so, the amount thereof. Such notice shall be in writing and mailed
to the property owner or occupant and/or person causing said false alarm at
his last known address by regular mail, postage prepaid. Failure of the Township
to mail notice of assessment of a false alarm charge within 30 days from the
occurrence of a false alarm shall preclude the Township from assessing a false
alarm charge for said false alarm.
D.
A false alarm charge shall be due and payable at the
office of the Township 30 days from the date of the mailing of the notice
of assessment of the charge.
E.
Failure of a person who owned or occupied the property from which the false alarm emanated or the person who caused the false alarm to pay a false alarm charge on or before the date due shall constitute a violation of the chapter, and shall subject said person to the penalties set forth in § 100-7 hereof.
No person shall conduct or test any alarm device without first obtaining
permission from the Township. Where the equipment is keyed through an intermediary,
no such permission is necessary unless the alarm or signal is to be relayed
to the dispatcher.
Administration and enforcement of this chapter shall be functions of
the Township and shall include, but shall not be limited to, the following:
A.
Authority to order the disconnection of an alarm device
until such device is made to comply with operational standards set forth herein,
but only when evidence of failure to comply with said standards imposes a
burden upon the Township as a result of false alarms.
B.
Authority, at reasonable times and upon written notice,
to enter upon any premises within the Township to inspect the installation
and operation of an alarm device.
Whenever, under the provisions of this chapter, the Township is empowered
to make a decision with respect to the installation, operation, maintenance,
or disconnection of any alarm device, any person aggrieved by such decision
may, within 10 days following the decision, file a written appeal therefrom
with the Board of Supervisors of the Township, whereupon the Board of Supervisors
shall promptly conduct a hearing and affirm, modify or reverse the decision
appealed from. The decision of the Board of Supervisors shall be final.
Any person who violates or permits a violation of this chapter, 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 costs of prosecution. In default of payment thereof, the
defendant may be sentenced to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 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
chapter that is violated shall also constitute a separate offense.
