[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Supervisors of the Township of Warwick 3-6-2000 by Ord. No. 2000-1[1]; amended in its entirety 8-6-2012 by Ord. No. 2012-7. Subsequent amendments noted where applicable.]
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance also superseded former Ch. 41, Alarm Systems.
For the purpose of this chapter, certain words and phrases are defined as follows:
ALARM BUSINESS
Any business operated by a person, partnership, corporation or other business entity for profit which engages in the activity of altering, installing, leasing, maintaining, repairing, replacing, selling, servicing, monitoring or responding to burglar, holdup or fire alarm systems, or which causes these activities to take place.
ALARM SYSTEM
Any mechanical, electrical or electronic device which is designed or used for the detection of an unauthorized entry into a building, structure or facility or for alerting others about the commission of an unlawful act within a building, structure or facility or for alerting others about the existence of any other condition requiring response of police, fire or ambulance personnel and which emits and/or transmits an audible or visual signal or message when activated. Alarm system includes but is not limited to direct-dial telephone devices, automatic protection devices, audible alarms and subscriber alarms.
DIRECT-DIAL ALARM
A device that, when activated, causes a recorded message to be transmitted, via telephone, to any emergency service, including but not limited to fire companies, ambulance, rescue squad and/or police departments serving any Warwick Township residence or business, stating that emergency response is necessary.
EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBER
That primary phone number advertised to the public for requesting emergency services.
FALSE ALARM
An alarm signal necessitating response by the emergency agency where an emergency situation does not exist. An alarm that has been activated by an external source that is beyond the reasonable control of the subscriber shall not be considered false.
POLICE
The Warwick Township Police Department.
A. 
Audible alarms.
(1) 
Audible alarms must be silenced within 15 minutes after a designated responsible person is notified by the police to do so.
(2) 
The alarm system shall be equipped with a timing device that will automatically silence the audible alarm within 15 minutes after it is activated.
B. 
The direct-dial alarms shall not be connected to the emergency agency emergency phone number. A secondary phone number may be provided by the responding agency for direct-dial alarms only. Direct-dial alarms must be equipped with a device that will prevent more than three repeated transmissions of an alarm for the same emergency.
C. 
All persons installing a commercial or business fire alarm shall file an application for installation of such device, with an application fee in accordance to the Township Fee Schedule,[1] prior to the installation of the device. Such installation shall be inspected by a representative of Warwick Township prior to being placed into service.
[1]
Editor's Note: The Warwick Township Fee Schedule is on file in the Township office. See also Ch. 81, Fees.
A. 
All information furnished pursuant to this section shall be kept confidential and shall be for the exclusive use of the police and fire departments.
B. 
Any police officer investigating an alarm activation will leave a written notice of alarm investigation including the time and date of the violation.
C. 
Upon receipt of the second false alarm the Warwick Township Police Department will send notice of the false alarm to the registered user. The notice shall be sent by first class mail to the owner of the property, stating the time, date and number of violations received to date.
D. 
Upon receipt of the third false alarm activated within a twelve-month period, the Warwick Township Police Department shall send, by first class mail, notice to the owner of the property indicating the time, date and number of violations received to date, along with a warning that subsequent false alarms within a twelve-month period may result in penalties or prosecution under applicable state law.
E. 
Upon receipt of the fourth or more false alarm within a twelve-month period, the Warwick Township Police Department shall send notice to the owner of the property by certified mail, including a penalty in accordance with the Township Fee Schedule.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: The Warwick Township Fee Schedule is on file in the Township office. See also Ch. 81, Fees.
F. 
In the event the owner of the property fails or refuses, after receipt of the notices set forth in Subsections B through E, to pay the required fees and take measures to cause the false alarms to cease, or if the property owner fails to comply with any other provision of this chapter, the Township may file a citation for violation of this chapter. Any owner, lessee or user found guilty in a summary procedure before a District Justice of violating any section of this chapter other than the provision regulating the number of false alarms shall be fined not less than $300 nor more than $600.