[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Council of the Township
of Chester 9-8-1981 by Ord. No. 8:6-81. Amendments noted where
applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Police Department — See Ch. 41.
The purpose of this chapter is to provide for the establishment
and maintenance of an efficient, effective and uniform police and
fire alarm system within the Township of Chester and to provide standards
and regulations for alarm equipment, devices and systems to be installed
or connected within the township. It shall be the policy of the township
to encourage the installation of alarm devices as an aid to public
safety. To ensure appropriate response the Police Department requires
prior knowledge of all such systems connected, and the quality of
installation and maintenance must achieve minimum feasible false alarms.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
Any device designed or used for detection of unauthorized
entry or alerting others to the commission of an unlawful act, or
both, and the detection of fire or smoke or similar hazards.
[Amended 3-19-1996 by Ord. No. 96-4]
A.
No person shall install, maintain or cause to be installed or maintained
any police, fire or other emergency alarm system without first having
been issued a permit pursuant to the provisions of this chapter, except
that a smoke or heat detector system designed and intended solely
to alert the occupants of a building to a potential or imminent danger
shall not require a permit from the Police Department.
B.
All police, fire or other emergency alarm systems must meet all applicable
technical standards and requirements as defined by the Chief of Police.
No alarm shall be transmitted via the 9-1-1 emergency telephone system.
C.
This chapter shall also apply to all police and fire alarm systems
installed prior to the effective date hereof.
[Amended 3-19-1996 by Ord. No. 96-4]
A.
All applications for the issuance of a permit shall be made in writing
to the Chief of Police on an application form provided. All such permits
issued under this chapter shall expire on December 31 of the year
in which they are granted and are subject to renewal.
B.
The application form shall contain:
(1)
The name, address and telephone number of the applicant.
(2)
The location of the premises to be serviced.
(3)
The name of the installer.
(4)
The type of police alarm equipment.
(5)
The provisions relating to false alarms and testing procedures.
(6)
A list of persons to be contacted in the event of an alarm.
(7)
Such other information as required by the Chief of Police.
C.
The Chief of Police shall cause an investigation to be made, and
thereafter, provided the application has complied with all the terms
of this chapter and the rules and regulations promulgated and adopted
pursuant thereto, shall then issue a permit.
A.
No permit shall be granted except upon the following terms and conditions:
(1)
The applicant shall furnish and complete all information required
relating to the application and the police or fire alarm equipment
to be installed or connected and data relating to the prevention of
false alarms and testing procedures.
(2)
The applicant shall maintain the equipment in good condition and
repair, as needed.
B.
No permit shall be transferred or assigned in any manner.
C.
The permit is accepted upon the express condition that the applicant
shall indemnify and hold the Township of Chester harmless from any
and all damages arising out of the activities of the permittee and
the alarm contractor.
D.
The applicant, upon acceptance of such permit, thereby agrees to
hold and save harmless the Township of Chester, its agents or employees
from any and all liabilities whatsoever in connection with any such
police alarm equipment or the operation and maintenance of the said
alarm equipment.
Any permit issued under the provisions of this chapter may be
suspended or revoked by the Chief of Police for any violation of or
failure to comply with the provisions of this chapter or any rule
or regulation promulgated by the Chief of Police, including the following:
A.
The applicant willfully failed to and did not comply with a request
by a member of the Police Department to proceed immediately to the
premises.
B.
The applicant knowingly installed or maintained a faulty alarm system.
An inordinate number of false alarms shall be prima facie evidence
that such alarm device is knowingly a faulty device.
C.
The applicant has breached the terms and conditions of the permit.
No permit shall be revoked or suspended without giving 30 days'
notice, in writing, of such action and an opportunity to show cause
before the Chief of Police why such action should not be taken. Any
person aggrieved by the action or determination of the Chief of Police
in the denial of a permit or in the suspension or revocation of any
permit may appeal to the Mayor and Council of the Township of Chester.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Original Section 8, False alarms, was
repealed 6-1-1987 by Ord No. 8:6A-87.
[Amended 3-19-1996 by Ord. No. 96-4]
The fee for utilizing an alarm system that automatically dials
the telephone of the Police Department and then reproduces a prerecorded
message to report a robbery, burglary or other emergency shall be
$100 per year.
Each alarm system shall contain an automatic device that terminates
(deactivates the alarm condition) no longer than 15 minutes after
initiation.
B.
Such rules and regulations shall be made, prescribed and promulgated:
(1)
To sufficiently promote and ensure an effective and uniform police
and fire alarm system and proper installation and connection.
(2)
To provide for maintenance of records and efficient management of
the alarm system, the speedy and accurate operation and reporting
of alarms, minimizing mechanical failure, minimizing false alarms
and the consequential dangers of the same to citizens of the Township
of Chester.
(3)
For the proper monitoring of alarms and prompt response to such alarms.
(4)
For the prevention of jamming of the switchboard and the creation
of nuisances or other interference or hindrance with the proper operation
of duties of the Police Department.
C.
Said rules and regulations and all changes thereof shall be subject
to the approval of the Mayor and Council of the Township of Chester.
A.
Any person who shall install, cause to be installed or maintain an alarm system without a permit in violation of § 54-3A shall be subject to a fine not to exceed $50.
B.
Any person who shall connect or cause to be connected any equipment to the police department telephone system without a permit in violation of § 54-3B shall be subject to a fine not to exceed $250.
C.
A permittee shall be accountable for false alarms caused by equipment
failure or malfunction of the alarm system installed by the permittee's
alarm installer or the permittee's alarm maintenance company.
D.
A permittee shall not be held accountable for false alarms caused
by severe weather conditions, electrical malfunctions, malfunctions
of the alarm console located at a location designated by the Chief
of Police of Chester Township or malfunction at telephone lines used
to transport the alarm signal over which the permittee or the permittee's
alarm installer or maintenance company have no control.
E.
In the event of a false alarm, any person having knowledge thereof
shall immediately notify the Chester Township Police Department in
a manner to be prescribed by rules and regulations promulgated by
the Chief of Police of Chester Township as may be established from
time to time.[1] In addition, in the case of a false alarm, the Chief of
Police of Chester Township shall cause an investigation to be made
and keep a record of said alarms on file. For such false alarms, the
following penalties are herein prescribed:
(1)
For the first false alarm a written warning shall be issued by the
Chief of Police.
(2)
For the second false alarm occurring in any 12 month period, a fine
of $60 shall be paid to the Township of Chester.
(3)
For the third false alarm, and any subsequent false alarms, occurring
within a twelve-month period, a minimum fine at $50 up to a maximum
fine of $500 shall be paid to the Township of Chester.
F.
In the event of a third or subsequent false alarm within any twelve-month
period as outlined above, an investigation shall be conducted by the
Chief of Police of the Township of Chester, or the Fire Chief of the
Chester Volunteer Fire Department, or their designee, as may be appropriate.
Where the investigation discloses continued abuse or negligent operation
of an alarm system and a disregard for the taking of remedial steps
to avoid false alarms, the Chief of Police of the Township of Chester
or the Fire Chief of the Chester Volunteer Fire Company may require
disconnection of the alarm device for a limited or permanent period
of time; provided, however, that the permittee shall be given written
notice of the intended disconnection and shall have an opportunity,
within 14 days of said notice, to show cause before the Township Council
of the Township of Chester why such action should not be taken. The
determination of the Township Council in such matters shall be based
upon the effect on the general public health, safety and welfare of
the continued use of the alarm system in question.
G.
Failure to remit a required service fee or to comply with a Township
of Chester Council determination that this connection is required
shall subject the permittee to the penalty set forth herein. Each
and every day the permittee fails to comply with said fees or determinations
shall constitute a separate offense.