[HISTORY: Adopted by the Council of the Borough of Lititz 5-26-1998 by Ord. No. C-406, approved 5-26-1998. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Fees — See Ch. 55.
Fire prevention — See Ch. 59.
The purpose of this chapter is to provide standards and regulations for various types of intrusion, burglar, fire and other emergency alarm devices which require response thereto by the Police Department, Fire Department and other municipal agencies.
The provisions of this chapter shall apply to any person who operates, maintains or owns any alarm device, dial alarm or local alarm designed to summon the police, Fire Department and other local municipal agencies to any location in response to an alarm signal.
For purposes of this chapter, the following terms are defined as follows:
ALARM CONSOLE
The console or control panel of devices giving a visual or audio response, or both, and located within the confines of Lancaster County Control or elsewhere.
ALARM DEVICE
Any type of alarm system actuating equipment in the alarm console providing warning of intrusion, fire, smoke, flood or other peril.
ALARM SYSTEM
An alarm device, dial alarm or local alarm or any combination thereof.
DIAL ALARM
That type of a device using telephone lines transmitting an alarm directly to Lancaster County Control or other approved site.
FALSE ALARM
Any alarm actuated by inadvertence, negligence or unintentional act of someone other than any intruder and shall include, but not be limited to, alarms caused by malfunctioning of the alarm system or other relevant equipment. The term shall not include alarms caused by malfunction of the alarm console.
LOCAL ALARM
Any alarm or device which, when activated, produces a signal not connecting to the alarm console, such as a store or home burglar alarm actuating a bell or horn device.
PERSON
Deemed to include any natural person, sole proprietorship, partnership, association or corporation.
In the case of a false alarm, any person having knowledge thereof shall immediately notify the Lititz Borough Police Department in a manner to be prescribed by rules and regulation of the Lititz Borough Police Department. In addition, in the case of false alarms, the Borough Police Chief or his designee shall cause an investigation to be made and shall keep a record of said false alarms on file. For such false alarms, Borough Council prescribes the following penalties:
A. 
For the third false alarm in any given calendar year, a warning shall be issued.
B. 
For the fourth false alarm in any given calendar year, the Borough Police Chief or his designee shall notify the person occupying the premises upon which the alarm system is located that a false alarm has been received and that any further false alarms during the same calendar year will result in penalties as set forth in this chapter.
C. 
For the fifth false alarm received in the same calendar year, an administrative fee of $25, payable to Lititz Borough, shall be imposed. The administrative fee hereby imposed shall be payable in lieu of a fine hereinafter imposed by this chapter.
D. 
For the sixth false alarm received in the same calendar year, an administrative fee of $50, payable to Lititz Borough, shall be imposed. The administrative fee hereby imposed shall be payable in lieu of a fine hereinafter imposed by this chapter.
E. 
For the seventh and any subsequent false alarms received in the same calendar year, an administrative fee of $100, payable to Lititz Borough, shall be imposed. The administrative fee hereby imposed shall be payable in lieu of a fine hereinafter imposed by this chapter.
Notice shall be given by the Borough Police Chief or his designee to the person occupying the premises upon which the alarm system is located by mailing a copy of the notice, certified mail, return-receipt requested, to such person at the address where the alarm system is located. A notice may also be given by personal service of the notice by handing a copy of the same to the occupant of the premises upon which the alarm system is located or to an adult resident thereof or an employee located thereon. If the service is made by personal service, the Borough Police Chief or his designee shall file a proof of service which shall be under oath and which shall designate the person and title upon whom service was made.
Any person found guilty of violating the terms of this chapter or any person who shall fail to pay the administrative fee for false alarms in excess of four in the same calendar year shall, upon conviction thereof by summary proceedings, be subject to a fine of not more than $300 and costs of prosecution and, in default of payment of such fine and costs, to imprisonment in the Lancaster County Prison for not more than 30 days, or both.
In the event that any provision, section, sentence, clause or part of this chapter shall be held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect or impair any remaining provision, section, sentence, clauses or part of this chapter, it being the intent of the Borough of Lititz that such remainder shall be and shall remain in full force and effect.