[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Supervisors
of the Township of Upper Southampton 3-18-2003 by Ord. No. 356. Amendments noted where
applicable.]
This chapter shall be known as the "Upper Southampton
Township Alarm Ordinance."
[Amended 10-1-2019 by Ord. No. 458]
As used in this chapter, the following terms
shall have the meanings indicated:
Burglar or fire alarm.
Any device designed or used for detection of intrusion into
a building, structure or facility or for alerting persons of the attempt
or commission of a crime or any emergency situation involving potential
death or serious injury and which is directly connected to an audible
alarm or the transmission of a related signal or message which is
used to evoke an emergency response to any address or separate component
of any system.
Police, fire and rescue squad that provide services to persons
and properties located in Upper Southampton Township.
The activation of a burglar alarm system due to other than
said purpose for which the alarm system is designed. Any activation
of an alarm system caused by natural catastrophic conditions, as determined
by the Township, will not constitute a nuisance alarm. These alarms
are responded to by the Police Department.
The activation of a fire alarm system due to other than said
purpose for which the alarm system is designed. Any activation of
an alarm system caused by natural catastrophic conditions, as determined
by the Township, will not constitute a nuisance alarm. These alarms
are responded to by the emergency services.
The Upper Southampton Township Supervisors,
by authority granted to them as specified in the Second Class Township
Code, being the Act of May 20, 1957, P.L. 74, as amended by the Act
of March 21, 1968, P.L. 66, No. 22, § 1, 53 P.S. § 66529,
hereby enact this chapter.
[Amended 10-1-2019 by Ord. No. 458]
The Board of Supervisors of Upper Southampton
Township finds and declares that:
A.
The majority of alarm system activations to which
the emergency services and emergency services personnel respond to
are false. False alarms are herewith deemed to be nuisances resulting
in a waste of manpower and creating the potential for serious injury
to police officers, Fire Department personnel and other emergency
personnel responding to a false alarm; further, when said personnel
are responding to false alarms, they are not available for the protection
of residents and the general public.
B.
The danger created through emergency responses created
by nuisance alarms is unnecessary and hazardous.
C.
The unnecessary expenditure of public revenue through
responses to nuisance burglar and fire alarms must be eliminated.
D.
Nuisance alarms have created conditions causing danger
and annoyance to the general public.
Every applicant for an alarm permit shall file
with the Upper Southampton Township Department of Licenses and Inspections
a written application on forms provided by Upper Southampton Township,
stating the name, address and telephone number of the applicant; a
description of the property or properties where the proposed alarm
system shall be installed; the location, road, name of the development
and a name which is conspicuously displayed on the property or mailbox
of the property; a description of the type or types of alarm system
to be used, including name and model number of the manufacturer; the
name of the person or company who will install the alarm system at
the location; and the name, address and telephone number of any person
or company who will be available to be contacted in the event of an
alarm activation. In the case of more than one building site in which
the alarm systems shall be installed, the applicant must provide Upper
Southampton Township with the necessary information concerning how
the alarm for each building shall be distinguishable from the alarms
in other buildings. All alarms should have a nine-minute cutoff time.
In the event that the name, mailing address or telephone number of
the person to be contacted changes, the applicant shall supply corrected
information to the Township within five days of the change. If requested
by the Township, the persons listed shall be required to be present
at the alarm location within a reasonable length of time after being
notified that the police or other emergency departments have received
any signal or message of an alarm activation.
A.
Alarm permits shall be transferable from one permittee
to another, or from one location to another, without the express written
authorization from Upper Southampton Township. In the event that the
premises in which the alarm system has been installed is to be leased,
conveyed or transferred, it shall be the responsibility of the then-registered
permittee to notify the Township of the name and telephone number
of the new owner or new lessee and the name of the person to be contacted
in case of the alarm activation.
B.
Any subsequent individual or other type of entity
that obtains title or occupies real property in which an alarm system
has been installed and a permit has been issued by Upper Southampton
Township shall notify the Township within five days of taking possession
of said property and make application for registration, specifying
all information necessary for the Police Department or other emergency
departments to respond to the alarm activation.
A.
Every person or entity applying for an alarm permit
under the provisions of this chapter shall pay a fee, established
by resolution of the Upper Southampton Township Supervisors, to obtain
an alarm permit prior to the installation of the new alarm system
on the premises.
B.
Any individual or other entity who owns or obtains
title to or leases property in which an alarm system has already been
installed shall pay the fee established by resolution of the Upper
Southampton Township Supervisors to register the name, address, telephone
number and individual to be contacted in case of the activation of
the alarm system.
C.
All fees shall be payable to Upper Southampton Township.
[Amended 10-1-2019 by Ord. No. 458]
A.
Failure to register. Any person or responsible entity
that shall fail to make application or register with Upper Southampton
Township prior to the installation or transfer of an alarm system
on the premises shall pay to Upper Southampton Township a fine in
the amount of $50, plus costs of prosecution.
B.
Nuisance alarms.
(1)
Nuisance burglar alarms. Penalties for nuisance burglar
alarms shall be established from time to time by resolution of the
Upper Southampton Township Supervisors. Penalties shall be assessed
based on violations occurring during any consecutive twelve-month
period.
(2)
Nuisance fire alarms. Penalties for nuisance fire
alarms shall be established from time to time by resolution of the
Upper Southampton Township Supervisors. Penalties shall be assessed
based on violations occurring during any consecutive twelve-month
period.
The information furnished and secured pursuant
to this chapter shall be confidential in character and shall not be
subject to public inspection, and all records shall be so maintained
that the contents thereof shall not be divulged to anyone except to
the persons charged with the administration of this chapter.
Enforcement of this chapter shall be supplemental
to enforcement under the Pennsylvania Crimes Code Section 7511 [18
Pa.C.S.A. § 7511 (1998)].
