[HISTORY: Adopted by the Mayor and Council
of the Borough of Hamburg 8-4-2008 by Ord. No. 09-2008.[1] Amendments noted where applicable.]
The purpose of this chapter is to establish
standards and regulations concerning the installation, operation and
maintenance of certain alarm systems within the Borough of Hamburg.
As used in this chapter, the following terms
shall have the meanings indicated:
Any device employed to call attention to or provide warning
of intrusion by any person or by fire, smoke, flood or other peril,
whether the same provides a visual or audio response, alarm or warning.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this chapter, the term
"alarm system" shall not include self-contained battery or electrically
powered smoke detector or carbon monoxide detector units located within
single-family residences and which give out an audible signal. The
term "alarm system" shall also not include automobile alarm systems.
An alarm system that transmits the alarm to an alarm-processing
center, which then calls to dispatch the Police Department and/or
Fire Department.
That type of automatic telephone dialing service using the
telephone system to transmit an alarm of intrusion, fire, smoke, flood
or other peril to the Police Department or any other third party.
Any alarm or signal of an alarm reported through a central
alarm station or through a dial alarm system which has been actuated
by inadvertence, negligence, intentional or unintentional act of a
person other than an intruder and including alarms caused by mechanical
failure, malfunction or improper installation of the alarm system
and related equipment. False alarms shall not include activation caused
by power or phone line interruptions, where such interruptions have
been reported to the Police Department.
Any individual, person, firm, association, partnership, corporation,
organization or club.
Any person who operates, owns or leases an alarm system within
the scope of this chapter, who has been issued a registration permit
to operate and maintain such alarm system.
The provisions of this chapter shall apply to
any person who owns, operates, leases or maintains any dial alarm
system or alarm system utilizing a central alarm station which requires
a response by the Police Department, Fire Department, First Aid Squad
or any other Borough agency. The provisions of this chapter shall
in no way prohibit the service by a private source to persons within
or without the Borough, so long as such activity is not in violation
of this chapter, and provided further that any person owning, operating,
leasing or maintaining a premises protected by an alarm system shall
be responsible for the registration thereof in accordance with this
chapter.
A.
Registration shall be required for each home or business
within the Borough utilizing the services of a central alarm on the
effective date of this chapter. Users of systems in place on that
date shall complete the required registration form within 30 days
of notice by the Borough of Hamburg Police Department. A registration
permit shall automatically terminate upon a change of occupancy for
the premises for which the alarm has been registered. Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary in this chapter, no more than one registration
shall be required per home or business at any single location.
B.
Registration form.
(1)
Persons required to register their alarm system shall
complete and file with the Chief of Police a registration form, which
may be obtained from the Police Department and shall correctly contain
the following information:
[Amended 2-4-2019 by Ord. No. 02-2019; 10-3-2022 by Ord. No. 09-2022]
(a)
The full name of the applicant, his or her address,
including an address description, which will permit the appropriate
municipal department to respond.
(b)
The common name of the alarm premises.
(c)
The name and address of the person installing,
maintaining and/or owning the system.
(d)
The name and address of the person(s) monitoring
and initially responding to an activation of the alarm system and
the telephone number for such persons.
(e)
The names and addresses of two persons to be
contacted in case of alarm and/or malfunction.
(2)
A copy of each registration form, after completion,
shall be filed with the Hamburg Police Department.
C.
A registration fee, as set from time to time by resolution
by the Borough of Hamburg Council, shall be submitted with each registration
form or revised registration form. Registration shall be submitted
within 30 days of system installation.
D.
If there has occurred any material change in the information
previously submitted with respect to any alarm system by the alarm
user, it shall be the duty of the alarm user, within 10 days of such
material change, to file revised registration continuing current information.
E.
The Police Department shall issue a registration permit
to any person submitting a completed registration form and the attendant
fee.
F.
Any permit granted hereunder shall be accepted under
the express condition that the registrant shall indemnify and hold
the Borough harmless from, and on account of, any and all damages
arising out of the activities of the registrant and its alarm contractor.
False alarms shall be considered a violation
of the provisions of this chapter. In case of false alarm, any person
having knowledge thereof shall immediately notify the Police Department.
The Police Department shall cause an investigation to be made of all
false alarms and shall keep a record of such false alarms on file.
The Police Department shall issue written warnings for the first false
alarms on any registered system. Subsequent false alarms shall be
subject to the penalties provided for below.
Any person who shall violate any of the terms
or provisions of this chapter or who shall commit or do any act or
thing prohibited by this chapter shall, upon conviction thereof, be
punished in accordance with Chapter I, Article III, of the Code of
the Borough of Hamburg.
