[HISTORY: Adopted by the Borough Council of the Borough of Canonsburg 11-1-1988 as Ch. 13, Part 1, of the 1988 Code; amended 12-16-1997 by Ord. No. 1216. Subsequent amendments noted where applicable.]
For purposes of this chapter, the following terms are defined as follows:
ALARM
A communication to the 911 Emergency Dispatch System indicating that a crime, fire or other emergency situation warranting immediate action by the Fire or Police Department has occurred or is occurring.
ALARM DEVICE
A mechanical device designed to automatically transmit an emergency alarm by wire, telephone, radio or other means to the dispatch system.
DIRECT ALARM DEVICE
An alarm device that is directly tied into the dispatch system of the 911 Emergency Dispatch System.
DISPATCH SYSTEM
The control panel or communication system installed in the 911 Emergency Dispatch System for the purpose of giving visual or audio response to direct alarm devices.
FALSE ALARM
An alarm to which the Fire or Police Department responds and which results from the activation of an alarm device when a fire, crime or other emergency warranting immediate action by either Department has occurred.
FIRE DEPARTMENT
The Fire Department of any municipality belonging to the 911 Emergency Dispatch System.
INDIRECT ALARM DEVICE
An alarm device that transmits an alarm to a person who is instructed to notify the dispatch system of the 911 Emergency Dispatch System.
INTENTIONAL FALSE ALARM
A false alarm that results from the intentional activation of an alarm device by an individual under circumstances where said person has no reasonable basis to believe that a fire, crime or other emergency warranting immediate action by the Fire or Police Department has or is occurring.
PERMIT HOLDER
A person, company or corporation to whom the 911 Emergency Dispatch System has issued an alarm device installation, operation, vendor registration fee or vendor annual renewal fee.
POLICE DEPARTMENT
The Police Department of any municipality belonging to the 911 Emergency Dispatch System.
A. 
It shall be unlawful for a property owner, lessee of property or a person otherwise occupying a premises within a municipality which is a member of the 911 Emergency Dispatch System to put an alarm device into operation on his or her premises or to allow an alarm device to be put into operation on his or her premises without first obtaining the proper alarm device permit from the 911 Emergency Dispatch System that terminates with and/or interfaces with the 911 Emergency Dispatch System alarm console or control panel.
B. 
In order to apply for the proper alarm device permit, a person, company or corporation must submit an application to the 911 Emergency Dispatch System stating the following:
(1) 
His or her name(s).
(2) 
The company's or corporate's name(s).
(3) 
His or her home and/or business address and the telephone number(s) of each.
(4) 
The company's or corporate's address and telephone number(s).
(5) 
The location(s) at which the alarm device will be installed and operated.
(6) 
The names, addresses and telephone numbers of at least two individuals who have keys to the premises at which the alarm device is located and who are authorized to enter the premises at any time but who do not reside at the location of the alarm device.
(7) 
A complete description of the alarm device.
(8) 
Service agreement.
(a) 
If the alarm device is to be leased or rented from or is to be serviced pursuant to a service agreement by a person other than the person making application for an alarm device permit, the name, address and telephone number of that person shall be stated on the application. In addition, each person submitting an application for an alarm device permit shall submit a signed statement in the following form:
"I/we the undersigned applicant(s) for an alarm device permit, intending to be legally bound hereby, state that neither I/we nor anyone claiming by, through or under me/us shall make any claim against 911 Emergency Dispatch System for any damage caused to the premises at which the alarm device which is the subject of this application is or will be located, if such damage is caused by a forced entry to said premises by employees of 911 Emergency Dispatch System in order to answer an alarm from said alarm device at a time when said premises are or appear to be unattended or when, in the discretion of said employees, circumstances appear to warrant a forced entry.
Further, I/we hereby agree that, periodically and upon five days' written notice, representatives of the 911 Emergency Dispatch System shall be allowed to enter my/our premises between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. on weekdays for the purpose of inspecting my/our alarm device installation in order to determine whether or not it is in accordance with the operational standards set forth in § 63-3 of this chapter.
(b) 
The 911 Emergency Dispatch System shall furnish forms upon which any person wishing to apply for an alarm device permit may submit his application.
C. 
The 911 Emergency Dispatch System shall, within 14 weekdays from receipt of an application for the proper alarm device permit, either grant an alarm device permit to the applicant or notify the applicant, in writing, that his or her application has been denied and shall state the reason(s) why it has been denied.
D. 
An application for an alarm device permit may only be denied for the following reasons:
(1) 
The application submitted by the applicant does not conform with § 63-2B of this chapter.
(2) 
The applicant's alarm device does not conform with the operational standards set forth in § 63-3 of this chapter.
E. 
It shall be unlawful for anyone to canvass, sell, take orders for or deliver to anyone in the 911 Emergency Dispatch System an alarm device without first having applied for and obtaining a permit to do so as hereinafter provided.
F. 
Upon application and payment of a permit fee and an annual renewal fee, the 911 Emergency Dispatch System will issue an alarm device permit under the rules and regulations promulgated by the organization to each owner or installer or vendor of an automatic alarm system.
G. 
Fees.
(1) 
Permit fees for subscribers shall be as set forth from time to time by resolution of the Borough Council.
(2) 
The fee for the Demco alarm system shall be as set forth from time to time by resolution of the Borough Council.
H. 
Any person, canvasser, seller, vendor or distributor possessing or installing an automatic alarm system that terminates with and/or interfaces with 911 Emergency Dispatch System communications systems without securing a permit or payment of the fees herein provided, upon conviction before a Magisterial District Judge, shall be sentenced to pay a fine up to $50 for each day the automatic alarm system is connected to the emergency number, the 911 Emergency Dispatch System or is sold by a dealer, vendor or distributor without a permit.
I. 
If the annual renewal fee is not paid by December 31 of each calendar year, there will be charged, as a late fee, an amount as set forth from time to time by resolution of the Borough Council.
J. 
The provisions of this chapter shall be enforced and administered by any police officer of a municipality which is a member of the 911 Emergency Dispatch System.
K. 
Notwithstanding the language contained in § 63-2A of this chapter, it shall not be unlawful for a person to continue to operate an alarm device on his premises without an alarm device permit for a period of 90 days after the effective date of this chapter, provided that said alarm device was in operation on the effective date of this chapter.
L. 
The 911 Emergency Dispatch System shall have the power to revoke an alarm device permit. An alarm device permit shall be revoked by notifying the permit holder, in writing, that his alarm device permit has been revoked and stating the reason or reasons why it has been revoked. Said written notice shall be:
(1) 
Delivered personally to the permit holder, in which case the revocation shall be effective immediately upon delivery; or
(2) 
Mailed to the permit holder at his last known address by regular mail, postage prepaid, in which case the revocation shall be effective three days after mailing.
A. 
A direct alarm device shall be designed so that it interfaces with the central receiving station maintained by the 911 Emergency Dispatch System.
B. 
If an alarm device is designed to cause a bell, siren or sound-making device to be activated on or near the premises on which the alarm device is installed at the time it gives an alarm, said alarm device shall be designed to deactivate the bell, siren or other sound-making device after 15 minutes of operation.
C. 
All alarm devices shall meet the applicable standards of the Underwriters Laboratories and/or the National Fire Protection Associations and/or other recognized industry standards. The applicant for a permit may be required to submit evidence of the reliability and suitability of the alarm device.
D. 
The sensory mechanism used in connecting with an alarm device must adjust to suppress false indications of fire or intrusion so that the alarm device will not be activated by impulses due to transient pressure change in water pipes, short flashes of light, wind noises, such as the rattling or vibrating of doors or windows, vehicular noises adjacent to the premises or other forces unrelated to genuine alarm situations.
E. 
The alarm device must be maintained by the permit holder in good repair to assure reliability of operation.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]
A person that owns, uses or possesses an alarm device or automatic dialing device may not, after causing or permitting three false alarms to occur in a consecutive twelve-month period, cause or permit a subsequent false alarm to occur in the same consecutive twelve-month period. A person that violates this section commits a summary offense and shall, upon conviction, be sentenced to pay a fine of not more than $300.
If the location of the headquarters of the 911 Emergency Dispatch System should change at any time, 911 Emergency Dispatch System shall not be responsible for any cost incurred by permit holders or other persons in the relocation of alarm devices because of said change in location.
Whenever, under the provisions of this chapter, the 911 Emergency Dispatch System is empowered to make a decision with respect to the installation, operation or maintenance of any alarm device or with respect to the denial or revocation of any permit relating thereto, any applicant for a permit or permit holder aggrieved by said decision may, within 10 days following said decision, file a written appeal with the 911 Emergency Dispatch System, whereupon the 911 Emergency Dispatch System shall promptly conduct a hearing and affirm, modify or reverse the decision appealed. The decision of the 911 Emergency Dispatch System shall be final.