[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:
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.
A mechanical device designed to automatically transmit an
emergency alarm by wire, telephone, radio or other means to the dispatch
system.
An alarm device that is directly tied into the dispatch system
of the 911 Emergency 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.
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.
The Fire Department of any municipality belonging to the
911 Emergency Dispatch System.
An alarm device that transmits an alarm to a person who is
instructed to notify the dispatch system of the 911 Emergency Dispatch
System.
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.
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.
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:
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"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.
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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.
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(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.
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.
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:
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.
The issuance of any permit shall not constitute acceptance by
the 911 Emergency Dispatch System of any liability to maintain any
equipment to answer alarms or anything in connection therewith.
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.
