[HISTORY: Adopted by the Borough Council of the Borough of Trappe as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Fire Company — See Ch. 28.
Police — See Ch. 73.
Noise — See Ch. 218.
[Adopted 11-11-1994 by Ord. No. 301 (Part 10, Ch. 3, Art. A, of the 1987 Code)]
This article shall be known as the "Borough of Trappe Alarm Ordinance."
This article is deemed expedient and necessary for the maintenance of peace, good government and the welfare of the Borough of Trappe, Montgomery County, within the meaning of Article XII of the Borough Code, and particularly Subsection 6 of Section 1202 of such Code.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: See 53 P.S. § 46202(6).
This article is intended to serve the following purposes:
A. 
To encourage owners of automatic fire, security and emergency detection and alarm devices to maintain such devices properly in order to prevent false alarms.
B. 
To discourage false alarms, which unnecessarily divert police, fire and emergency services from legitimate demands for service.
C. 
To fund the expense of the enforcement and administration of the provisions of this article by requiring payment of service fees from owners of automatic detection alarm devices for multiple false alarms so that the general revenues of the Borough are not required to bear the expense.
The following definitions shall apply to the interpretation and enforcement of this article:
BOROUGH
Borough of Trappe, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.
FALSE ALARM
Any signal activated by an automatic fire, security or emergency detection or alarm device, any audible alarm or any other kind of direct or indirect signal to which police, fire department or emergency response agencies respond and which is not the result of an attempted illegal entry, burglary, intrusion, fire, medical or other similar emergency, excluding weather extremes and utility interruptions which activate such devices.
It shall be unlawful for the property owner, lessee or other person occupying or otherwise on any premises within the Borough to make, permit or cause a false alarm, directly or indirectly, to any police department, fire company or emergency response agency when the false alarm is caused intentionally, caused by faulty detection alarm equipment, or caused by the negligence of the property owner, lessee or other person.
A. 
The status of an alarm as a false alarm shall be determined by the Borough Code Enforcement Officer, whose decision shall be final.
B. 
Within 15 days after receipt by the Borough of a report of a false alarm by police, fire department or emergency response agency, the Borough Code Enforcement Officer will serve a written notice of the false alarm to the record title owner or lessee of the property where the false alarm occurred, notifying said property owner or lessee of the obligations of the property owner or lessee to take corrective action to remedy the cause of the false alarm and of the possible service fees and penalties that could result from multiple false alarms as hereinafter set forth. Service of the notice shall be made by certified mail, return receipt requested, or by personal service. A copy of Ordinance No. 301 shall constitute sufficient notice to the property owner or lessee that the service fees and penalties hereinafter set forth may be imposed and shall as well be sufficient to inform the property owner or lessee of his, her or their responsibility to take corrective action to remedy the cause of the false alarm.
C. 
Upon notification of a false alarm, a written report shall be made within 14 days by the owner or lessee delivered to the Borough Code Enforcement Officer. The report shall set forth what corrective action has been taken to remedy the cause of the false alarm and to eliminate future false alarms.
D. 
Service fees for multiple false alarms shall be assessed by the Borough as follows:
(1) 
A third false alarm in any one calendar year shall be subject to a service fee not to exceed $50;
(2) 
A fourth false alarm in any one calendar year shall be subject to a service fee not to exceed $100;
(3) 
A fifth and subsequent false alarms in any one calendar year shall be subject to a service fee not to exceed $200.
E. 
Service fees shall be billed by the Borough to the property owner or lessee and shall be paid within 60 days from the date of the bill. Interest on delinquent bills shall accrue at the rate of 10% per year, and the amount due plus accrued interest may be filed as a municipal lien upon the property of the owner or lessee and collected as provided by the Pennsylvania Municipal Claims Act.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: See 53 P.S. § 7101 et seq.
Any property owner, lessee or other person who violates the provisions of this article shall be subject to a fine not exceeding $300 for any single violation of this article.
[Adopted 11-4-2009 by Ord. No. 414]
A. 
The owner of any structure or property required to have a key lock box shall ensure that the Trappe Borough Volunteer Fire Department and the Trappe Borough Fire Marshal have unobstructed access to the key lock box at all times.
B. 
The key lock box shall contain the keys for exterior doors and/or gates at the property, the keys for interior doors and/or gates within the building, and the keys to doors and/or panels that control access to shared systems (i.e., HVAC, elevators, alarm panels, sprinkler controls and electrical panels), as determined by the Fire Marshal. Each key shall be clearly labeled and easily identifiable.
C. 
The owner of any structure or property required to have a key lock box, or the owner's designee, shall be present whenever the Trappe Borough Volunteer Fire Department and/or the Trappe Borough Fire Marshal access the lock box for the owner's structure or property except when the Fire Department has responded to an emergency at the structure or property.
D. 
The owner of any structure or property required to have a key lock box shall ensure that all keys contained in the key lock box are up-to-date and provide access to all required areas both on the property and in the structure. Whenever a lock is changed or new doors, gates, or panels are installed on the property or in the structure, the owner shall contact the Trappe Borough Fire Marshal within 48 hours of said change or installation so to have the keys for any new lock, door, gate, or panel placed in the lock box.
E. 
The owner of any structure or property required to have a key lock box shall provide the Trappe Borough Volunteer Fire Department and the Trappe Borough Fire Marshal with up-to-date contact information that includes the owner's name, addresses, and facsimile, telephone, mobile phone and pager numbers. Any change in this information must be provided in writing to the Trappe Borough Volunteer Fire Department and the Trappe Borough Fire Marshal at least 48 hours in advance of the change occurring, along with the date said change is to take place.
F. 
Trappe Borough assumes no liability for any of the following:
(1) 
Any defect in the operation of the key lock box; any problems with any of the keys in said lock box; and/or any deficiency or flaw with the information stored within the key lock box or otherwise provided to the Trappe Borough Volunteer Fire Department and the Trappe Borough Fire Marshal.
(2) 
The failure or neglect of any owner of a structure or property required to have a key lock box to install or maintain said lock box or to provide unobstructed access to same.
(3) 
Any breach in security of any structure or property required to have a key lock box due to access to the said lock box by any person.
(4) 
Any harm, damage, or injury to any person or property arising out of or due to the installation or use of the key lock box or the failure to install and/or use such a lock box.
G. 
The owner shall indemnify and hold the Borough of Trappe, Trappe Borough Volunteer Fire Department and the Trappe Borough Fire Marshal harmless as to any harm, damage, or injury caused to the person or property of any third party arising out of or due to the installation or use of the key lock box or the failure to install and/or use such a lock box.