[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Supervisors of the Township of West Lampeter 1-3-2012 by Ord. No. 225. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Noise — See Ch. 172.
The intent of this chapter is to insure public safety, health, and welfare by minimizing the number of false alarms originating from the site of the alarm system, reducing the service demands on emergency response agencies, and improving the safety to the public.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
ALARM ACTIVATION REPORT
A written report issued by the emergency service agency citing the false alarm activation.
ALARM SYSTEM
A functionally related group of devices that when either automatically or manually activated will sound audio or visual warning devices on or off the protected premises.
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
The West Lampeter Township Board of Supervisors.
EMERGENCY RESPONSE AGENCY
The Pennsylvania State Police, or any municipal police, fire or emergency medical service department or volunteer fire companies and emergency services.
FALSE ALARM
Any signal activated by an automatic protection device, any audible alarm or other kind of direct or indirect signal given to which police, fire department or emergency response agencies respond 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 activates a protection device.
LOCK BOX
A secure, tamperproof Knox-Box® or similar device approved by the Township with a lock operable only by the fire department master key; and containing entry keys and other keys that may be required for access in an emergency.
PERSON
Any individual, firm, partnership, association, corporation, company or similar entity.
TOWNSHIP
West Lampeter Township.
TOWNSHIP CODE OFFICIAL
The West Lampeter Township Official charged with the duty of administration and enforcement of codes as adopted by West Lampeter Township.
A. 
All occupancies, other than one- and two-family dwellings, installing an alarm system as of the date of the adoption of this chapter, having an electronic or radio connection to a central station, shall install an approved lock box for the premises being protected.
B. 
The lock box installation and location shall be as follows:
(1) 
At a height approximately six feet above grade; and,
(2) 
To the right side of the main entrance door(s) facing the public roadway; or
(3) 
At a location approved by the Township Code Official.
C. 
All lock boxes shall be electronically supervised and shall have the tamper switch connected to the fire alarm panel to indicate a supervisory or trouble signal. The supervisory signal shall report to the central station for owner/occupant notification.
D. 
Keys that provide immediate access to the premise and to fire-protection-related equipment shall be identified as to the door they operate and secured in the lock box within two days of new lock box installations.
E. 
Persons required to install lock boxes in accordance with this section shall obtain and submit an application from the Township Building Code department. The cost of the applicant to the Township shall be established from time to time by resolution by the Board of Supervisors.
A. 
All persons owning and operating an alarm system within the Township shall have the following duties and responsibilities with respect to such system:
(1) 
To keep and maintain the system in good operating condition, order and repair.
(2) 
To keep and maintain at the site of the alarm system, a complete set of written operating instructions for such system.
(3) 
To provide training and instruction to individuals customarily occupying the site of the alarm system in its proper operation.
(4) 
To cooperate with the Township and/or the designee in preventing or minimizing the number of false alarms originating from the site of the alarm system.
A. 
It shall be unlawful for any person owning or occupying any premises within West Lampeter Township to make or cause to make a false fire or security alarm directly or indirectly to any fire department or emergency response agency responding to alarms within the Township when the false alarm is caused by faulty detection or alarm equipment or by the negligence of said property owner, lessee or person.
B. 
The responding emergency response agency shall determine whether the activation of an alarm constitutes a false alarm as defined by this ordinance and shall issue a false alarm activation report to the property owner or lessee with a copy to the Township Code Official.
C. 
Any person that owns, uses or operates an alarm system may not cause or permit a subsequent false alarm to occur after three false alarms in the same consecutive twelve-month period.
D. 
Upon notification of a false alarm violating Subsection C, the Township shall assess a service fee against the responsible party in the amount of $200 per each event.
E. 
In addition to other such remedies as may be available under existing law, the Township may institute an action in equity to prevent, restrain, correct, abate or enjoin such violation of this chapter.
F. 
Nothing in this section is intended to prohibit the prosecution of false alarms pursuant to 18 Pa. C.S. § 7511, as may be amended, by the emergency response agency responding to the false alarm or by the Township.
G. 
The issuance of any permit shall not constitute acceptance by the Township of any liability to maintain any equipment, or answer alarms nor otherwise to render the Township liable to any person for any loss or damage relating to the alarm system or procedure.