[HISTORY: Adopted by the Borough Council of the Borough of Northampton 6-2-1994 by Ord. No. 1059 (Ch. 13, Part 4, of the 1993 Code of Ordinances). Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Fire department — See Ch. 28.
Police department — See Ch. 50.
This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Audible Alarms Ordinance."
It is hereby found that with consistency, at certain times, a threat to public health, safety and welfare arises from the strain upon municipal services created by the response to false audible alarms in the Borough of Northampton. The purpose of this chapter is to reduce the amount of false audible alarms, as well as the excessive strain upon municipal services resulting from such unnecessary audible alarms and to insure that the municipal services will not be hampered by said alarms. Furthermore, to advise the inhabitants of Northampton Borough that effective November 7, 1994, at 09:00 hours, the Northampton Borough Police Department will no longer monitor any audible alarms that are connected to the Northampton Police Department.
For the purpose of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply:
ALARM
Any device designed to provide, or which will provide an audible, visual or other type of signal, which is intended to advise or alert municipal or private services to respond to an emergency in the Borough of Northampton.
DESIGNATED AREA
The entire Borough of Northampton, including residential, commercial and any with all other structures or places.
PERSON(S)
A natural person, firm, corporation, partnership or any other entity.
Effective November 7, 1994, at 0:900 hours, the Northampton Borough Police Department, and all other municipal services, including but not limited to fire, ambulance or emergency, will cease to monitor any alarms that are connected to the Northampton Police Department. Inhabitants are advised to have all said alarms removed and disconnected prior to said date and are suggested to contact a private alarm company.
No person shall cause or permit an alarm to be in a state of disrepair or allow said alarm to be in a state of disrepair or cause the emitting of the signal thereof when there is no actual intrusion and/or fire or emergency.
This chapter shall not apply to alarms originating in any municipal, emergency, police, fire, ambulance or other governmental agency/building operating within the Borough.
Any person, firm, partnership or corporation who shall violate the false alarm provision of this chapter shall, upon first offense per calendar year, receive a written warning; upon second offense per calendar year, pay a fine of $25; upon third offense per calendar year, pay a fine of $50; and upon every subsequent offense per year, shall pay a fine of $100, plus costs and, in default of payment of said fine and costs, shall be subject to a term of imprisonment not to exceed 30 days. Each day that a violation of this chapter continues shall constitute a separate offense.