[Ord. 1987-7, 6/15/1987]
This Part shall be known as the "Emergency Alarm Control Ordinance
of Doylestown Borough".
[Ord. 1987-7, 6/15/1987]
The purpose of this Part is to promote the health, safety, and
general welfare of the inhabitants of the Borough of Doylestown by
discouraging false alarms reported to the Police Department, fire
companies, and similar emergency services; and by controlling and
regulating automatic alarm systems and installations thereof.
[Ord. 1987-7, 6/15/1987]
ALARM BUSINESS — Any business operated by a
person, partnership, corporation, or other business entity for profit
which engages in the activity of altering, installing, leasing, maintaining,
repairing, replacing, selling, servicing, monitoring or responding
to burglary, holdup, fire, medical emergency, or similar emergency,
alarm systems, or which causes these activities to take place.
AUTOMATIC ALARM DEVICE (HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AS "AADs")
Any electronic or mechanical device which upon receipt or
detection of a stimulus or signal characteristic of a fire, intrusion,
or other emergency situation, automatically transmits a prerecorded
voice or other alarm signal over telephone lines by direct or indirect
connection; or which causes a visual or audible signal to be generated
which can be detected from outside the premises in which it is installed
and which is intended to result in the summoning of an Emergency Service
Agency. Indirect connection includes answering services and all other
persons monitoring and relaying information to an Emergency Service
Agency
EMERGENCY SERVICE AGENCY
The Central Bucks Regional Police Department, volunteer fire
companies operating within Doylestown Borough, rescue squads, ambulance
companies, and any other similar service or agency.
[Amended by Ord. 2013-15, 12/16/2013]
FALSE ALARM
Any signal activated by an AAD, or any other kind of direct
or indirect signal given or caused to be given to an Emergency Service
Agency to which Emergency Service Agency personnel respond and which
is not the result of a burglary, fire, injury, robbery, or similar
emergency. For the purpose of this part, any alarm transmitted or
activated by an AAD without physical sign of entry, fire, or other
emergency shall be considered a false alarm.
USER
Any resident, person, corporation, partnership, institution,
company, or other entity which has installed an AAD designed or intended
to alert an Emergency Service Agency and to elicit their response.
Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Part, a grace period
of 30 days shall be permitted for any new installation of an AAD,
provided that a permit for such AAD has been obtained as set forth
in this Part. During the 30 day grace period, which shall begin on
the day that the installation is completed, no false alarms will be
considered for purposes of determining fees for false alarms as set
forth in § 505.
[Ord. 1987-7, 6/15/1987; as amended by Ord. 2013-15, 12/16/2013]
Failure of any person, corporation, partnership, business, institution,
or other entity to comply with the provisions of this Part or any
section thereof shall constitute an offense punishable by a fine of
not more than $300, payable to the Central Bucks Regional Police Department,
or 30 days' imprisonment, or both. Failure to pay a false alarm fee
within the prescribed time limits shall result in a penalty in addition
to the amount of the fee assessed.
[Ord. 1987-7, 6/15/1987]
It is declared to be the intention of Doylestown Borough that
if a Court of competent jurisdiction declares any provision of this
part to be invalid or ineffective in whole or in part, the effect
of such a decision shall be limited to those provisions which are
expressly stated to be invalid or ineffective, and all other provisions
of this part shall continue to be separated and fully effective.