[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Supervisors of the Township
of Warwick 3-6-2000 by Ord. No. 2000-1[1]; amended in its entirety 8-6-2012 by Ord. No. 2012-7.
Subsequent amendments noted where applicable.]
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance also superseded former
Ch. 41, Alarm Systems.
For the purpose of this chapter, certain words and phrases are
defined as follows:
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 burglar, holdup or
fire alarm systems, or which causes these activities to take place.
Any mechanical, electrical or electronic device which is
designed or used for the detection of an unauthorized entry into a
building, structure or facility or for alerting others about the commission
of an unlawful act within a building, structure or facility or for
alerting others about the existence of any other condition requiring
response of police, fire or ambulance personnel and which emits and/or
transmits an audible or visual signal or message when activated. Alarm
system includes but is not limited to direct-dial telephone devices,
automatic protection devices, audible alarms and subscriber alarms.
A device that, when activated, causes a recorded message
to be transmitted, via telephone, to any emergency service, including
but not limited to fire companies, ambulance, rescue squad and/or
police departments serving any Warwick Township residence or business,
stating that emergency response is necessary.
That primary phone number advertised to the public for requesting
emergency services.
An alarm signal necessitating response by the emergency agency
where an emergency situation does not exist. An alarm that has been
activated by an external source that is beyond the reasonable control
of the subscriber shall not be considered false.
The Warwick Township Police Department.
B.
The direct-dial alarms shall not be connected to the emergency agency
emergency phone number. A secondary phone number may be provided by
the responding agency for direct-dial alarms only. Direct-dial alarms
must be equipped with a device that will prevent more than three repeated
transmissions of an alarm for the same emergency.
C.
All persons installing a commercial or business fire alarm shall
file an application for installation of such device, with an application
fee in accordance to the Township Fee Schedule,[1] prior to the installation of the device. Such installation
shall be inspected by a representative of Warwick Township prior to
being placed into service.
A.
All information furnished pursuant to this section shall be kept
confidential and shall be for the exclusive use of the police and
fire departments.
B.
Any police officer investigating an alarm activation will leave a
written notice of alarm investigation including the time and date
of the violation.
C.
Upon receipt of the second false alarm the Warwick Township Police
Department will send notice of the false alarm to the registered user.
The notice shall be sent by first class mail to the owner of the property,
stating the time, date and number of violations received to date.
D.
Upon receipt of the third false alarm activated within a twelve-month
period, the Warwick Township Police Department shall send, by first
class mail, notice to the owner of the property indicating the time,
date and number of violations received to date, along with a warning
that subsequent false alarms within a twelve-month period may result
in penalties or prosecution under applicable state law.
E.
Upon receipt of the fourth or more false alarm within a twelve-month
period, the Warwick Township Police Department shall send notice to
the owner of the property by certified mail, including a penalty in
accordance with the Township Fee Schedule.[1]
F.
In the event the owner of the property fails or refuses, after receipt of the notices set forth in Subsections B through E, to pay the required fees and take measures to cause the false alarms to cease, or if the property owner fails to comply with any other provision of this chapter, the Township may file a citation for violation of this chapter. Any owner, lessee or user found guilty in a summary procedure before a District Justice of violating any section of this chapter other than the provision regulating the number of false alarms shall be fined not less than $300 nor more than $600.
