This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Denver
Borough Alarm System Ordinance."
The provisions of this chapter shall apply to any person who
operates, maintains or owns any alarm device, dial alarm, or local
alarm designed to summon the police, any fire company, or other municipal
agencies to any location in response to any type of alarm signal.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
ALARM CONSOLE
The console or control panel of devices giving a visual or
audio response or both.
ALARM DEVICE
Any type of alarm system actuating equipment in the alarm
console providing warning of intrusion, fire, smoke, flood, or other
peril.
ALARM SYSTEM
An alarm device, dial alarm or local alarm or any combination
of the same.
BOROUGH
Denver Borough, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.
DIAL ALARM
That type of device using telephone lines transmitting an
alarm directly to Lancaster County Control or other site.
FALSE ALARM
Any alarm actuated by inadvertence, negligence or unintentional
act of someone other than an intruder and shall include, as well,
alarms caused by malfunctions of the alarm system or other relevant
equipment but shall not include alarms created by malfunction of the
alarm console.
LOCAL ALARM
Any alarm or device which, when actuated, produces a signal
not connecting to an alarm console, such as but not limited to a store
or home burglar alarm actuating bell or horn devices. This definition
does not include vehicle alarms.
PERSON
Includes a natural person, partnership, corporation or association.
POLICE DEPARTMENT
The East Cocalico Township Police Department or any other
successor entity whose primary jurisdiction includes the territorial
limits of the Borough.
Notice as required by this chapter shall be given by the Chief
of Police, or his designee, to the person occupying the premises upon
which the alarm system is located by mailing a copy of the notice,
certified mail, return receipt required, to such person at the address
where the alarm system is located. A notice may also be given by personal
service of the notice by handing a copy of the same to the occupant
of the premises upon which the alarm system is located or to an adult
resident thereof or an employee located thereon. If service is made
by personal service, the Chief of Police or his designee shall file
proof of service which shall be under oath and which shall designate
the person and title upon whom service was made. Invoices for false
alarm fees may be sent by first-class mail.
Any person who violates or permits a violation of this chapter
shall, upon conviction in a summary proceeding brought before a Magisterial
District Judge under the Pennsylvania Rules of Criminal Procedure,
be guilty of a summary offense and shall be punishable by a fine of
not less than $100 nor more than $1,000, plus costs of prosecution.
A person found to be guilty of a summary offense shall also be assessed
all reasonable attorneys' fees incurred by the Borough in the
enforcement proceedings. Each day or portion thereof that such violation
continues or is permitted to continue shall constitute a separate
offense, and each section of this chapter that is violated shall also
constitute a separate offense.