[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Supervisors of the Township of East Lampeter 12-17-1996 by Ord. No. 192 (Ch. 13, Part 2, of the 2002 Code of Ordinances). Amendments noted where applicable.]
[Amended 6-3-2002 by Ord. No. 232]
The purpose of this chapter is to provide standards and regulations for various types of intrusion, burglar, fire and other emergency alarm devices which require response thereto by the Police Department, fire company or other municipal agencies.
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, fire company or other municipal agency 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 alarm devices which produces a visual or audio response or both and located within the confines of Lancaster Countywide Communications or elsewhere.
ALARM DEVICE
Any type of dial alarm, local alarm, other alarm system or any combination thereof which actuates equipment in the alarm console providing warning of intrusion, fire, smoke, flood or other peril.
DIAL ALARM
A type of alarm device which uses telephone lines to transmit an alarm directly to Lancaster Countywide Communications, or other approved site.
ENFORCEMENT OFFICER
One or more persons, appointed from time to time by East Lampeter Township, to provide enforcement and administration of this chapter.
FALSE ALARM
Any alarm actuated by inadvertence, negligence, lack of proper maintenance or malfunctions of the alarm device or other relevant equipment. Alarms created by malfunctions of the alarm console at Lancaster Countywide Communications or other alarm monitoring facilities will not be considered a false alarm. Any alarm actuated by severe weather conditions or other unusual circumstances beyond the reasonable control of the owner or occupant of the premises, will not be considered a false alarm. The police or fire or other agency officer in charge of the response will determine if the alarm is to be considered false.
LOCAL ALARM
Any alarm device which, when actuated, produces a signal not connected to the alarm console, such as a store or home burglar alarm actuating bell or horn device.
PERSON
Any natural person, partnership, corporation or association.
Each person who is the owner or occupant of premises equipped with an alarm device shall maintain such device in good condition and repair so as to avoid false alarms.
[Amended 6-3-2002 by Ord. No. 232]
A. 
The police, fire or other agency officer in charge of a response to an alarm device activation shall determine, after investigation, if the alarm is a false alarm. All false alarm responses shall be reported to the enforcement officer with a copy of the incident report attached. The enforcement officer shall maintain a record of said false alarms on file.
B. 
For such false alarms, the Board of Supervisors prescribes the following administrative fees designated to partially offset the cost of the manpower response necessitated by false alarms:
[Amended 12-19-2022 by Res. No. 2022-28]
(1) 
False alarm Police Department fee: $50 per false alarm after first four per year.
(2) 
False alarm Fire Department fee:
(a) 
First: $50;
(b) 
Second: $100;
(c) 
Subsequent increase by $50 each time per quarter.
C. 
In light of the need to fine tune a new installation, each new alarm device which is installed upon the premises of any person will be entitled to a grace period of 30 days following the date of complete installation or the first use of the alarm device, whichever first occurs, during which time no false alarm shall be charged against such false alarm device unless the alarm is determined to be intentional.
D. 
Upon the thirtieth false alarm in any given calendar year or upon the failure of the persons responsible to pay any administrative fees required by this chapter within 30 days of notice of the fee, the police services will not be asked or directed to respond to any alarm indicating a police response on the premises for which the thirtieth false alarm originated.
All alarm devices which, when activated, emit an audible alarm at and near the site of the device shall be equipped with a timing device which will automatically silence after 15 minutes after actuation of the alarm.
Notices or warnings other than those pertaining to the imposition of administrative fees required by this chapter shall be given by the enforcement officer, or his designee, to the person occupying the premises upon which the alarm device is located by mailing a copy of the notice or warning by first-class mail to such person at that address where the alarm device is located. Such notices which pertain to the imposition of administrative fees shall be given by mailing a copy of the notice by certified mail, return receipt requested, to the person occupying the premises upon which the alarm device is located. A notice or warning may also be given by personal service of the notice or warning by handing a copy of the same to the occupant of the premises upon which the alarm device is located or to an adult resident thereof or an employee located thereon. If service is made by personal service, the enforcement officer, 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.
[Amended 6-3-2002 by Ord. No. 232]
Any person, firm or corporation who shall violate any provision of this chapter or any person who shall fail to pay the administrative fee for false alarms in excess of four in the same calendar year, upon conviction thereof in an action brought before a Magisterial District Judge in the manner provided for the enforcement of summary offenses under the Pennsylvania Rules of Criminal Procedure, shall be sentenced to pay a fine of not more than $1,000, plus costs, and, in default of payment of said fine and costs, to a term of imprisonment not to exceed 90 days. Each day that a violation of this chapter continues or each section of this chapter which shall be found to have been violated shall constitute a separate offense.
This chapter shall supersede and replace any other ordinance dealing with the imposition of administrative fees for false alarms. This chapter shall be considered a continuation of Ordinance No. 177, 10-17-1995, except with respect to specific changes made in this chapter. Nothing in this chapter shall be deemed to limit or in any other way affect the provisions of Chapter 170, Article I, Automatic Sprinklers, Smoke Detectors and Firesafety Regulations, of the Code of the Township of East Lampeter or other firesafety legislation.