Borough of Lansdale, PA Chapter 122 Alarm Systems

[HISTORY: Adopted by the Council of the Borough of Lansdale 10-14-1976 by Ord. No. 1126 (Ch. 45 of the 1972 Code). Amendments noted where applicable.]

GENERAL REFERENCES

Police Department — See Ch. 74.

§ 122-1 Short title.

This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Lansdale Borough Emergency Police and Fire Alarm Ordinance."

§ 122-2 Definitions.

The following definitions shall apply in the interpretation and enforcement of this chapter:

ALARM EQUIPMENT SUPPLIER

Any person, firm or corporation who sells, leases or installs automatic protection devices.

ANSWERING SERVICE

A service whereby trained employees in attendance at all times receive prerecorded voice messages from automatic protection devices reporting an emergency at a stated location and who have the duty to relay immediately by live voice any such emergency message over a designated or direct trunk line to the communications center of the Police Department or Fire Department.

AUDIBLE ALARM

Any device, bell, horn or siren which is attached to the interior or exterior of a building and emits a warning signal audible outside the building and designed to attract attention when activated by a criminal act or other emergency requiring police to respond.

AUTOMATIC PROTECTION DEVICE

An electrically operated instrument composed of sensory apparatus and related hardware which automatically transmits a prerecorded voice alarm over regular telephone lines, by direct or indirect connection to the Police Department or Fire Department, upon receipt of a stimulus from a sensory apparatus that has detected a physical force or condition inherently characteristic of a fire or intrusion.

CENTRAL STATION PROTECTIVE SYSTEM

A protective system, or group of such systems, operated privately for customers by a person, firm or corporation which maintains supervisors and accepts recorded messages from automatic protection devices at a central station having trained operators and guards in attendance at all times that have the duty to take appropriate action upon receipt of a signal or message, including the relaying of messages by designated or direct trunk lines to the communications center of the Police Department or Fire Department.

CHIEF OF FIRE DEPARTMENT

The Chief of the Fairmount Fire Company.

CHIEF OF POLICE

The Chief of the Lansdale Borough Police Department.[1]

FALSE ALARM

Any signal activated by an automatic protection device, any audible alarm or any other kind of direct or indirect signal given the police or fire communications center to which police or firemen respond, which is not the result of a burglary, fire, robbery or similar emergency.[2]

FIRE DEPARTMENT

Fire Departments located within the Borough of Lansdale.

INTERMEDIARY

A central station protective system or an answering service, as herein defined.

KEY

To use a telephone line and equipment for transmitting a message, either directly or indirectly, by an automatic protection device.

PERMIT

Written permission, duly granted to an applicant by the Borough upon payment of the required fee.[3]

POLICE DEPARTMENT

The Lansdale Borough Police Department.[4]

SECRETARY

The Secretary of the Borough of Lansdale.

[1] Editor's Note: The original definitions of "designated trunk line" and "direct trunk line," which immediately followed this definition, were repealed at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).

[2] Editor's Note: The original definition of "fire communications center," which immediately followed this definition, was repealed at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).

[3] Editor's Note: The original definition of "police communications center," which immediately followed this definition, was repealed at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).

[4] Editor's Note: The original definitions of "primary trunk line" and "secondary trunk line," which immediately followed this definition, were repealed at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).

§ 122-3 Timing mechanism required for audible alarms; exceptions.

Except as provided in Subsections A and B of this section, after the enactment of this chapter users must equip audible alarms with a timing mechanism that will disengage the audible alarm after a maximum period of 15 minutes. Audible alarms without such a timing mechanism shall be unlawful in the Borough and must be disconnected by the user within 60 days from the effective date of this chapter. The following shall be excepted from the provisions of this section:

A. Audible fire alarm signals provided for the evacuation of occupants of industries, institutions and other similar premises.

B. Audible signals provided to indicate water flow in an automatic fire sprinkler system.[1]

[1] Editor's Note: Original § 45-4, Direct keying, which immediately followed this section, was repealed at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).

§ 122-4 Registration of installations.

A. Within 90 days from the effective date of this chapter, every person, corporation, institution or company who has keyed an automatic protection device in the Borough shall furnish to the Chief of Police a registration of such installation which shall include the following information:[1]

(1) The name, residence and telephone number of the user.

(2) The address where the device is installed and the telephone number of that address.

(3) The name, address and telephone number of a central station protective system or any other person or firm who is authorized to respond to an emergency and gain access to the address where the device is installed.

(4) The name and telephone number of the alarm equipment supplier and of any person other than the alarm equipment supplier who is responsible for the maintenance and repair of the automatic protection device.

[1] Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).

B. All information furnished pursuant to these sections shall be kept confidential and shall be for the use of the Police Department and Fire Department only.[2]

[2] Editor's Note: Original § 45-6, Operational requirements, which immediately followed this section, was repealed at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).

§ 122-5 Repair service. [1]

The alarm user shall be responsible for having the device disconnected or repaired as quickly as possible after notice that the automatic protection device is not functioning properly.[2]

[1] Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).

[2] Editor's Note: Original § 45-9, Disconnection of defective devices, which immediately followed this section, was repealed at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).

§ 122-6 Testing and demonstrations.

No person shall conduct any test or demonstration of an automatic protection device without first obtaining permission from the Police Department where the equipment is keyed through an intermediary. No such permission is necessary unless the alarm or signal is to be relayed to the Police Department or the Fire Department of the Borough of Lansdale.

§ 122-7 Fees; adoption of regulations.

Users shall pay such connection and annual fees as the Borough shall set by resolution from time to time. The Borough may set permit fees and adopt regulations to implement this chapter from time to time.

§ 122-8 Inspections.

For the purpose of enforcing this chapter, it shall be a condition to installing and maintaining an automatic protection device that the Code Enforcement Officer or the Chiefs of the Police Department and Fire Department may enter upon a user's premises within the Borough, at such reasonable times and upon reasonable notice, to inspect the installation or operation of an automatic protection device. Each user shall cooperate with such officials in every reasonable manner to permit such inspections.

§ 122-9 Violations and penalties.

[Amended 10-3-1984 by Ord. No. 1310]

A. Failure of any person to comply with the requirements of written notice of any provision herewith shall constitute an offense punishable by a fine of not less than $100 nor more than $300 plus costs of prosecution to be collectible before any Magisterial District Judge as like fines and penalties are not by law collected. Such notice shall continue in force and effect until full compliance with the requirements stated therein, and each and every failure to comply with such notice within 24 hours will constitute a separate offense.

B. Any person found guilty of misuse, continual accidental activation or false activation of an automatic protection device shall be liable for a fine of not less than $100 nor more than $300 plus costs of prosecution for each and every activation, to be collected before any Magisterial District Judge as like fines and penalties are now by law collectible.