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,
and fire company or other municipal agencies.
The provisions of this chapter shall apply to any person who
operates, maintains or owns any alarm devices, 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 and located within the confines of Lancaster
County Control or elsewhere.
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.
DIAL ALARM
Type of device using telephone lines transmitting an alarm
directly to Lancaster County Control or other approved 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 connected to the alarm console, such as a store or home burglar
alarm actuating bell or horn devices.
PERSON
Any natural person, partnership, corporation or association.
In the case of a false alarm, any person having knowledge thereof
shall immediately notify the police department in a manner prescribed
by rules and regulations of the police department of Manor Township.
In addition, in the case of false alarms the Police Chief, or his
designee, shall cause an investigation to be made and keep a record
of said false alarms on file. For such false alarms, the Board of
Supervisors prescribes the following administrative fees:
A. For the third false alarm in any given calendar year, a warning shall
be issued. For the third false alarm in any given year, the Police
Chief, or his designee, shall notify the person occupying the premises
upon which the alarm is located that a false alarm has been received
and that any further false alarms during the same calendar year will
result in penalties as set forth in this chapter.
B. For the fourth false alarm received in the same calendar year, an
administrative fee of $25 payable to Manor Township shall be imposed.
The administrative fee hereby imposed shall be payable in lieu of
a fine hereinafter imposed by this chapter.
C. For the fifth false alarm in the same calendar year, an administrative
fee of $50 payable to Manor Township shall be imposed. The administrative
fee hereby imposed shall be payable in lieu of a fine hereinafter
imposed by this chapter.
D. For the sixth and subsequent false alarm in the same calendar year,
an administrative fee of $100 payable to Manor Township shall be imposed.
The administrative fee hereby imposed shall be payable in lieu of
a fine hereinafter imposed by this chapter.
Notice as required by this chapter shall be given by the Police
Chief, 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 requested, to such person at that 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 Police Chief, 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.
Any person found guilty of violating the terms of this chapter
or any person who shall fail to pay the administrative fee for false
alarms in excess of three in the same calendar year shall, upon conviction
in a summary proceeding, be subject to a fine of not more than $300
or imprisonment for a period not to exceed 90 days or both.