This article shall be known and may be cited as the "Lower Moreland
Township False Alarm and Police and Fire Notification Control Ordinance."
The Board of Commissioners of the Township of Lower Moreland
has determined that the receipt of false alarms and false notifications
to the Police Department or volunteer fire company that emergencies
exist or situations exist wherein police or fire assistance or investigation
is required is detrimental to the welfare and safety of the citizens
of Lower Moreland Township and the members of the Police Department
and the volunteer fire company and that the receipt of said false
alarms and notifications by the Police Department and/or the fire
company detracts from the efficiency of said Department and company
in discharging their responsibilities to the citizens of Lower Moreland
Township. It is hereby declared to be the policy to safeguard and
protect the citizens of Lower Moreland Township, the members of the
Police Department and the members of all volunteer fire companies,
present and future, from such hazards or risks.
The Police Department shall have the power and the duty to enforce
the provisions of the article insofar as they relate to any false
report and/or request for police service and/or assistance, and the
Fire Marshal shall have the power and duty to enforce such provisions
insofar as they relate to any false report and/or request for fire
service and/or assistance.
[Amended 3-21-1990 by Ord. No. 392; 11-17-1999 by Ord. No. 503]
Any person as above defined, including but not limited to the
owner and/or lessee of any building in which a fire, holdup or burglar
alarm has been installed, violating any of the provisions of this
article shall, after the first offense in any given calendar year,
receive notice by first-class mail or hand delivery of said violation;
upon subsequent violations and upon conviction thereof by any District
Justice be subject to pay a fine of not less than $25 nor more than
$600, together with the costs of prosecution. Each instance of a violation
shall constitute a separate offense. In default of the payment of
any fine, the defendant may be sent to jail for a period not exceeding
30 days.