[HISTORY: Adopted by the City Council of the City of Lock
Haven 8-6-1990 by Ord. No. 352B (Ch. 13, Part 3, of the 2003 Code of Ordinances). Amendments
noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Uniform construction codes — See Ch. 212.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the
meaning indicated, except where the context clearly indicates a different
meaning:
An assembly of equipment and devices, or a single device
such as a solid state unit, which uses electrical energy to signal
the presence of a hazard requiring urgent attention such as a burglar,
robbery, fire, smoke or need for medical assistance within a building,
structure or facility, or for alerting others to the commission of
an unlawful act or hazard within the building, structure or facility
and to which firemen, policemen or public safety officers are expected
to respond, and which emits a sound or transmits a signal or message
when actuated. "Alarm system" includes, but is not limited to, the
terms "audible alarm system," "automatic holdup alarm system," "burglar
alarm system," "fire alarm system" and "manual holdup alarm system,"
as those terms are hereinafter defined. Excluded from the definition
of "alarm systems" are systems used solely to alert or signal persons
within the premises in which the alarm system is located.
Any person, corporation, partnership or association owning,
leasing, occupying or found in charge of any premises wherein an alarm
system is located.
A telephone answering service providing the service of receiving
emergency signals from an alarm system and thereafter relaying the
emergency alarm by voice to the Clinton County Communication Center
and/or the Police Department for the City of Lock Haven.
An alarm system which generates an audible sound on the premises
when it is actuated, which sound can be heard by persons not on the
premises, although it may be also heard on the premises.
An alarm in which the signal transmission is initiated by
the action of the robber or intruder.
An alarm signaling an entry or an attempted entry in the
area protected by the alarm system.
The activation of an alarm system through mechanical failure,
malfunction, improper installation or the negligence of the owner
or lessee of an alarm system or his employees or agents.
An alarm system signaling fire and/or smoke in the area protected
by the alarm system and shall include, but not be limited to, all
fire alarms, smoke alarms or sprinkler alarms.
Refers to an alarm in which the signal transmission is initiated
by the direct action of the person attacked or by an observer of the
attack.
Any one or more of the alarm systems described in this section.
The person who buys or leases or otherwise obtains for use
upon the premises within the City an alarm system or contracts with
or hires an alarm business to monitor or service the alarm system.
The alarm subscriber shall provide the Clinton County Communication
Center with the names and residence telephone numbers of at least
two persons who can be reached by telephone and who can provide entry
into the premises wherein an alarm system is located for the purpose
of terminating an alarm signal.
No alarm system shall be tested with a resulting transmission
of an alarm without first notifying the Clinton County Communication
Center.
The City of Lock Haven shall not be liable for the maintenance
of any alarm system equipment, for answering any alarms or for any
loss or damage relating to the alarm system or procedure; and, further,
each subscriber shall hold harmless the City of Lock Haven, as well
as its employees for the same and shall reimburse for any reasonable
attorney's fees and cost incurred in the event the City of Lock
Haven is made party to any such legal proceedings.
[Amended 3-5-2018 by Ord.
No. 983]
Each subscriber shall pay to the City of Lock Haven a penalty
in the event a false alarm is transmitted to the Clinton County Communication
Center, as follows:
A.
When a false alarm occurs, the Lock Haven City Police Department
or the Lock Haven Fire Department, within 10 days from the date of
the false alarm, shall notify the subscriber of the alarm device from
which the false alarm emanated that a false alarm charge is due and
the amount thereof. Such notice shall be in writing and mailed (certified
mail) to the subscriber at the location of the alarm. Failure of the
Lock Haven Police Department or the Lock Haven Fire Department to
mail notice of assessment of a false alarm charge within 10 days from
the occurrence of a false alarm shall preclude the City from assessing
a false alarm charge for said false alarm.
B.
A false alarm charge shall be due and payable at the office of the
Lock Haven City Police Department 15 days from the date of the mailing
of the notice of assessment of the charge.
C.
Failure of the subscriber causing a false alarm to pay a false alarm
charge on or before the date due shall constitute a violation of this
chapter and shall be subject to termination of police or fire response.
[Amended 6-4-2001 by Ord.
No. 611B]
Alarm conditions caused by the following circumstances shall
not constitute a false alarm for which a user fee is imposed. Alarm
system malfunctions if:
A.
A person who has accidentally caused a false alarm immediately calls
the Clinton County Communication Center in time to prevent a response
of the Police or Fire Department to the premises.
B.
Alarm activated by storm conditions, motor vehicle-utility pole collisions
or disruption of telephone company service or other natural disaster.
C.
Corrective measures are instituted and written proof of repairs provided
within 72 hours after the alarm has been transmitted. Written proof
of repairs shall be provided to the Fire Chief for all false alarm
notifications issued by the Fire Department and to the Chief of Police
for all false alarm notifications issued by the Police Department.
In the event the subscriber of an alarm device has been assessed
with eight or more penalties per calendar year or has any unpaid penalties,
the Chief of Police or the Lock Haven Fire Department Chief shall
recommend to the City Manager that the City terminate responses until
such time as the penalties are paid in full and/or the subscriber
has his alarm system certified as repaired and functioning properly
by a company which installs and maintains alarm systems.
