[Ord. 332, 12/1/1999, § I]
1. 
The Board finds that:
A. 
WHEREAS, improper installation, defective equipment, lack of maintenance or other reason may cause any fire alarm system to malfunction.
B. 
WHEREAS, each time the Harmar Township Volunteer Fire Co., or other Township department responds to a fire alarm activated because of a malfunction, the cost to the Township and Harmar Township Volunteer Fire Co., is significant.
C. 
WHEREAS, in addition to the financial cost, each malfunction requires that emergency personnel respond, thus decreasing the number of personnel available to respond to an actual fire or other emergency.
D. 
WHEREAS, false fire alarms jeopardize the safety of emergency personnel as well as the general public.
E. 
WHEREAS, the Township of Second Class Code has vested the Board with the power to regulate the foregoing pursuant to 53 P.S. § 65762.
[Ord. 332, 12/1/1999, § II; as amended by Ord. 399, 8/16/2012, § I.A]
ALARM
A communication to the Township Police Department, or a warning sound audible outside the premises from which it is produced, indicating that a crime, fire or other emergency situation warranting immediate action by either the Fire Department or Police Department has occurred or is occurring.
ALARM SYSTEM
A mechanical, electrical or electronic device designed to automatically sound an alarm or to transmit an alarm by wire, telephone, radio or other means:
A. 
Directly to the police department or fire company.
B. 
To a person who is instructed to notify the police department or fire company of the alarm.
COMMERCIAL ESTABLISHMENT
Any person or entity engaging in any enterprise for profit.
FALSE ALARM
An alarm to which either the fire department or police department responds resulting from the activation of an alarm system when a crime, fire or other emergency warranting immediate action by either the fire department or the police department has not, in fact, occurred. False alarms shall include, but not be limited to, accidentally activated signals, signals which result from faulty, malfunctioning or improperly installed or maintained equipment, signals which are purposely or accidentally activated to summon police or fire response in non-emergency situations, and alarm signals for which the actual cause is not determined.
FIRE DEPARTMENT
Any fire company serving any portion of the Township.
POLICE DEPARTMENT
The Police Department of the Township.
[Ord. 332, 12/1/1999, § III]
For the purpose of this Part, all persons, including individuals, groups, associations, corporations and other entities shall be deemed responsible to maintain all portions of the "alarm system" which they own, or over which they have or may have control or custody, in such condition and in such a manner that will prevent the activation of a "false alarm" and such persons shall prevent the existence of any external conditions which may cause the activation of a "false alarm."
[Ord. 332, 12/1/1999, § IV]
From and after the date of this Part, any person having ownership, custody or control of an alarm system which issues a false alarm, shall be in violation of this Part. Each false alarm issued shall constitute a separate violation.
[Ord. 332, 12/1/1999, § V; as amended by A.O.]
1. 
For the first two false alarms which occur in any one calendar year from each alarm system, there shall be no charge. For each false alarm thereafter during such calendar year the penalty shall be $300.
2. 
There shall be a sixty-day grace period in the collection of false alarm penalty fees for any new installation of an alarm system.
3. 
Any person violating this Part, 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 Part continues or each section of this Part which shall be found to have been violated shall constitute a separate offense. All fines and penalties collected for violation of this Part shall be paid to the Township Treasurer. The initial determination of Part violation and the service of notice of violation are hereby delegated to the Township Ordinance Enforcement Officer, or the Township Secretary or the Township Secretary's designee and to any other officer or agent deemed appropriate by the Board of Supervisors.