[HISTORY: Adopted by the Borough Council of the Borough of Marietta as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Fire Company — See Ch. 16.
Susquehanna Regional Police Department — See Ch. 24, Art. II.
[Adopted 8-9-2016 by Ord. No. 05-2016]
The following definitions shall apply in the interpretation and enforcement of this article:
EMERGENCY SERVICES
Services provided within the Borough by the designated volunteer Fire Department operating in the Borough, the Police Department serving the Borough and by the ambulance association serving the Borough.
FALSE ALARM
Any activation of an alarm system by inadvertence, negligence or intentional or unintentional acts or means, to which an emergency services provider responds and where it is determined that the alarm was not the result of a crime in progress, fire, medical or other emergency necessitating a response by emergency services, excepting those alarms which are caused solely by weather extremes or inadvertent utility interruptions.
It shall be unlawful for the property owner, lessee, or any person occupying, in control of, or otherwise on or in any premises or location within the Borough, to make or cause to be made a false alarm directly or indirectly to any emergency services agency or provider responding to alarms within the Borough limits.
A. 
Whether an alarm is a false alarm as defined herein shall be determined solely by the Fire Chief or his/her designee, and such decision shall be a final determination.
B. 
Upon notification to Marietta Borough of a first false alarm within a calendar year, the Borough shall send a written notice to the owner, lessee, and/or occupant of the premises notifying said person or persons of the purpose and provisions of this article.
C. 
Service fees for false alarms shall be assessed by and paid to the Borough as follows:
(1) 
A first false alarm in any one calendar shall not be subject to a service fee.
(2) 
A second false alarm in any one calendar year shall be subject to a service fee of $100.
(3) 
A third false alarm in any one calendar year shall be subject to a service fee of $200.
(4) 
A fourth and all subsequent false alarms in any one calendar year shall be subject to a service fee of $300, plus prosecution in accordance with this article.
D. 
The Borough shall be responsible for administering the terms of this article.
A. 
In the event a violation of this article occurs, in addition to such other remedies as may be available under existing law, the Borough may institute an action in equity to prevent, restrain, correct, abate or enjoin such violation.
B. 
Any person, whether as principal or agent, who violates this article, fails to comply with any provision of this article, or assigns or abets its violation shall, upon conviction in a summary proceeding under the Pennsylvania Rules of Criminal Procedure, be guilty of a summary offense and shall be punishable by a fine of not more than $1,000, plus court costs and reasonable attorneys’ fees incurred by the Borough in the enforcement proceedings and service fees as set forth above. Upon judgment against any person by summary conviction, or by proceedings by summons on default of the payment of the fine or penalty imposed and the costs, the defendant may be sentenced and committed to the county correctional facility for a period not exceeding 30 days. Each day that such violation exists shall constitute a separate offense, and each section of this chapter that is violated shall also constitute a separate offense. In addition to or in lieu of enforcement under this section, the Borough may enforce this chapter in equity in the Court of Common Pleas of Lancaster County.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).