[HISTORY: Adopted by the Mayor and Council of the Borough
of Folsom 3-9-2016 by Ord. No.
04-2016. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Housing Code — See Ch. 118.
An ever increasing number of homeowners and business owners
are installing alarm systems in an effort to prevent crime. The installation
of these systems should certainly be encouraged, because they tend
to make the community safe. A result, however, of having so many properties
with alarm systems is that the State Police are called upon to respond
to false alarms. It is the purpose of this chapter to curtail the
number of false alarms received by the State Police.
If the State Police receives a call which requires an officer
to be dispatched to a residence or dispatched to a business or dispatched
to any location in the Borough of Folsom and upon arrival it can be
determined that no property or person was in threat of harm or injury
and the call or alarm to the State Police was made by mistake, neglect
or with the purpose to annoy and there is no justifiable reason to
initiate the dispatch, the alarm shall be considered false.
An individual shall be considered to have violated this chapter
if he or she initiated the false alarm or negligently allowed the
false alarm to be made. It shall be presumed that the owner of any
property that has an alarm system is the person who initiates or allows
the alarm to be made. The presumption may be rebutted.
[Amended 6-8-2016 by Ord.
No. 05-2016]
Anyone who is convicted of violating this chapter in the Borough
of Folsom Municipal Court is subject to the following penalties:
A.
First offense and second offense: a warning.
B.
Third offense: a fine of $50 payable through the Violations Bureau
in the Borough of Folsom.
C.
Fourth offense: A fine of $100 payable through the Violations Bureau
in the Borough of Folsom.
D.
Fifth offense: A fine of $200 payable through the Violations Bureau
in the Borough of Folsom.
E.
Sixth and subsequent offenses: A fine of $300 payable through the
Violations Bureau in the Borough of Folsom. A court appearance shall
not be required unless noted by an officer in the performance of his
duties.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
Any false alarm which occurs within a twelve-month period
from January 1 through December 31 annually.
A.
All security providers who maintain a panel within the Borough of
Folsom State Police for security systems for homeowners and businesses
are required to notify all such users annually as to the false alarm
ordinance by certified mail, return receipt requested, and provide
a copy of said letter and proof of service to the office of the Borough
of Folsom Clerk/Administrator and State Police.
B.
Any failure on the part of a provider to provide notice as contained
within this section shall not be considered a defense to the violation
of this chapter.
C.
Any provider who fails to comply with the notification requirements
contained herein shall forfeit his/her right to maintain a direct
connection panel within the Borough of Folsom State Police.
