[HISTORY: Adopted by the Borough Council of the Borough of
Larksville 5-17-1995 by Ord. No.
4-1995[1] (Ch. 65 of the 1987 Code). Amendments noted where applicable.]
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance also superseded former
Ch. 65, Alarm Systems, adopted 3-4-1974 by Ord. No. 2-1974, as amended.
This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Alarm System
Ordinance."[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Former § 65-2, Annual fee for
use of alarms connected to Police Department, was repealed 5-18-2004
by Ord. No. 3-2004.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
The twelve-month period commencing January 1 and ending December
31.
[Amended 5-18-2004 by Ord. No. 3-2004]
The Borough shall, if it deems necessary, have the right to
inspect the connection, operation and maintenance of the systems and
make reasonable charges for such inspections pursuant to the Borough
Electrical Code.
A.Â
Each individual, establishment, partnership, corporation, entity
or concern using alarm systems which when activated would cause the
Borough Police Department or Fire Department to be dispatched by Luzerne
County 911 Center to their location shall pay a service charge for
false alarms as hereinafter defined upon the basis set forth in this
section.
[Amended 5-18-2004 by Ord. No. 3-2004]
B.Â
Service charge; definition.
[Amended 5-18-2004 by Ord. No. 3-2004]
(1)Â
Should any burglar or fire alarm system cause a false alarm to occur
during any twelve-month period, then a graduated service charge shall
be levied against the owner of said system in accordance with the
following schedule during a twelve-month period:
False Alarms
|
Service Charge
|
---|---|
0 to 3
|
No service charge
|
4 or more
|
$100 each occurrence
|
(2)Â
A "false alarm" shall be any emergency alarm which is activated by
inadvertence, negligence or unintentional act to which the Borough
Police or Fire Department responds, including alarms caused by malfunction
of the alarm system, except that the following shall not be considered
false alarms:
(a)Â
Alarms caused by the testing, failure or repair of telephone
equipment or lines.
(b)Â
Alarms caused by an act of God, such as earthquakes, flood,
windstorm, thunder or lightning.
(c)Â
Alarms caused by an attempted illegal entry or any other crime
of which there is visible or reasonable evidence.
(d)Â
Alarms followed by a call to the Luzerne County 911 Center with
the proper coded identification canceling the alarm prior to the arrival
of the Police or Fire Department.
C.Â
Said service charge shall be payable by such individual, establishment,
partnership, corporation, entity or concern to the Borough of Larksville
within 30 days of the mailing of a statement, bill or notice by the
Borough of Larksville to the individual, establishment, partnership,
corporation, entity or concern.
D.Â
Any individual, establishment, partnership, entity or concern who
fails to pay said sum within 30 days following the above-mentioned
date shall have his alarms connection service with the Borough suspended
until such time as the aforesaid service charge is remitted to the
Borough of Larksville.
E.Â
In addition to Subsection D above, any individual, establishment, partnership, corporation, entity or concern who fails to pay said service charge within 30 days of the above-mentioned date, as set forth in Subsection C, shall be liable for interest at lawful rate of 6% per annum, payable from the mailing date of such notice and for reasonable attorney fees incurred by the Borough in its efforts to collect said service charge.
A.Â
Any individual, establishment, partnership, corporation, entity or
concern installing a burglar or fire alarm system within the Borough
of Larksville shall be required to obtain a building permit from the
Borough Code Enforcement Officer prior to the installing of any of
the above-described systems. Additionally, any individual, establishment,
partnership, corporation, entity or concern engaged in the business
of installing a burglar or fire alarm system within the Borough of
Larksville shall be required to obtain a contractor's license
for the Borough of Larksville. The cost for the building permit and
the contractor's license shall be determined by the Building
Permit Fee Ordinance of Larksville Borough[1] and/or the Borough Building Code.[2]
[Amended 5-18-2004 by Ord. No. 3-2004]
B.Â
Any violation of this section shall result in the prosecution of
the violator by the Borough and a fine imposed of not less than $50
nor more than $300 and costs, plus the appropriate yearly fees from
the date of installation.