[HISTORY: Adopted by the Borough Council of the Borough of Chalfont 1-16-1990 by Ord. No. 254-A (Ch. 13, Part 3, of the 2010 Code of Ordinances). Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Emergency management — See Ch. 27.
For the purpose of this chapter, certain words and phrases are defined as follows:
ALARM SYSTEM
Any mechanical, electrical or electronic device which is designed or used for the detection of an unauthorized entry into a building, structure or facility, or the alerting of others about the commission of an unlawful act within a building, structure or facility, or for alerting others about the existence of any other condition requiring response of police, fire or ambulance personnel and which emits and/or transmits an audible and/or visual signal or message when actuated. Alarm systems include, but are not limited to, direct-dial telephone devices, audible alarms and subscriber alarms.
AUDIBLE ALARM
A device that emits an audible signal from the premises that it is designed to protect.
DIRECT DIAL ALARM
A device that, when actuated, causes a recorded message to be transmitted, by way of telephone, to any emergency service including, but not limited to, fire companies, ambulance, rescue squad and/or police departments serving any Borough residence or business, stating that emergency response is necessary.
EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBER
That primary phone number advertised to the public requesting emergency services.
FALSE ALARM
An alarm signal, necessitating response by the emergency agency where an emergency situation does not exist. An alarm that has been activated by an external source that is beyond the reasonable control of the subscriber shall not be considered false.
POLICE
The Central Bucks Regional Police Department.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]
A. 
It shall be the responsibility of all persons, entities, firms, corporations or other groups that maintain alarm systems within the Borough to provide current information to the Police Department and emergency agency, if other than police, consisting of the names and telephone numbers of responsible persons who may be contacted in case of emergency or who are authorized to provide service to the alarm system, either must be available on a twenty-four-hour basis. This information is to be filed with the police when then alarm system is initially placed into service and must be updated immediately whenever changes are necessary or annually, whichever is the lesser time.
B. 
Audible alarms must be silenced within 15 minutes after a designated responsible person is notified to do so by the police or the alarm system may be equipped with a timing device that will automatically silence the audible alarm within 15 minutes after it is actuated.
C. 
The direct dial alarms shall not be connected to the emergency agency emergency phone number. A secondary phone number may be provided by the responding agency for direct dial alarms only. Direct dial alarms must be equipped with a device that will prevent more than three repeated transmissions of an alarm for the same emergency.
D. 
Prior to installation of any alarm to any approved agency other than the Central Bucks Regional Police Department, the owner shall provide the Police Department with a letter signed by an authorized representative of the agency granting permission for such installation.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]
E. 
It shall be the responsibility of all persons, entities, firms, or corporations installing such systems within the Borough to prevent the transmission of false alarms through a program of training and periodic inspection and maintenance of the system. The maximum permissible number of false alarms from one location shall be three false alarms in any one-year period. False alarms in excess thereof shall be considered to be a violation of this chapter.
The provisions of this chapter shall not apply to the general alerting alarms that may be used by fire companies, ambulance squads or civil defense agencies to summon response of their members. The provisions of this chapter shall not apply to alarm systems that are affixed to motor vehicles.
[Amended 12-18-2001 by Ord. No. 326; at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]
Any owner, lessee or user who violates or permits a violation of this chapter 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. 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 Borough correctional facility for a period not exceeding 10 days or to the county correctional facility for a period not exceeding 30 days. Failure to comply with any notice sent by the Borough within three days of receipt shall be deemed an offense. 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 Bucks County.