CROSS REFERENCES
Fire alarms — See 18 C.P.S.A. § 4905.
False fire alarms — See GEN. OFF. 701.02.
[Ord. 70-1995 § 1, passed 12-13-1995]
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated, unless a different meaning clearly appears from
the context:
(a)
ALARM SYSTEM DEVICE — One or more alarm devices which transmit
an alarm by wire, telephone, radio or other means:
(1)
Directly to the Department;
(2)
To a person who is instructed to notify the Department of the
alarm; or
(3)
To activate a bell or sounding device to be heard outside a
building which is intended to alert the Department or others to the
existence of a crime, fire or other emergency situation warranting
action.
This definition specifically excludes any such device used exclusively
to protect a residential premises. This definition also excludes City
of Erie master fire alarm box devices.
(b)
ALARM SYSTEM DEVICE USER — The person who occupies a premises
on which an alarm device is operated, or if no person occupies the
premises, the person having the right to possession of the premises
on which the alarm device is operated.
(c)
DEPARTMENT — The City of Erie Fire Communications Center and/or
the City of Erie Police Department, as applicable.
(d)
DIRECTOR — The Director of the City Department of Public Safety
or his duly appointed designee.
(e)
FALSE ALARM — An alarm to which the Department responds resulting
from the activation of an alarm device when a crime, fire or other
emergency warranting immediate action by the Department has not in
fact occurred.
(f)
PERSON — An individual, firm, partnership, association, corporation,
company or business of any kind.
[Ord. 70-1995 § 2, passed 12-13-1995]
(a)
False alarms. Any person causing a false alarm for any reason shall pay to the City a fine for each and every false alarm to which the Police and/or Fire Departments respond, except as provided in Subsection (b) hereof.
(b)
Fine exceptions. No fine shall be levied for the first three false
alarms occurring within a given calendar year.
(c)
False alarm fines. The alarm device user shall pay a false alarm
fee in the amount of $25 for the fourth false alarm and a fee of $100
for the fifth false alarm and a fee of $200 for each and every false
alarm thereafter occurring within a given calendar year.
(d)
Notice. The Director or his duly appointed designee shall notify
the user of the assessment of each false alarm and shall invoice the
alarm device user. Such notice shall be in writing and mailed to the
alarm device user at his last known address by regular mail, postage
prepaid.
(e)
Due date. The false alarm fine shall be due and payable at the office
of the Department 30 days from the date of the mailing of the notice
of assessment. Failure to pay a false alarm fine shall subject the
alarm device user to the penalty provision of this article.
(f)
Exceptions. A false alarm shall not include an alarm activated by
the following:
(1)
Testing or repairing telephone lines or electrical lines or
equipment outside the premises; or
(2)
Unusually violent conditions of nature such as extreme weather
conditions, power outages or water pressure changes; or
(3)
Other extraordinary circumstances not reasonably subject to
control by the alarm user.
[Ord. 70-1995 § 3, passed 12-13-1995]
(a)
Any entity covered by this article shall within 30 days of the enactment
of this amendment, provide the Bureaus of Police and Fire with a list
of at least three contact persons. This list shall include the name,
address and telephone number, and shall be updated annually.
(b)
When keyholder response is required, a response shall be within 45
minutes of notification.
(c)
If the alarm is "false" twice within a twenty-four-hour period, the
Bureaus of Police and Fire have authorization to notify the alarm
subscriber that they shall not respond to further alarms unless the
Bureaus are notified that the system has been repaired.
(d)
All alarm companies doing business within the City of Erie shall
be responsible for installation of a direct "ring down" telephone
connection to the Bureaus of Police and Fire. Companies located outside
of the 814 area code shall maintain "800" telephone service.
[Ord. 70-1995 § 4, passed 12-13-1995]
If any sentence, clause, section or part of this article is
for any reason found to be unconstitutional, illegal or invalid, such
unconstitutionality, illegality or invalidity shall not affect or
impair any of the remaining provisions.
[Ord. 70-1995 § 5, passed 12-13-1995]
Any person, partnership or corporation who violates any provision
of this article, upon conviction in a summary proceeding before the
District Magistrate in the jurisdiction where the violation occurred,
shall be fined not less than $100 nor more than $300 or imprisoned
not more than 90 days, in addition to paying court costs and fines
assessed under Section 349.02(c).
