[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Supervisors of Edgmont
Township 3-15-2006 by Ord. No.
195. Amendments noted where applicable.]
The following definitions shall apply to the interpretation
of this chapter:
A communication to a public safety agency indicating that
a crime, fire or other emergency warranting immediate action by that
public safety agency has occurred or is occurring.
A device designed to automatically transmit an alarm:
A device which is interconnected to a telephone line and
preprogrammed to transmit the coded signal of an alarm to a dedicated
telephone trunk line or to dial a predetermined telephone number to
an alarm to a public safety agency.
Any instrument which emits at the premises or automatically
transmits (via an alarm device) directly or indirectly, any form of
alarm or signal, including but not limited to a prerecorded voice
alarm, from the premises upon receipt of a stimulus from a sensory
apparatus that has detected a physical force or condition inherently
characteristic of intrusion or fire.
A telephone line or lines which serve a public safety agency
which is dedicated to receiving transmission from an automatic dialing
service.
The activation of an alarm device to which a public safety
agency responds when a crime, fire or other emergency has not occurred.
An individual, corporation, partnership, incorporated association
or other similar entity.
The Pennsylvania State Police or any municipal police or
fire department.
Edgmont Township, Delaware County, Pennsylvania.
A person may not attach or use an automatic dialing device without
first doing all of the following:
B.
Obtaining prior written approval from a public safety agency to use
the automatic dialing device to alert the public safety agency of
an alarm condition. The public safety agency shall not be responsible
for any costs for the installation and maintenance of any dedicated
telephone line or equipment associated with the alarm termination.
A.
A person seeking approval under § 113-2 of this chapter shall disclose the telephone number of a person to be contacted if the automatic dialing device is activated and all relevant facts concerning the design and layout of the premises to be protected by the automatic dialing device. The person shall inform the public safety agency of any change in the information required by this subsection as soon as practicable.
B.
All information furnished pursuant to this section shall be kept
confidential and shall be used solely for the purposes of this chapter.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General
Provisions, Art. I)]
Audible and visible automatic protection devices must be equipped
with a timing device which will disconnect an audible signal or alarm
at the premises after a maximum of 30 minutes, but a light alarm (silent)
signal outside the building or structure may continue to flash the
alarm for 60 minutes. Automatic protection devices without such a
device will be unlawful in the Township and must be disconnected by
the owner or lessee of the premises within 60 days from the effective
date of this chapter. Any person who violates or permits a violation
of this section shall, upon conviction in a summary proceeding brought
before a Magisterial District Judge in the same manner provided for
the enforcement of summary offenses 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 costs of prosecution. In default
of payment thereof, the defendant may be sentenced to imprisonment
for a term not exceeding 90 days. Each day or portion thereof that
such violation continues or is permitted to continue shall constitute
a separate offense, and each section of this chapter that is violated
shall also constitute a separate offense.
A.
One false alarm in a consecutive twelve-month period may result in
the issuance of a written notice from the Township or the public service
agency responding to the false alarm to the person that owns, uses
or possess an automatic protection device, alarm device or automatic
dialing device.
B.
Two false alarms in a consecutive twelve-month period may result
in the issuance of a written warning from the Township or the public
service agency responding to the false alarm to the person that owns,
uses or possess an automatic protection device, alarm device or automatic
dialing device.
C.
Three false alarms in a consecutive twelve-month period may result
in the issuance of a final notice to the person that owns, uses or
possess an automatic protection device, alarm device or automatic
dialing device.
D.
A person that owns, uses or possesses an automatic protection device, alarm device or automatic dialing device may not, after causing or permitting three false alarms to occur in a consecutive twelve-month period, cause or permit a subsequent false alarm to occur in the same consecutive twelve-month period. Any person who violates or permits a violation of this section shall, upon conviction in a summary proceeding brought before a Magisterial District Judge in the same manner provided for the enforcement of summary offenses 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 costs of prosecution. In default of payment thereof, the defendant may be sentenced to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 90 days. Each day or portion thereof that such violation continues or is permitted to continue shall constitute a separate offense, and each subsection of this section that is violated shall also constitute a separate offense. The violation under this Subsection D shall be deemed to have occurred whether or not the discretionary notices and warnings under Subsections A through C above are or have been issued by the Township.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General
Provisions, Art. I)]
Venue for prosecution of an offense under this chapter shall
lie at any of the following places:
