[HISTORY: Adopted by the Mayor and Council
of the Borough of Alpha 8-25-1998 by Ord. No. 98-5. Amendments noted where
applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Noise — See Ch. 265.
The purpose of this chapter is to establish
standards and regulations concerning the installation, operation and
maintenance of certain alarm systems within the Borough of Alpha.
[Amended 2-25-2014 by Ord. No. 2014-04]
A.
Any person who desires to own, operate, lease or maintain an alarm
system within the Borough shall file a registration permit annually
for a fee of $10 to be paid to the police service provider. The permit
shall contain the location of the alarm system, the installer's
name and address, the type of device, information relating to false
alarms and testing procedures, a list of names and addresses and telephone
numbers of persons to be contacted, and those who will respond in
the event of an alarm, and such other information as may be required
by the police service provider.
B.
The police service provider shall issue a registration permit or
make the appropriate internal account for the ownership, operation
or maintenance of an alarm system to any person desiring to own, operate,
lease or maintain an alarm system if the police service provider is
satisfied that the registration information is complete and that the
alarm system is capable of being operated in conformance with this
chapter. Special conditions may be made, if this is deemed necessary.
C.
A registration permit shall be valid only for the calendar year in
which it is issued, provided that all required amendments thereto
have been filed. A registration permit shall automatically terminate
upon a change in occupancy for the premises for which the permit was
issued.
D.
Any permit granted thereunder shall be accepted upon the express
condition that the registrant shall indemnify and hold the Borough
harmless from and on account of any and all damages arising out of
the activities of the registrant or its alarm contractor.
[Amended 2-25-2014 by Ord. No. 2014-04]
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
Any device employed to call attention to or provide warning
by any person or by fire, smoke, flood or other peril, whether the
same provides a visual or audio response, alarm or warning.
An alarm system which when activated emits a sound which
can be heard beyond the boundaries of the premises on which it is
located.
That type of automatic telephone dialing service using the
telephone system to transmit an alarm of intrusion, fire, smoke, flood
or other peril to the police service provider or any third party.
An alarm device which has a direct line to the police service
provider.
Any alarm or signal of an alarm activated by inadvertence,
negligence, the intentional or unintentional act of a person other
than an intruder, and including alarms caused by mechanical failure,
malfunction or improper installation of the alarm system and related
equipment. False alarms shall not include activations caused by power
or phone line interruptions, where such interruptions have been reported
to the Borough of Alpha or its police service provider.
Any alarm device, other than a direct or dial alarm, which
when activated produces an external emergency signal.
Any individual, person, firm, association, partnership, corporation,
organization, business entity or club.
Any person owning, operating, leasing or maintaining an alarm
system within the scope of this chapter, who has been issued a registration
permit or completed and submitted the proper documentation to the
police service provider to operate and maintain such alarm system.
[Amended 2-25-2014 by Ord. No. 2014-04]
The provisions of this chapter shall apply to any person who
owns, operates, leases or maintains any alarm system situated within
the Borough if the alarm system has an audible signaling device which
requires a response by the police service provider, Alpha Fire Department,
Emergency Squad or other Borough agency. The provisions of this chapter
shall in no way prohibit service by a private source to persons within
or outside the Borough, so long as such activity is not in violation
of this chapter, and provided further that any person owning, operating,
leasing or maintaining a premises protected by an alarm system shall
be responsible for the registration thereof in accordance with this
chapter.
[1]
Editor's Note: Former § 125-5, Alarm console, was repealed
2-25-2014 by Ord. No. 2014-04.
[Amended 2-25-2014 by Ord. No. 2014-04]
All components of an alarm system shall be maintained in good
repair and shall operate in a proper manner. When evidence exists
that there has been failure to comply with the maintenance and operation
requirements of this chapter, the police service provider shall then
be authorized to demand that such alarm system be disconnected until
such time as compliance with the provisions of this chapter has been
established. The police service provider shall have the right to disconnect
any malfunctioning equipment from any alarm system until such time
as the malfunction has been corrected and the alarm system is operating
in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.
[Amended 2-25-2014 by Ord. No. 2014-04]
All audible signaling devices shall be equipped with a timing
device to limit the sounding of the signaling device to 15 minutes
or less.
[Amended 2-25-2014 by Ord. No. 2014-04]
A.
In the case of a false alarm or of improper maintenance or operation
of an alarm system, any person having knowledge thereof shall immediately
notify the police service provider. The police service provider shall
cause an investigation to be made of all false alarms and of all improper
maintenance or operation of alarm systems and shall keep a record
of such false alarms on file. For such alarms, the following penalties
shall prevail:
(1)
For the first and second false alarm in the same calendar year, a
warning will be issued.
(2)
For the third and fourth false alarm in the same calendar year, a
service fee of $50 per false alarm shall be paid to the Borough.
(3)
For the fifth and/or all subsequent false alarms in the same calendar
year, a service fee of $100 per false alarm shall be paid to the Borough.
B.
Where the investigation of the police service provider discloses
a continuous disregard by the owner for taking remedial steps for
avoiding false alarms or for continuous failure to maintain or operate
an alarm system properly, the police service provider shall have the
right to require disconnection of the alarm system for a limited or
permanent time, giving the owner an opportunity to show cause to the
police service provider why such action should not be taken. A person
aggrieved by the decision of the police service provider shall have
the right to appeal said decision to the Borough Council within 10
days of the decision.
[Amended 6-22-2004 by Ord. No. 04-16; 2-25-2014 by Ord. No. 2014-04]
Any person or entity found to violate any of the terms or provisions
of this chapter or who shall commit or do any act or thing prohibited
in this chapter shall, upon conviction thereof before the Municipal
Court, be subject to a fine not exceeding $1,250.
