Township of East Norriton, PA: Definitions and word usage.

§ 54-1 Definitions and word usage.

As used in this chapter, the following words, terms and phrases shall have the following meanings given herein, unless the context specifically and clearly indicates otherwise:

AUDIBLE ALARM

Any device, bell, horn or siren which is attached to the interior or exterior of a building and emits a warning signal audible outside the building and designed to attract attention when activated by a criminal act or other emergency requiring police and/or fire personnel to respond.

AUTOMATIC PROTECTION DEVICE

An electrically operated instrument composed of sensory apparatus and related hardware which automatically transmits a prerecorded voice alarm over regular telephone line by direct or indirect connection to the Police and/or Fire Department upon receipt of a stimulus from a sensory apparatus that has detected a physical force or condition inherently characteristic of a fire or intrusion.

FALSE ALARM

Any signal activated by an automatic protection device, any audible alarm or any other kind of direct or indirect signal given to the police and/or fire communications center, to which the police and/or fire company respond, which is not the result of a fire, burglary, robbery or attempted burglary or robbery or similar emergency.

FIRE DEPARTMENT

The Norriton Fire Engine Company or any other fire company responding pursuant to any mutual aid agreement.

PERSON

Any person or persons, male or female, corporation, partnership, association, company, individual, owner, occupant, lessee or any agency, organization or other entity recognized by law as the subject of rights and duties.

POLICE DEPARTMENT

The Township of East Norriton Police Department or any other Police Department responding pursuant to an intermunicipal police agreement.

TOWNSHIP

The Township of East Norriton, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.

Words used in the singular include the plural; words in the plural include the singular; and words used in the present tense include the future.

The word "shall" is always mandatory.

§ 54-2 Timing mechanisms required.

After the enactment of this chapter, persons must equip audible alarms with a timing mechanism that will disengage the audible alarm after a maximum period of 15 minutes. Audible alarms without such a timing mechanism shall be unlawful in the Township and must be disconnected by the persons within 60 days from the effective date of this chapter. Excepted from this requirement are fire-suppression systems with audible alarms activated by the flow of water.

§ 54-3 Testing.

No person shall conduct any test or demonstration of an automatic protection device without first obtaining permission from the Police and Fire Departments. Where the equipment is keyed through an intermediary, no such permission is necessary unless the alarm or signal is to be relayed to the Police and/or Fire Department.

§ 54-4 False alarms.

Any person who installs or permits to be installed, in any building used or occupied for any purpose, any answering device, audible alarm, automatic protection device and/or central station protective system, and which equipment is so poorly designed, constructed, regulated or installed, as a result whereof false alarms are transmitted to the Township Police Department, the Norriton Fire Engine Company or any other municipal office or officer, shall be in violation of this chapter.

Any person who owns, leases or occupies a building which has an answering service, audible alarm, automatic protection device and/or central station protective system installed, and such equipment results in continual accidental activation, then, in such case, said person shall be in violation of this chapter. For the purposes of this section, "continual accidental activation" shall be defined to mean three accidental activations within a six-month period with respect to calls to the Police Department and two accidental activations within a six-month period with respect to calls to the fire company.

§ 54-5 Violations and penalties.

Any person who violates any of the provisions of this chapter, upon being adjudged guilty thereof in any proceeding brought by virtue hereof before the District Justice in and for said Township, shall be sentenced to pay a fine as follows:

(1)

For the first offense, a written warning shall be issued by the Chief of Police or the Fire Marshal.

(2)

For the second offense, a fine in an amount not to exceed $100, plus costs.

[Amended 9-27-1982 by Ord. No. 178; 10-22-2013 by Ord. No. 549]

(3)

For the third offense, a fine in an amount not to exceed $200, plus costs.

[Amended 9-27-1982 by Ord. No. 178; 10-22-2013 by Ord. No. 549]

(4)

For the fourth offense and subsequent offenses, a fine in an amount not to exceed $400, plus costs.

[Amended 9-27-1982 by Ord. No. 178; 10-22-2013 by Ord. No. 549]

Offenses shall be accumulated on a moving twelve-month basis. Any offenses more than one-year old shall not be considered in determining whether an offense is a first or subsequent offense. In the event that the false alarms have been caused by malfunctions of the system rather than by user error, then the person responsible must demonstrate after the first offense that corrective measures have been taken. Failure to so demonstrate corrective measures shall result in a doubling of the appropriate fine.

In default of paying any fine plus costs, the offender shall be committed to the county jail for a period not exceeding 30 days.