This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Franconia Township
Alarm Ordinance."
This chapter is deemed expedient and necessary for the maintenance of
peace, good government and the welfare of Franconia Township within the meaning
of Clause LXII, Section 702 of the Pennsylvania Second Class Township Code.
This chapter is intended to serve the following purposes:
A. To encourage owners of automatic security and emergency
detection and alarms devices to maintain such devices properly in order to
prevent false alarms.
[Amended 11-10-1997 by Ord.
No. 258]
B. To discourage false alarms, which unnecessarily divert
police, fire and emergency services from legitimate demands for service.
C. To fund the expense of the enforcement and administration
of the provisions of this chapter by requiring payment of service fees from
owners of automatic detection alarm devices for multiple false alarms so that
the general revenues of the township are not required to bear the expense.
The following definitions shall apply in the interpretation and enforcement
of this chapter:
FALSE ALARM
Any signal activated by an automatic fire, security or emergency
detection or alarm device, any audible alarm or any other kind of direct or
indirect signal to which police or emergency response agencies respond and
find that there is no indication of an attempted illegal entry, burglary,
intrusion, medical or other similar emergency, excluding weather extremes
and utility interruptions which activate such devices. False fire alarms are
not regulated by this chapter, and a false alarm, as herein defined, does
not include a false fire alarm.
[Amended 11-10-1997 by Ord.
No. 258]
It shall be unlawful for the property owner, lessee or other person
occupying or otherwise on any premises within the township to make, permit
or cause a false alarm, directly or indirectly, to any police department,
fire company or emergency response agency.
[Amended 6-10-1996 by Ord.
No. 237]
This chapter shall be enforced by action brought before a District Justice
in the same manner provided for the enforcement of summary offenses under
the Pennsylvania Rules of Criminal Procedure. Any person who violates or permits
the violation of this chapter shall, upon conviction in a summary proceeding,
be punishable by a fine of not more than $1,000 per violation or by imprisonment
for a term not exceeding 90 days. Each section of this chapter that is violated
shall constitute a separate offense.