[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Supervisors of the Township
of Unity 3-13-2008 by Ord. No.
O-8-08. Amendments noted where applicable.]
As used in this chapter, those words and phrases set forth hereafter
shall have the following meanings:
A communication to the public safety agency indicating that
a crime, fire or other emergency requiring immediate action by the
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.
A telephone line or lines which serve a public safety agency
which is dedicated to receiving transmissions from an automatic dialing
device.
The activation of an alarm device to which a public safety
agency responds when a crime, fire or other emergency has not occurred.
Any individual, corporation, partnership, incorporated association
or other similar entity.
The Pennsylvania State police, any volunteer fire department
or ambulance company providing emergency services within Unity Township,
Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania.
A.
Prior
to attaching or using an automatic dialing device, a person shall:
(1)
Obtain prior written approval for the installation
and use of such device from the public safety agency servicing the
premises which the device is designed to protect, such written approval
being designed to alert the public safety agency of an alarm condition;
and
(2)
Disclose to the public safety agency the telephone
number of a person to be contacted if the automatic dialing device
is activated who can provide all relevant facts concerning the design
and layout of the premises to be protected by the automatic dialing
device. The person so designated shall also be required to inform
the public safety agency of any change in the information required
by this subsection as soon as is practicable after such change occurs;
and
(3)
Secure any permits required under any building code
in effect within the Township of Unity regulating the type, design
or location of such device.
B.
The
public safety agency shall not be responsible for any costs associated
with the installation and maintenance of any dedicated telephone line
or equipment associated with the alarm termination.
The public safety agency may refuse, revoke or suspend any approval granted under § 39-2 above if the public safety agency determines any of the following to exist:
A.
Any
person who owns, uses or possesses an 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.
B.
Any
person who violates the provisions of this section, or any other provision
of this chapter, commits a summary offense and shall, upon conviction
thereof before a court of competent jurisdiction, be sentenced to
pay a fine of $300.
C.
The
Code Enforcement Officer of Unity Township, or his or her duly appointed
designees, shall be and is hereby vested with the authority to take
all actions necessary to enforce this chapter.
D.
The
disposition of any fines or penalties shall be consistent with the
provisions of Section 7511 of the Pennsylvania Crimes Code (18 P.S.
§ 7511).
