The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this chapter, shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to them in this section:

Alarm system means an assembly of equipment and devices, or a single device, arranged to signal the presence of a hazard requiring urgent attention and to which police are expected to respond.

False alarm means any alarm condition which is registered at the police department or elsewhere not resulting from criminal activity for which the alarm was intended, or in the case of a fire alarm any alarm condition which is registered at the police department or elsewhere not resulting from a fire or potential fire condition.

Subscriber includes but is not limited to any public service utility, fire department or police agency.

(Ord. No. 112, § 1, 8-3-81)

Cross reference— Definitions and rules of construction generally, § 1-2.

No person shall sell, install, operate, adjust, arrange for or contract to provide a device or combination of devices that will upon activation, either mechanically, electronically or by other means, initiate the automatic intrastate calling, dialing or connection to any telephone number assigned to any subscriber by a public telephone company, for the purpose of delivering a recorded message.

(Ord. No. 112, § 2, 8-3-81)

No person, corporation, partnership or any other legal entity, shall use, lease, install or direct to be installed any alarm system which emits a sound and/or visual signal for a period longer than fifteen (15) minutes from the time of the initial signaling of the devices.

(Ord. No. 112, § 3, 8-3-81; Ord. No. 112-A, § 1, 8-19-85; Ord. No. C-325, § 1, 8-19-91)

Separate systems are required whenever a single building contains more than one (1) unit of occupancy and each unit has a separate entrance. If an occupant elects to install an alarm system, he shall be required to have a separate alarm system for each business located in the building. Whenever a multiple housing residential structure shall have entrances for each occupancy unit, and an occupant elects to have an alarm system, each separate entrance to the occupancy unit shall contain separate alarm systems. No two (2) buildings which are separate units of occupancy shall have a single alarm system for both buildings; rather, a separate system must be maintained for each such building.

(Ord. No. 112-A, § 2, 8-19-85)

Notwithstanding any penalties provided for in the event of a conviction for violation of this chapter, and notwithstanding the fact that a prosecution for violation of this chapter has or has not been commenced, in order to defray the cost of responding to false alarms, any person, corporation, partnership or any other legal entity who uses, leases, installs or directs the installation of an alarm system described in this chapter shall pay to the Township an alarm fee as provided for in section 4-6 below, for each occasion that the alarm is activated and responded to by the police and/or fire department in any of the following cases:

(1)

No evidence of illegal entry or an attempt thereof;

(2)

No evidence of fire;

(3)

A malfunction in the system;

(4)

Activated by mistake;

(5)

Alarm activated by persons working on the alarm system, where the police and fire department were not previously notified.

(Ord. No. 112, § 4, 8-3-81; Ord. No. C-325, § 2, 8-19-91)

For violations of section 4-5, the alarm fee schedule shall be as follows:

(1)

First activation requiring response by police/fire department, in the calendar year .....No charge

(2)

Second activation requiring response by police/fire department, in the calendar year .....$30.00

If not paid within 30 days .....35.00

(3)

Third activation requiring response by police/fire department, in the calendar year .....40.00

If not paid within 30 days .....50.00

(4)

Fourth and each subsequent activation requiring response by the police/fire department, in the calendar year .....100.00

If not paid within 30 days .....125.00

(5)

For each additional 30 day period that the above required fees are not paid, an additional fee shall be required .....5.00

(Ord. No. 112, § 5, 8-3-81; Ord. No. C-325, § 3, 8-19-91)

(a)

Notwithstanding anything in this chapter to the contrary, no owner or lessee shall be required to pay the costs required in section 4-5 on the first occasion of a false alarm during any one (1) calendar year, but shall be advised in writing of the false alarm and of the existence of this chapter.

(b)

Further, such costs shall not be required in the case of any false alarm activated by severe weather or other violent conditions beyond the control of the owner or lessee of an alarm system.

(Ord. No. C-325, § 4, 8-19-91)