Emergency Alarm System

735.01 Definitions.
735.02 Current list of audible alarm installations and timers required
735.03 Direct keying automatic protection devices dialer and direct tie-in
735.04 Indirect keying automatic protection devices central station
735.05 Current list of automatic protection devices
735.06 Automatic protection devices operation requirements
735.07 Automatic protection
735.08 Resident automatic protection devices repair service
735.09 Disconnecting protection devices
735.10 Registration permit
735.11 Fee.
735.99 Penalties.

CROSS REFERENCES

735.01 DEFINITIONS

The following definitions shall apply in the interpretation and enforcement of this Article.

(a) "City" means the City of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.

(b) "Alarm Equipment Supplier" means any person, firm or corporation who sells, leases and/or installs automatic protection devices.

(c) "Answering Service" means a service whereby trained employees in attendance at all times receive pre-recorded voice messages from automatic protection devices reporting an emergency at a stated station and who have the duty to relay immediately by live voice any such emergency message over a designated or direct trunkline to the Emergency Communication Center.

(d) "Audible Alarm" means 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 to respond.

(e) "Automatic Protection Device" means an electrically operated instrument composed of sensory apparatus and related hardware which automatically transmits a pre-recorded voice alarm or other signal over regular telephone line, by direct or indirect connection to the Emergency Communication Center, upon receipt of a stimulus from a sensory apparatus that has detected a physical force or condition inherently characteristic of an intrusion.

(f) "Central Station Protective System" means a protective system or group of such systems, operated privately for customers by a person, firm or corporation which maintains supervisors and accepts recorded messages from automatic protection devices at a central station having trained operators and guards in attendance at all times that have the duty to take appropriate action upon receipt of a signal or message, including the relaying of messages by designated or direct trunkline to the Emergency Communication Center.

(g) "Designated Trunkline" means a telephone line leading into the Emergency Communication Center that is for the primary purpose of handling emergency messages which originate from automatic protection devices and are transmitted directly or indirectly through an intermediary.

(h) "Direct Trunkline" means a non-listed, directly connected telephone line leading from an intermediary to the Emergency Communication Center that is for the primary purpose of handling emergency messages on a person-to-person basis.

(i) "False Alarm" means any signal activated by an automatic protection device, any audible alarm or any other kind of direct or indirect signal given the Emergency Communication Center to which police respond, which is not the result of a burglary, fire, robbery or similar emergency, including weather extremes and utility interruptions, Acts of God, which activates a protection device.

(j) "Intermediary" means a central station protective system or an answering service as herein defined.

(k) "Key" means to use a telephone line and equipment for transmitting a message either directly or indirectly by an automatic protection device.

(1) "Permit" means written permission, duly granted to an applicant by the City, upon payment of the required fee.

(m) "Emergency Communications Center" means the City of Bethlehem's Communication Center located at 10 East Church Street, which handles all police and other emergency communications.

(n) "Primary Trunkline" means a telephone line leading into the Emergency Communication Center that is for the purpose of handling emergency calls on a person-to-person basis, and which line is identified by a specific listing in the telephone directory issued by the Bell Telephone Company.

(o) "Secondary Trunkline" means a telephone line leading into the Emergency Communication Center that is for the purpose of handling administrative and other calls on a person-to-person basis and which is identified by a specific listing in the telephone directory issued by the Bell Telephone Company.

(p) "Silent Alarm" means a protective system that does not emit an audible signal or tone, when activated, at a protected site. This type of system is monitored by an alarm intermediary or police emergency communication center.

735.02 CURRENT LIST OF AUDIBLE ALARM INSTALLATIONS AND TIMERS REQUIRED.

(a) Within ninety (90) days from the effective date of this Article every owner or lessee of an audible or silent alarm shall furnish to the Emergency Communication Center a current list of such installations which shall include the following information:

(1) The name, residence and telephone number of the resident, owner, or lessee.

(2) The address where the device is installed and the telephone number of that address.

(3) The names, addresses and telephone numbers of at least two persons who are authorized to respond to an emergency and gain access to the address where the device is installed.
(4) The name, address, phone number or system installer or
repair service.

(b) After the enactment of this Article, owners or lessees shall equip audible alarms, other than fire alarms, with a timing mechanism that will disengage the audible alarm after a maximum period of twenty (20) minutes. Audible alarms without such a timing mechanism, other than fire alarms, shall be unlawful in the City and shall be disconnected by the owner or lessee within ninety (90) days from the effective date of this Article.

735.03 DIRECT KEYING AUTOMATIC PROTECTION DEVICES DIALER AND DIRECT TIE-IN.

(a) Automatic protection devices installed after the effective date of this Article shall be keyed to the trunkline assigned them by the City.

(b) Within ninety (90) days from the effective date of this Article all existing automatic protection devices that transmit recorded messages directly to the Emergency Communication Center shall be keyed to the trunkline assigned them by the City.

735.04 INDIRECT KEYING AUTOMATIC PROTECTION DEVICES CENTRAL STATION.

(a) Any person who has an automatic protection device in the City may arrange to have such device keyed to an intermediary authorized to relay emergency messages to the Emergency Communication Center.

(b) The relay of messages by authorized intermediaries shall be over a trunkline assigned them by the City.

(c) Automatic protection devices keyed to an authorized intermediary may also be keyed to another telephone which the owner of lessee of the automatic protection device has available to himself or his representative at some other location.

735.05 CURRENT LIST OF AUTOMATIC PROTECTION DEVICES.

(a) Within ninety (90) days from the effective date of this Article every alarm equipment supplier who has keyed an automatic protection device in the City to an assigned trunkline shall furnish to the Emergency Communication Center a current list of such installations which shall include the following:

(1) The name, address and telephone number of the resident, owner or lessee.

(2) The address where the device is installed and the telephone number of that address.

(3) The name, address and telephone number of a central station protective system or any other person or firm who is authorized to respond to an emergency and gain access to the address where the device is installed. Where there is not twenty-four (24) hour service maintained there shall be a least two other persons listed.

(b) By the fifth working day of each month following submission of the initial list, every alarm equipment supplier shall furnish the Emergency Communication Center with a supplemental list of any additional installations he has keyed to assigned trunklines, along with any correction to or deletions from the list previously furnished. An alarm equipment supplier who enters into the business after the effective date of this Article shall furnish a list containing the information specified in subsection (a) hereof by the fifth working day of the month following a first installation and shall thereafter furnish the supplemental list as required by this Article.

(c) All information furnished pursuant to this Article shall be kept
confidential and shall be for the use of the Emergency Communication Center.

735.06 AUTOMATIC PROTECTION DEVICES OPERATION REQUIREMENTS.

Automatic protection devices installed in the City that are keyed to an assigned trunkline in the Emergency Communication Center shall meet the following requirements:

(a) The recorded contact shall be very specific as to the nature of the emergency. The recording shall state, "This is an emergency - please stand by." Then repeat three times, "This is a recorded message reporting the (BURGLARY-ROBBERY-DURESS-MEDICAL ALERT -whichever emergency is occurring or applicable) has been activated." The complete message must be given.

(b) No more than one call shall be made over an assigned trunkline to the Emergency Communication Center as a result of a single activation of the automatic device.

(c) The message portion may be repeated during one call but the interval between each message shall be no less than three seconds nor more than five seconds.

(d) The sensory mechanism used in connection with an automatic protection device shall be adjusted to suppress false indications of intrusion, so that the device will not be actuated by impulses due to short flashes of light, the rattling or vibrating of doors and windows, vibrations to the premises caused by the passing of vehicles, aircraft or any other force not related to alarms.

(e) All components comprising such a device shall be maintained by the
owner or lessee in good repair to assure maximum reliability of operation.

735.07 AUTOMATIC PROTECTION DEVICES TECHNICAL INFORMATION.

Each alarm equipment supplier who sells or leases an automatic protection device in the City after the effective date of this Article, which is keyed to an assigned trunkline, shall furnish operating instructions, a current diagram and maintenance manual to the buyer or lessee.

735.08 RESIDENT AUTOMATIC PROTECTION DEVICES REPAIR SERVICE.

(a) Each alarm equipment supplier who sells or leases an automatic protection device in the City, which is keyed to an assigned trunkline, shall make service available directly or through an agent on a twenty-four (24) hour per day basis, seven (7) days a week, to repair such device or to correct any malfunction that may occur. (Such service shall be made available to any person using an automatic protection device at such user's election and expense).

(b) At the time of installation an alarm equipment supplier shall furnish to any buyer or lessee using a repair service written information as to how service may be obtained at any time, including the telephone number of the alarm equipment supplier or agent responsible for service. The buyer or lessee and the alarm equipment supplier or agent supplying a service shall be responsible for having the device disconnected or repaired as quickly as possible after notice that the automatic protection device is not functioning properly.

735.09 DISCONNECTING PROTECTION DEVICES.

When messages evidencing failure to comply with the operational requirements set forth in Section 735.06 are received by the Emergency Communication Center and the Commissioner of Police concludes that the automatic protection device sending such messages should be disconnected in order to relieve the particular division of responding to false alarms, he is authorized to demand that the owner or lessee of the device, or his representative, disconnect the device until it is made to comply with the operational requirements. If disconnection of the defective device is not accomplished promptly and the Commissioner of Police determines that the malfunctioning device is repeatedly sending false alarms without intermittent valid alarms, he may take any steps necessary to disconnect the defective protection device.

735.10 REGISTRATION PERMIT.

(a) Any alarm equipment supplier who sells or leases or any person who privately installs an alarm system at any site located within the City shall apply for a registration permit within seven days prior to installation. This application shall be obtained from the City of Bethlehem, 10 East Church Street, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, 18018. The application shall be completed and a copy made available upon request or clearly posted at the protected site. (Ord. 3997. Passed 3/7/00)

(b) The City shall issue a registration permit for the installation, operation and maintenance of an alarm system to any alarm equipment supplier or any person who privately installs, leases, or maintains an alarm system. The Police Department must be satisfied that the registration information is complete and the alarm system in question is capable of being operated in conformance with this ordinance. The permit may be granted subject to any special conditions stated thereon, if this is deemed necessary by the Police Department. All applications for a permit will be reviewed by the Police Department. (Ord. 3997. Passed 3/7/00)

(c) All existing security systems in the City shall obtain a registration permit. All required information will be provided and any other requirements of this ordinance will be adhered to.

(d) A registration permit will automatically terminate upon change in occupancy or usage or the premises for which originally issued.

(e) The permit shall indicate that a new permit is required when there is a change in the ownership, as indicated in part (d), above.

(f) Any permit granted hereunder shall be accepted upon the express condition that the registrant shall indemnify and hold the City harmless from and on account of any and all damages arising out of the activities of the registrant, alarm contractor or supplier.

735.11 FEE.

(a) All system installations, which includes installation of a new control panel and sensors, at existing alarm sites, shall be registered within seven (7) days prior to installation. This fee shall be Twenty-five ($25.00) Dollars. A late registration fee of Twenty-five ($25.00) Dollars shall be charged those alarm equipment suppliers who are found to have installed a security system without first applying and receiving a registration permit. (Ord. 3997. Passed 3/7/00)

(b) In the event of a third and fourth false alarm activation at a site, within any one semi-annual calendar period, beginning January 1, and July 1, the owner, operator, or lessee of said device shall be charged a fee for service from the City. This fee shall be Thirty-five ($35.00) Dollars for each occurrence of a false alarm activation during said period. The fifth and subsequent false or inadvertent activations, within this same semiannual period will necessitate a Fifty ($50.00) Dollar fee for service for each occurrence of a false alarm activation during said period. (Ord. 3137. Passed 8/18/87: Ord. 3246. Passed 2/21/89.)

735.99 PENALTIES.

(a) In the event a violation of this Article occurs, in addition to such other remedies as may be available under existing law, the City may institute an action in equity to prevent, restrain, correct, abate, or enjoin such violation.

(b) Any person who violates any provision of this Article shall be subject to the following penalties:

(1) First violation - A fine of $100.00, or thirty days imprisonment, or both;

(2) Second violation - A fine of $300.00, or sixty days imprisonment, or both;

(3) Third and each subsequent violation - A fine of $600.00, or ninety days imprisonment, or both;

(Ord. 3137. Passed 8/18/87; Ord. 3242. Passed 2/7/89)