ARTICLE 735
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)
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