Tarentum increases fine for excessive police calls to at least $300

Tarentum has increased by at least six times a penalty imposed on residents who have excessive calls for police and other emergency and public safety services.

The ordinance council approved Tuesday replaces a 14-year-old ordinance, which had imposed a $50 “surtax” for each police response in excess of three every 30 days to the same location.

The new ordinance describes the penalty as a fine imposed upon conviction by a district judge. Under the ordinance, the fine is to be not less than $300, and no more than $1,000.

Borough Manager Michael Nestico said the old ordinance had rarely been enforced, in part because of how the penalty was described as a “surtax.” The updated ordinance gives officers a more streamlined process to issue citations when it is used.

Under the ordinance, when three like service calls are sent to a particular property or building within 30 days or less, each call in excess of three is considered to be excessive.

It applies to calls responded to by borough police, police from neighboring municipalities, state police, county police and sheriff, code enforcement officer, or fire department.

On the third call within 30 days or less, borough police will notify the property owner that the next call will result in an offense. Notification can be done by hand delivery or certified mail to the owner’s residence or address in real estate tax records.