Frequently Asked Questions

How do I contact the Police Department?
How should I report a crime?
How do I have a Police Officer visit my school classroom?
Where do I pay a ticket?
How many points will I get on my license?
Do I have to wait to report a person missing?
What do I do about identity theft?
What do I do about people soliciting me at my home?
Can I have a fire in my back yard?
I heard a noise outside my home, can you check around my home?
Can I park my car in the marked walking lane?
Why hasn't the snow been removed from my street?
What do snow emergency signs mean?
Do you fingerprint adults?
Can I come to the police department to see if my child safety seat is installed correctly?
Can I target shoot in the Borough?
What do I do about my missing dog?
Can I schedule a tour of the police department?
What can I do about my neighbor's junk cars?
Does my child have to wear a helmet while riding a bike?
Can I ride a motorized scooter on the road?
Fraternal Order of Police Solicitation.
Do I need a permit for my home alarm?
How do I get a dog license?
How do i get help from a domestic relationship?

How do I contact the Police Department?

For all emergency calls dial 911.  For police non-emergencies dial 412-473-3056.  For police administration call 412-795-6800 ext. 246.  You can come to the Police Department at any time and speak to a police officer. You can also e-mail us from this web page. We are located in the rear of the Plum Municipal Building at 4575 New Texas Road Plum, PA 15239.

How should I report a crime?

If the crime is currently in progress, call 911 immediately. If you need to make a report of a crime that has already occurred, then call the police department and have an officer meet you at the scene or your home. You can also come to the Police Department and report it in person to a police officer. We do not make police reports over the telephone.

How do I have a Police Officer visit my school classroom?

The Plum Police Department has a School Resource Officer. You can contact him by calling the Police Department at 412-795-6800 or e-mail him from this web site. You can also stop in the Plum High School and visit him at his office.  He will make the arrangements for a visit to your classroom with the School District Administration. He can also schedule the K-9 officer if requested. The SRO is also available to assist you with any school related problems. Please visit his SRO page on this web site.

Where do I pay a ticket?

If you want to pay a Traffic Citation, you can only pay it at the District Court Office in person or by mail.  NO TRAFFIC CITATIONS ARE ACCEPTED AT THE POLICE DEPARMENT. The address of the District Court is on the front of the traffic citation. If you received a Borough Parking Ticket, you can pay it in person at the borough offices during regular business hours. The Police department does not accept money or parking tickets.  ALL BOROUGH PARKING TICKETS MUST BE PAID AT THE RECEPTION DESK LOCATED IN THE PLUM BOROUGH MUNICIPAL BUILDING LOCATED AT 4575 NEW TEXAS ROAD PLUM, PA 15239.  YOU CAN ALSO MAIL THE TICKET IN WITH A CHECK MADE OUT TO THE BOROUGH OF PLUM.

How many points will I get on my license?

Do I have to wait to report a person missing?

NO.  If a person meets a certain criteria such as a medical condition, juvenile, or under the age of 21 years. They may be entered immediately. All other persons not meeting that requirement will be entered after you return a notarized form we provided to you.

What do I do about identity theft?

Please see the Identity Theft Victims Guide.

What do I do about people soliciting me at my home?

Borough Ordinance requires all solicitors to register for a permit. Borough residents are exempt from permit fees. Residents still must register. All solicitors are required to have a permit displayed at all time on their person. Permit applications can be obtained from the Police Records Division Monday thru Friday from 9am to 5pm.

Can I have a fire in my back yard?

Allegheny County Health Department Regulation allows open burning for recreation, camping, or a cookout. The Allegheny County Health Department Regulation allows only the burning of dry clean wood products or other clean burning fuels. Only smokeless fuels, if any, are to be used to start fires. The fire must be no larger than sixteen square feet (16) by three feet high and only be for recreation, camping, or a cookout. This does not include burning of leaves, garbage, or building materials. The fire must be at least ten feet (10) from the nearest structure, inhabited area, roadway, property line, or utility. It is recommended to have your fire contained in some type of fire pit or burn barrel. You should always have a fire extinguisher or water supply near the fire. You can also e-mail the Plum Fire Departments for their suggestions and safety tips.

I heard a noise outside my home, can you check around my home?

ABSOLUTELY. This is what we do. Call 911 immediately. We want all our residents to feel safe and secure in and out of their homes. A noise may be made by a person or persons committing a crime to you or your neighbors home or vehicle. Call us IMMEDIATELY.

Can I park my car in the marked walking lane?

No. The restricted side parking on the streets only applies when the calendar school year is in session (Saturday, Sunday and School Holidays are exempt ). This restriction is covered by Borough Ordinance. Signs are posted. The walking lane is to be clear of parked vehicles for the safety of students  walking to school. You could be civilly liable if an accident occurs because a pedestrian had to walk around your vehicle in the street.The restricted hours are during the busy morning and afternoon traffic when motorists are usually in a hurry going to and coming from work or school and use bad driving habits.

Why hasn't the snow been removed from my street?

When the Public Works road crews are called out for snow removal, each driver has an assigned area of the Borough. The driver first clears the main road and hazardous areas in his assigned area. The driver then clears the secondary roads and streets. Every driver knows his area and the places needing immediate attention. The Borough has approximately 400 streets totaling over 100 miles of highway. The Police Communications Division is also updating the drivers on emergency and accident areas needing immediate attention. If you have a complaint about snow removal on your street, you can contact Public Works Supervisor William Berchick at 412-795-6800 ext 251.

What do snow emergency signs mean?

Borough Ordinance restricts parking on the posted side of the street during a declared snow emergency. All streets are posted with signs. This enables Public Works equipment to clear snow from the roadway without maneuvering around park vehicles. Penalty is a fine and towing bill.

Do you fingerprint adults?

The Plum Police Department will fingerprint BOROUGH RESIDENTS only. Non-residents should contact their local Police Department. All requests for adult fingerprints must be made in advance. We will schedule you when it is convenient for you. You must bring the requesting agency's fingerprint card with you. Please contact the Police Department ( 412-793-7400 ) or e-mail  to set up an appointment.

Can I come to the police department to see if my child safety seat is installed correctly?

Yes. We receive many questions about child safety seats. Sergeant James Miller is our trained and state certified officer. He can answer all questions regarding the proper installation. Patrolman Miller will also check to see if your seat is installed correctly. You can contact him for an appointment at the Police Department ( 412-793-7400 ) or e-mail him from this web page.

Can I target shoot in the Borough?

No. Borough Ordinance prohibits discharging any firearm in the borough. Exceptions are lawfully hunting under the Pennsylvania Game Laws, the Logan's Ferry Sportsman's Club, and the Renton Gun Club. Penalty is a fine plus court costs.

What do I do about my missing dog?

Contact the Communications Division at 412-795-6800, ext. 223 alert Police Patrols and research the animal control complaint log. Contact Hoffman's Kennels at 724-468-5505 to inquire if they have the dog. You can also submit the animal / issue report to us on this web site.  Hoffman's Kennels is contracted by the borough for animal control service.

Can I schedule a tour of the police department?

Yes. All tours must be scheduled in advance. Contact Patrolman Eric Zdobinski at 412-793-7400 or e-mail him from this web site to schedule an appointment.

What can I do about my neighbor's junk cars?

Borough Ordinance prohibits any accumulation or storage of garbage, rubbish, waste material, junk, scrapped or wrecked motor vehicles/trailers or stored vehicles without a current inspection sticker and license plate. A scrapped, wrecked, or stored motor vehicle shall be deemed in violation, if for a period of fifteen ( 15 ) days the vehicle is without a current inspection sticker and license plate. Call the Police Department or submit the junk car form on this web site on the on line forms page. The owner of the property will be warned to correct the violation. Non-compliance will follow with prosecution at the District Magistrate.

Does my child have to wear a helmet while riding a bike?

All children under the age of 12 years must wear an approved helmet while riding a bicycle on the public roadways. A parent can receive a fine if they permit their children under the age of 12 years to ride a bicycle without a helmet.

Can I ride a motorized scooter on the road?

O.  A motorized scooter is required to be inspected and registered with a license plate and Insured. The operator is also required to have a valid drivers license.  This applies to all highways in the Commonwealth. Highways include the entire width between boundary lines ( roadway and berms ).  Highways also include roadways open to the public for vehicular travel on grounds of a college or university or public or private school or public or historic park. Vehicle code section 3703 (a) also prohibits any person from driving any vehicle, unless human powered, on any sidewalk.  The only exception is for a person with a mobility related disability or an electric personal assistive mobility device.

Fraternal Order of Police Solicitation.

The Plum Police Department is a member of the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #91. Lodge #91 contains all Allegheny County Police Departments except the Pittsburgh Police Department. There are approximately 119 police departments in the lodge. Lodge #91 solicits donations through a private solicitation company. We receive a lot of inquiries from people who receive telephone solicitation for donations from this company. If you receive a solicitation call and want to donate to the FOP Lodge you can contact our departments representative to verify if they are legitimate. The Plum Police Departments FOP representative is Sgt. Matthew Feldmeier. You can contact him by telephone at the police department or email him from this web site.

Do I need a permit for my home alarm?

Borough Ordinance # 477-91 requires all property owners or lessee of property or a person otherwise occupying a premises to file for a alarm use permit. This is a one time fee of $5 . Fees are charged for false alarms. 1 to 3 is no charge. 4 to 6 is $25. 7 to 9 is $75. 10 to 12 is $125.

How do I get a dog license?

All dogs are required to be licensed within the County you reside in.  The Police Department has application forms you can pick up and send into the Allegheny County Treasurers office for a dog license.  The Police Department does not issue dog license.

How do I get help from a domestic relationship?

You can get immediate relief through a Protection From Abuse Order ( PFA ). You must obtain the PFA order and we will assist you in serving the order. You can obtain an emergency PFA order at your local District Magistrate during normal business hours. After the close of the business day or on the weekend, you must go to the Allegheny County Night Court system located at 660 First Avenue Pittsburgh, PA (412-350-3240 ). This emergency PFA order is only good till the close of the next business day. A ten ( 10 ) day PFA order can only be obtained during the normal business day at Family Court 440 Ross Street Pittsburgh, PA (412-350-5600 ). A hearing will be scheduled within the ten day period of the order. At the hearing the order will either be continued or discontinued. If you still have any questions on the process or need any additional information, Contact the Police Department ( 412-793-7400 ). If you are undecided about obtaining a PFA order, but need immediate relief, we have emergency shelter numbers to assist you.