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Bexar County, TX, Raises Alarm Permit Fees for Homes and Businesses

administrator — Wed, 16 May 2012 22:45:00 GMT

For the first time since 2004, Bexar County is increasing fees on alarm system permits for residences and businesses in unincorporated areas.

The fee for residential permits rises to $40 a year, up from the rate of $30 set eight years ago.

Business permits increase to $100 annually, from $35.

The move comes as the sheriff's office, along with the rest of county government, struggles to make ends meet. The new fees will generate almost $530,000, more than double last year's revenues of about $228,000.

Deputy Chief Debra Jordan said the fee structure had been under review “for quite some time ... certainly our costs have gone up” for mileage and other expenses related to responding to alarm calls.

“We're just trying to raise our fees so we can be more on the level of what's appropriate in terms of other venues our size,” Jordan told commissioners.

The county has about 12,000 registered residential alarm systems and 520 business alarms, but officials said many others are not registered.

Elk Grove Village, IL, Pulls Alarm Ordinance

administrator — Wed, 16 May 2012 20:48:00 GMT

The Elk Grove Village, IL, board decided on January 25 to pull an ordinance urging all new businesses, and multifamily condominium/apartment complexes built in town, to install wireless fire alarm systems to connect directly with the village’s emergency communications provider — Northwest Central Dispatch.

Vigo County, IN, Considers Adopting False Alarm Ordinance

administrator — Wed, 16 May 2012 18:56:00 GMT

A large number of false alarms to caused Vigo County, IN, leaders to take action.

When the Vigo County Sheriff's Department looked over just how much time was being spent responding to false alarms, they decided it was time to take action.

Together both the commissioners and the sheriff’s department drew up a new ordinance dealing with false alarms.

If a business or homeowner wants an alarm system, they are required to pay a one-time fee of $30 to $50. After two false alarm free-bees the owner would receive a fine of $50.

Judy Anderson, Vigo County Commissioner says, "They brought documentation of how many false alarms they’ve had for a year. It takes gas, wear and tear and ties up man power. It's a real expensive thing when you stop and think about it."

Officials want the new ordinance to make homeowners and businesses more responsible in checking and repairing faulty alarms.

Steamboat Springs, CO, Reconsiders False Alarm Ordinance

administrator — Tue, 15 May 2012 00:31:00 GMT

The Steamboat Springs, CO, City Council will consider revisions Tuesday night to the ordinance it first adopted in 2010. The new ordinance would do away with the escalating fine structure that currently charges building owners $100 for a second false alarm violation and $100 more for every subsequent violation.

The proposed revisions include not levying fines until the false alarm ordinance has been violated more than six times in a year.

“The bite is still there, and I think something will still be in place to remedy the serious violations,” Public Safety Director Joel Rae said Monday. “The whole goal of this ordinance is to get people to repair their alarm problem before they get to a violation and ultimately reduce false alarms and not waste the time of police and firefighters who are responding to them.”

According to Rae, as of Feb. 1, police have handed out $24,600 in fines for false alarms since the ordinance was enacted. But the department has collected only $6,250 of those fines. At the same time, the fire department has assessed $9,100 in fines but collected just $3,250.

Chester, PA, Adopts Alarm Ordinance

administrator — Mon, 14 May 2012 23:02:00 GMT

Chester, PA council unanimously approved a new alarm ordinance May 10.

Chester, PA, will now require registration for existing and new alarm systems. There is no charge for registration, but failing to register an alarm system may result in a fine of no less than $50 and no more than $300.

The city will also implement fines for false alarms. Any company or individual who causes a false alarm and does nothing to prevent false alarms will be fined up to $500. Repeat offenders will pay a $300 fine for each false alarm after the fourth incidence.

Fayetville, GA, Approves False Alarm Ordinance

administrator — Mon, 14 May 2012 20:29:00 GMT

The Fayetteville, GA, City Council approved a new alarm ordinance that went into effect March 20, 2012. The need for the ordinance was said to come from the fact that 80 percent of calls result in false alarms.

Fayetteville Police Dept. spokesman Steve Crawshaw said response to alarm calls represents a significant expenditure of police resources.

“It only makes sense that real time and money could be saved if alarm system users were more aware of this problem and took steps to prevent false activations,” Crawshaw said.

The city of Fayetteville has approved an ordinance that will address the false alarm problem by requiring the responsible involvement of alarm users and alarm companies.

Crawshaw said the department answered 2,066 police-related alarm calls in 2011.

“Of those, 1,656 or approximately 80 percent, were false activations and were the result of operator error or a malfunctioning alarm system,” Crawshaw said.

Largo, FL, Considers False Alarm Ordinance

administrator — Mon, 14 May 2012 18:08:00 GMT

Largo, FL, city officials plan to review their policies pertaining to false alarms and calls to Largo police and fire departments.

City Commissioner Curtis Holmes raised the issue at the commission’s April 10 work session.

He said that as of April 9, the fire department had responded to 234 false alarms from the start of the calendar year.

“I thought, my god, we ought to bill these people to that. We are dispatching these trucks and there’s just nothing,” he said.

The city currently only fines offenders with six or more false alarms on record.

Other commissioners also said staff should look into the matter.

Holland Township, MI, Adopts False Alarm Ordinance

administrator — Sat, 12 May 2012 01:45:00 GMT

The Holland Township, MI, Board of Trustees has approved a false fire alarm ordinance that will require repeat offenders to pay $750 for each false alarm.

The Holland Township Fire Department responds to an average of 100 false alarms annually, and most are recurrences due to automated equipment.

Under the new ordinance, the board will send out a letter for excessive false fire alarms. Failure to respond to the letter will cost users $500 for the first two false alarms and $750 for subsequent false alarms.

Bend, OR, Considers New Alarm Ordinance

administrator — Sat, 12 May 2012 00:25:00 GMT

The Bend, OR, City Council may require business and homeowners to pay a yearly registration fee security alarm systems and possibly fines for false alarms.

Police Chief Jeff Sale says calls to police are projected to go up by six to nine percent every year for the next 5 years.

“We will do everything we can to be as efficient as we can," he says. "We will squeeze a dollar out of dime wherever we can. But at some point there is a breaking point that says, “I can’t provide this level of service with the resources that I have”.

Some of the recent changes include a decision to stop sending officers to the scene of some minor fender benders. The council is expected to take up the alarm proposal two weeks from now.

Mount Pleasant, IL, Increases Fines for False Alarms

administrator — Fri, 11 May 2012 23:15:00 GMT

Mount Pleasant, IL, business owners face increased fines for false alarm, which are defined as a security alert that is triggered by anything other than a true emergency.

In 2011 alone, Mount Pleasant Police answered over 700 false alarms, and annual costs are around $56,000, Chief Tim Zarzecki said.

To help recoup that cost, the Village Board last week approved a fee increase for multiple false alarms. First and second instances will be answered free of charge, but hit a third occurrence and the costs kick in at $30. Charges go up from there by $10 for each subsequent false alarm call, maxing out at $130 for 11 or more incidents.

Previous charges were minimal, starting at only $10 for a third call, going to $25 for a fourth, and maxing out at $50 thereafter.

Brewster County, WA, Considers False Alarm Ordinance

administrator — Wed, 09 May 2012 22:56:00 GMT

The Brewster, WA, City Council considered a proposed draft ordinance pertaining to recurring false alarms for enforcement after a few businesses fail to correct the problem.

Brewster Mayor, Lee Webster says the council is just discussing the possible ordinance at this point.

The Brewster City Council will likely visit the topic again during their next meeting, which will be held Wednesday, February 8th at 6 pm at the Brewster City Hall.

Newry, Maine, Considers False Alarm Ordinance

administrator — Tue, 11 May 2010 23:16:00 GMT

Three straight false alarms in Newry, Maine, that generate a fire department response could net a company, home or business a fine and police summons if special town meeting voters approve a new ordinance currently being drafted.

That's what selectmen learned at Monday afternoon's meeting, Administrator Loretta Powers said.

The Alarm Ordinance establishes guidelines for response to alarms by the Fire Department.

Though aimed mainly at alarm system companies that fail to notify the Oxford County Regional Communications Center before working on someone's system and accidentally triggering an emergency response, the ordinance and assessed fines also target people who make nonemergency 911 calls.

“It's just one of those things where you get three strikes and you're out, and then you get charged or billed,” new fire Chief Bruce Pierce said Tuesday afternoon.

“For me, it's more of an awareness thing and not something that's being done to hit people in their pocketbooks.”

Bethel and Woodstock already have such false alarm ordinances in place, Powers said, but Newry doesn't.

Pierce said the department responded to 27 false alarms last year.

The proposed ordinance, which is still in the early draft stage, states that anyone found violating the ordinance will be sent a copy of the document and a letter after the first false alarm. The second such alarm nets the same thing, but would be sent via certified mail to the owner, whereas the third violation incurs a $300 fine for that instance and each additional nonemergency call thereafter for a year.

In other business, Powers said that out of 3,500-plus tax bills for 2009, there are only 93 that have yet to be sent in, totaling $113,000.

“That's not too bad, out of more than 3,000,” she said. “It's a few more than normal.”

After sending out 30-day notices for liens on the properties, Powers said several people have called saying they'd be in to pay their tax bill.

“But a lot of them just wait until the end” of the 30 days, she said. “They want their money in their pockets a little longer, and I don't blame them.”

Steamboat Springs, CO,. Considers False Alarm Ordinance

administrator — Tue, 11 May 2010 22:53:00 GMT

Another call, another false alarm.

Dust from construction, a faulty wiring system, or failure to disconnect the alarm system before maintenance.

Emergency responders in Steamboat Springs have seen them all, and they’re now introducing an ordinance that would fine repeat offenders of false alarms.

Under an ordinance that will go before the Steamboat Springs, CO, City Council, the owner of any alarm that malfunctions, is set off by user error or by an undetermined cause more than once will face increasing fines. The second offense would carry a fine of $200, a third offense $300, and so on up to a maximum of $700.

If a person fined under the ordinance proves to law enforcement or fire personnel that the problems with the system were fixed within 30 days, they can get half of their money back.

Fire Marshall Jay Muhme, who was the main author of the ordinance in the past four to five years, said it is designed to encourage people to fix problems with their alarm systems.

“They’ll get smarter, they’ll get wiser and start doing things more purposefully, more correctly,” he said.

Steamboat Springs Police Department Capt. Joel Rae said false alarm calls eat up time for all local law enforcement and emergency response agencies. Rae said often there are several false alarm calls per day, and sometimes more.

“When you’re literally responding to hundreds of alarms per year and you take in drive time and the time it takes to search a house,” the time adds up, Rae said. “You’re looking at anywhere from 15 to 30 minutes of an officer’s time for each alarm call.”

Police will often find an open door — typically blown open by wind — and will search the house, as well.

Just as often, heat will turn on in a home and rustle papers, setting off the alarm, or the magnetic contacts on a door sensor briefly will come apart with a strong gust of wind.

Police Chief JD Hays said the Police Department regularly responds to calls at second homes, where the homeowners are not present to call the alarm company to say it’s a false alarm.

“A lot of our second homes are alarmed, and those alarms will go off just all the time,” he said. “Whether there’s a cat in the house or a butterfly by the window.”

The same alarm also can trigger many times in a row, Muhme said, because the property owner or alarm company doesn’t take the time to fix it right away.

“We may go to the same place three, four, five, six times a night and do that for a week or two straight,” he said. “It’s really not a priority.”

Muhme said whether emergency responders are called to the same house for false alarms three times in a night, it doesn’t necessarily mean the person would be fined $300 — that decision is left to the top responding officer based on the circumstances.

Hotels and other condos won’t necessarily be fined if someone pulls an alarm in error, and the idea is not to fine someone who burns food while cooking. In that situation, the alarm would have been working properly.

The ordinance does, however, call for fines against anyone who “maliciously” sets off an alarm. There is no first warning in that instance, with $200 for the first time and an extra $100 for each offense up to $800. That includes students who pull the alarm at schools, and people who set off alarms at hotels and condos for fun.

Muhme said the city used to have a similar false alarm law, but it was removed when it was no longer used. That was about 10 to 12 years ago, he estimated, and he said the new law likely would have the same effect — it will be used more frequently at first, but alarm owners will fix the problems in the systems until it is rarely used.

“I don’t think this is something that will be a huge issue after a year or so,” Muhme said. “Within a year, everybody will realize that there are consequences to this and, ‘Maybe I should make this more of a priority,’ and it will regulate itself.”

Tonight’s review of the false alarm ordinance is a first reading. Police and fire officials said they will present statistics of the number of false alarms per year and the time taken to respond to those. Those numbers were not available Monday.

Tulsa, OK, Proposes Doubling Alarm Registration Fee to $30

administrator — Tue, 11 May 2010 21:35:00 GMT

Tulsa, OK, budget proposal includes revenue-generating options to ease financial woes, including an alarm ordinance that would be changed to increase the $15 renewal rate to $30 and property owners with a history of false alarms would be charged $60. This would generate an estimated $300,000 per year.

Wichita City Council Defers Vote to Increase Alarm System Fees

administrator — Tue, 11 May 2010 21:30:00 GMT

The Wichita City Council defers a vote on raising alarm system fees. The city proposed the fees to offset the cost of responding to about 25,000 false alarm calls each year.

The new fees would include a $25 annual registration fee. Alarm users would be required to register themselves with the city. The registration fee came about after negotiations with the alarm system industry. The original plan called for monthly fees, $1 for residents and $3 for business.

On top of the registration fee, false alarm fees would also go up. Everyone would get one false alarm for free. After that, it's $40 and goes up to $350 depending on the number of false alarms. The fees are higher for false fire alarms. Those start at $100 and go up to $750 depending on the number of calls.

If the council eventually approves the fees, the city would offer an online false alarm course and quiz people could take to avoid the payment. The city says the goal is to educate people to reduce the number of false alarms.

Council member Jeff Longwell says every time an officer is dispatched for a false alarm, citizens are less safe. He says if the fees truly help reduce false alarm fees he could support it, but he's not interested in just raising fees to generate revenue for the city.

Mayor Carl Brewer says the deferral comes at a good time because he's not ready to raise fees for citizens. He says once more details are worked out with the alarm system industry, he may feel more comfortable with the issue.

The alarm system fees will go back before council in about three weeks.