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SECURITY SYSTEMS NEWS JUNE 2011 www.securitysystemsnews.com FALSE ALARM ORDINANCE WATCH LOGANSPORT, IND. A May 5 story from the Pharos Tribune reports Cass County homes and businesses might soon start pay- ing a penalty if their alarm systems repeatedly go off by mistake. County commissioners in May unanimously passed a new false alarm ordinance. For the first two false alarms, there is no charge to the homeowner or business. The third false alarm would bring a $25 fee, which could be waived if the property owner offered a valid excuse in writing and explained plans to correct the problem. After that, the fees go up. The county will fine homeowners and businesses $50 for the next three violations and $100 for the following three. The fine would jump to $200 for all subsequent false alarms. HASTINGS, MINN. An April 20 story from The Hastings Star-Gazette reports there’s a new law requiring alarm system users to reg- ister their alarms with the city. The law was approved April 18. There is no charge to register. Police may issue citations if they respond to an alarm that is not registered. It also deems a public nuisance any alarm system that sounds for longer than 20 minutes, emits an audible or visual signal more than twice within an hour or sounds a false alarm. Under the new law, alarm system users are allowed two false alarms a year. If their alarm sounds more than that, they would be required to pay a fine. KANSAS CITY, MO. An April 28 story from the Kansas City Star reports residents and busi- ness owners will soon be paying more for false security alarms. The KCPD plans to increase the the fee it charges residents who log more than two false alarms each year to $49 per false alarm, according to the story. The department also is raising the renewal fee for busi- nesses. They don’t get any freebies and must pay $49 each time they log a false alarm. The fees used to be $40. The increase took effect May 1. Residents and businesses must get a permit from the department for officers to respond to alarms. The new permits cost residents and businesses $45. There is no renewal fee if there are no false alarms. The fees are allowed under the city’s false alarm ordinance. SHAWNEE, KAN. An April 14 story from NBC affiliate NBC ActionNews reports the town of Shawnee, Kan. has revised its false alarm ordinance, jacking up the fines offenders incur. Currently police respond to alarms for free the first two times. After the two freebies the fine increases by $50 each time. The fine is capped at $250. April 14 the City Council passed an ordinance that allows for one free false alarm. The maximum fine is increased to $500. The ordinance revision takes effect on July 1. STOCKTON, CALIF. The city of Stockton in late March worked with the alarm industry to amend its false alarm ordinance. According to SIAC industry/law enforcement liaison Jon Sargent the industry “worked on this coopera- tively with Stockton Police through the Greater Valley and California Alarm Associations.” According to the city’s website, alarm owners must purchase an alarm permit before they install or use an alarm system. The initial permit fee is NEWS 11 $55. The permit fee helps pay the costs associated with the Alarm Reduction Program, which has been established to help reduce false alarms with- in the city. Businesses must renew their per- mits on an annual basis, and homeowners must renew their permits every three years. The renewal fee for permits that expire on December 31, 2010 is $25. Alarm owners with a chronic false alarm problem may be placed on the police department’s non-response list, or have their alarm permit revoked. CHANNAHON, ILL. A March 28 story from the Herald- News reports a new law will AOW see page 12 NO.5 EXCLUSIVE ACCESS As a valued authorized DMP dealer you have access to products and services that others can’t compete with. Like the new XTL™ Wireless Security System with built-in cellular communication providing instant RMR. It’s amazingly quick to install, offers users the ability to control their system and get status updates remotely using the DMP MyAccess™ Features. How’s that for access! dmp MemBErsHip P hAs It’s rIvILegEs 2011. . The revenue-generating XTL is available only to dealers in the DMP authorized network. Contact us about becoming a business partner at 877.725.1114, or visit us at www.dmp.com /