Local Ordinances: A Sample

Atlanta, GA
Baltimore, MD
Birmingham, AL
Boston. MA
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Dover, NH
Fairfax County, VA
Greensboro, NC
High Point, NC
Las Vegas, NV
Lexington, KY
Memphis, TN
Miami, FL
Milwaukee, WI
Montgomery County, MD
Oakland, CA
Philadelphia, PA
Phoenix, AZ
Pierce County, WA
Pinellas Park, FL
Portland,OR
Richmond, VA
San Francisco, CA
Seattle, WA
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Tredyffrin Township, PA
Tulsa, OK
Uwchlan Township, PA
West Hartford, CT
Windsor, CT

PHILADELPHIA, PA

population: (metro area--4.8 million)

Number of "free" false alarms:

3 in registration year

Fines:

4th to 6th--$25

7th--$100

Response stops after:

7th--revocation of license

Comments:

Not very effective until enforced heavily, then steady drop in false alarms.

BOSTON, MA

population: (metro area--3.8 million)

Number of "free" false alarms:

2 in calendar year

Fines:

3rd--$50

4th--$100

5th--$200

6th and up--$200 per day*

Response stops after:

N/A

Comments:

*Fee can be $200 per day until evidence is shown that problem has been remedied.

TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA

population: (metro area--3 million)

Number of "free" false alarms:

2 alarms within 365 days--user receives caution notice.

3 alarms allowed within 365 days.

Fines:

N/A

Response stops after:

4th--response suspended for 365 days.

Comments:

Deployment cost savings: 11 million man-hours and $56 million. Despite 10% growth in alarm industry, alarm calls have been reduced by 370,000 incidents.

ATLANTA, GA

population: (metro area--2.8 million)

Number of "free" false alarms:

3 in calendar year

Fines:

4th--$50

5th--$75

6th--$100

Response stops after:

N/A

Comments:

False alarms have leveled at about 3,000 per month. Collection rate is about 41%. Weakness identified as "lack of enforcement."

BALTIMORE, MD (city)

population: (metro area--2.4 million)

Number of "free" false alarms:

2 in 30 days

7 in 12 months

Fines:

$30 each over limit

Response stops after:

N/A

Comments:

N/A

PHOENIX, AZ

population: (metro area--2.1 million)

Number of "free" false alarms:

3 in 365-day period

2nd--notification by police

Fines:

4th to 9th--$55 each

10th to 14th--$100 each

15th and up--$200 each

4th and above--report required within 20 days regarding cause of alarm. Fine may be waived if there is valid reason for false alarm and user takes corrective action.

Response stops after:

N/A

Comments:

Have seen a 30% drop in false alarms in past year.

OAKLAND, CA

population: (metro area--2.1 million)

Number of "free" false alarms:

N/A

Fines:

N/A

Response stops after:

Police chief allowed to declare "no response" to repeat false alarm offenders.

Comments:

Has been effective. Alarm companies have seen a drop in false alarms.

SEATTLE, WA

population: (metro area--2 million)

Number of "free" false alarms:

2 in 6 months

A user's report of cause required by police for each false alarm.

Fines:

$125 per alarm over 2

Response stops after:

No response after 6 alarms.

Comments:

Police can order disconnection of alarm if recommended action not taken.

MIAMI, FL

population: (metro area--1.9 million)

Number of "free" false alarms:

5 in permit year

Fines:

6th to 8th--$25 each

Response stops after:

Permit revoked at 9.

Fee for reinstatement:

9--$50

11--$100

13--$250

16--$350

20 and each thereafter--$500

Written notice from alarm company saying alarm is working required for reinstatement.

Comments:

Have seen increase in alarms, but reduction of repeat offenders.

SAN FRANCISCO, CA

population: (metro area--1.6 million)

Number of "free" false alarms:

2 in 60 days

Police required to notify user of each false alarm.

Fines:

3rd--$52

4th--$95

5th and up--$190

Response stops after:

N/A

Comments:

Deemed effective.

MILWAUKEE, WI

population: (metro area--1.4 million)

Number of "free" false alarms:

2 in calendar year

Fines:

3rd and up--$50 or two days in jail

Response stops after:

N/A

Comments:

Has been very effective due to cooperation of police and alarm companies.

PORTLAND, OR

population: (metro area--1.24 million)

Number of "free" false alarms:

1 in permit year

Fines:

2nd, 3rd--$50

4th and up--$100

Response stops after:

N/A

Comments:

Very effective. Case study gives statistics.

BIRMINGHAM, AL

population: (900,000)

Number of "free" false alarms:

1 in 12 months

Fines:

N/A

Response stops after:

Response stops after 2nd. Owner can apply to sheriff for reinstatement. After 6th, no response without approval of sheriff.

Comments:

Highly effective.

MEMPHIS, TN

population: (metro area--900,000)

Number of "free" false alarms:

4 in calendar year

Fines:

5th and up--$25

Response stops after:

Police may revoke permit if user does not report reason for false alarm within 15 days of notification of alarms over 4.

Comments:

N/A

FAIRFAX COUNTY, VA

population: (800,000)

Number of "free" false alarms:

2 in 12 months

Fines:

3rd--$20

4th--$50

5th--$75

6th--$100

7th--$125

each over 7--$150

Response stops after:

N/A

Comments:

Experienced 3.98% drop in alarm calls the year after adoption of the ordinance.

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, MD

population: (750,000)

Number of "free" false alarms:

3 in calendar year

Fines:

fee to be determined for alarms over 3

Response stops after:

N/A

Comments:

Ordinance currently (8/93) being modified to become stricter. Had considered a "900" number to charge alarm companies for all calls.

LAS VEGAS, NV

population: (metro area--750,000)

Number of "free" false alarms:

N/A

Fines:

N/A

Response stops after:

No response until alarm company sends employees and calls with valid reason.

Comments:

Have seen drop to nearly zero, due to private response requirement.

TULSA, OK

population: (700,000)

Number of "free" false alarms:

3 in a month

4 in 6 months

6 in 12 months

Fines:

Inspection required for each false alarm over those allowed; false alarms without inspection--$100

Response stops after:

N/A

Comments:

Deemed "not effective" due to lack of enforcement--seen as a low priority in court.

CALGARY, ALBERTA, CANADA

population: (600,000)

Number of "free" false alarms:

2 in 12 months

Fines:

N/A

Response stops after:

3rd--permit suspended for six months

Comments:

Have seen about a 30% drop in alarms in past year. Figures for 1993 are "even more promising."

PIERCE COUNTY, WA

population: (600,000)

Number of "free" false alarms:

2 in 6 months

Fines:

3 to 5 false alarms--$65 each

Response stops after:

Revocation of permit after 6 false alarms in a 12 month period.

Comments:

New ordinance, based on Tacoma's ordinance, which has been highly effective.

LEXINGTON, KY

population: (350,000)

Number of "free" false alarms:

3 in 12 months

Fines:

N/A

Response stops after:

Permit suspended after 3 false alarms.

Comments:

Contact says ordinance "not followed up on." City stops response only for chronic offenders. "I don't see how you can stop a public service."

RICHMOND, VA

population: (200,000)

Number of "free" false alarms:

2 in 180 days--warnings given

Fines:

3rd--$50

4th and up--$100

Response stops after:

N/A

Comments:

Enacted May 10, 1993. Have already sensed increased awareness in community.

GREENSBORO, NC

population: (183,000)

Number of "free" false alarms:

4 in 12 months; police notice regarding each

Fines:

Ticket for each over 4; $50 citation.

Response stops after:

N/A

Comments:

N/A

HIGH POINT, NC

population: (70,000)

Number of "free" false alarms:

2 in 12 months with warning after each. Any alarm within 7 days of installation is not considered false.

Fines:

3rd and 4th--$50

Waivable if proved to be mechanical or electronic malfunction.

5th and up--$100

Response stops after:

N/A

Comments:

Effective according to contact.

WEST HARTFORD, CT

population: (65,000)

Number of "free" false alarms:

6 in calendar year; notices sent after 3rd and 6th

Fines:

7th and above--$40

Response stops after:

Police chief may order disconnection of system if ordinance is disobeyed.

Comments:

Highly effective due to enforcement.

PINELLAS PARK, FL

population: (41,000)

Number of "free" false alarms:

3 in 12 months

Fines:

4th--$50

5th--$100

6th--$150

7th--$200

8th and up--$250

Response stops after:

N/A

Comments:

N/A

WINDSOR, CT

population: (28,600)

Number of "free" false alarms:

3 in calendar year

Fines:

4th, 5th--$25

6th, 7th--$50

8th, 9th--$75

10th and up--$100

Response stops after:

N/A

Comments:

Have seen steady decline in false alarms and fines since implementing fee structure.

TREDYFFRIN TOWNSHIP, PA

population: (28,000)

Number of "free" false alarms:

1 in calendar year with a warning

Fines:

2nd, 3rd--$25

4th and up--$100

Response stops after:

Permit may be revoked after 4.

Comments:

Very Effective.

DOVER, NH

population: (26,000)

Number of "free" false alarms:

5 in calendar year

Fines:

6th and up--$25

Response stops after:

Over 6 alarms, chief may revoke license.

Comments:

Seems to be effective. Have seen decline in business alarms.

UWCHLAN TOWNSHIP, PA

population: (13,000)

Number of "free" false alarms:

1st and 2nd in a month; warnings given.

Fines:

3rd, 4th--$50

5th and up--$100

Response stops after:

4th--permit may be revoked

Comments:

Successful--statistics in

FAQs   |  Contact Us   |  Other IACP Sites   |  IACP Home

515 North Washington St, Alexandria, VA USA  22314    phone: 703.836.6767   or   1.800.THE IACP    fax: 703.836.4543