NCJ Number
155970
Journal
Locksmith Ledger Dated: (October 1994)
Date Published
1994
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This article reviews various municipal ordinances designed to lessen the impact of false alarms on police department resources.
Abstract
In recent years, many US municipalities have enacted alarm ordinances. The primary motivator for increasing alarm-related legislation is the demand that false alarms have placed on police department resources. Although the alarm community has devoted much of its attention to false alarms, its efforts alone have not significantly reduced the rate of false activations. Local officials have attempted to alleviate the problem through legislation, which creates problems for the alarm industry and individual installing and monitoring companies. All alarm ordinances examined for this article required that the user register the system or obtain a permit to operate within 30 days from the time the system goes into operation. Some ordinances require that installers be licensed. Applicants must furnish a criminal history from the state showing that no one with a 5 percent or greater interest in the company was convicted of, or pleaded no contest to, a felony. Equipment requirements vary among alarm ordinances. Additional responsibilities and burdens placed on alarm companies are described. Associations of alarm installers may be able to retard the creation of new legislation through internal efforts to reduce false alarms. Installers must take a more active role through alarm-related associations to influence how legislation is written.