posted on Thursday, January 24, 2008 9:08 AM
by
klehan
New Braunfels, TX Considers Ordinance for False Alarms
New Braunfels, TX is trying to cut down on the amount of time its police officers and firefighters waste responding to them.
The New Braunfels City Council approved the first reading of an ordinance Monday which will enact higher fees for alarm permits, and additionally charge residents and business owners for repeated false alarm calls.
“Partnering with the citizens to reduce those calls helps us across the board to provide more effective and efficient services,” said New Braunfels Police Chief Ron Everett.
In addition, the costs for a false alarm going off will now be switched to an administrative fee rather than a municipal citation to keep from clogging up the court system.
“Our municipal court is already busy with traffic and the other types of offenses,” said New Braunfels Mayor Bruce Boyer. “This is not something that people need to be trying to respond to a criminal case for; it truly is an everyday occurrence.”
The annual permit fee will be raised from $30 to $40 for residents, and from $30 to $50 for businesses.
Additionally, the civil service fee will charge $50 each for more than three, but less than seven false alarms in a 12-month period. They will cost $100 apiece after the seventh call.
“We’re not a town of 15-20,000 people anymore,” Boyer said. “We just need a better, more efficient way to address the problem.”