posted on Monday, February 25, 2008 12:40 PM
by
klehan
Spartanburg, SC, Ordinance Credited for Reduced False-Alarms
False burglar and fire alarms in Spartanburg continued to decrease in 2007, the third calendar year of enforcement under the city's amended alarm ordinance.
According to Spartanburg Public Safety Department statistics, there was a 26 percent decrease in 2007 compared to 2006. That decrease amounted to a savings of about $101,400 and 2,166 work hours for the year, police estimated.
Meanwhile, the collection rate for fines was 54 percent in 2007, with just under $100,000 in net payments. Natasha Pitts, the city's alarm coordinator, said the numbers show the program is a success story.
"We've had a reduction every year, which is really, really good," Pitts said. "And it's not about the money. It's not about the income. We're there to increase compliance and get everyone to know how their alarm system operates."
The ordinance, which went into effect in 2005, imposed registration fees and fines for residences and businesses with more than two false alarms a year.
The city has registered 2,689 of an estimated 3,500 alarm users in the city. Of those, 57 percent have no false alarms, 41 percent have between one and five false alarms, and 2 percent have six to 10 false alarms. The average false alarm count is less than one per registered user, whereas the national average is two, Pitts said.
In 2007, the city also implemented a process to place those who fail to pay false-alarm fines on a "no response" status. Five businesses or residences now are on that status, which means police will not respond to a general burglar alarm at that location, although officers and firefighters will continue to respond to any fire, hold-up or panic alarm.
Spartanburg police Maj. Doug Horton said most repeat false alarms are due to operator error or improper installation. The city works with homeowners and businesses for free to try to solve the problem.
In 2008, Pitts plans to implement an "online alarm school" through which repeat violators can take an online test about false-alarm reductions. If the user passes the test, one violation with be stricken from their record. The test also will be available in paper format.