posted on Friday, April 18, 2008 8:46 AM
by
klehan
Payson, AZ, To Enforce Alarm Ordinance
Payson, AZ, police Sgt. Don Kasl said the majority of last year's false alarms could have been avoided and that an alarm ordinance passed in 2003 will now be enforced.
"Most of it (false alarms) is from people like cleaning crews and things like that," said Kasl. "They don't turn it off when they go in to clean and then we have to go see what is going on."
Some of the false alarms are the result of things like banners or signs that break loose and flap in the wind, setting off the alarm, Kasl added. In those types of cases, police usually ask the owner to come to the location to determine if anything is wrong.
After three alarms not due to a break-in or other criminal or unauthorized activity, police can charge the owner a fine.
"We don't start imposing fines on people as soon as they hook up an alarm though, we're not unreasonable, we give new (alarm permits) a grace period," Kasl said.
New alarms have 30 days to work out all the bugs and make sure the system is functioning properly, but after that 30-day period, fines can be imposed.
After three warnings, police send a letter with tips on how to avoid false alarms and fines, he said.
Kasl said there is a $50 fine for the fourth false alarm, which will increase to $75 for a fifth and $100 for six or more.
"The ordnance allowing imposition of fines was passed on April 24, 2003, but we didn't start enforcing it until last year," said Kasl.