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Kannapolis (NC) to Impose Fines for False Alarms

The Kannapolis Police Department is kicking off the city's new program to reduce the 
number of false alarms and the unnecessary police response each requires.

In recent years, false alarms account for approximately 99.3 percent of all alarms to 
which the Kannapolis Police Department has responded. These false alarms divert law 
enforcement resources from crimes in progress, other emergency situations and time spent 
performing their normal duties. 

Kannapolis City residents and businesses are now required to register their alarm system. 
The registration process will begin immediately.

"With over 3,300 false alarms per year, the Kannapolis Police Department loses over 1,100 
man hours every year due to false alarms. This is the equivalent of one police officer 
spending six months of the year dealing with nothing other than false alarms," said Chief 
Chavis. "The implementation of this ordinance will enable officers to spend more time in 
the communities fighting crime."

The Kannapolis Police Department will continue tracking the number of false alarms in the 
city. In cases where police respond to three or more false alarms per year, the 
registered alarm user will face a series of graduated fines, ranging from $50 to $250 for 
each violation. 

Excessive repeated false alarms (10 or more) will result in a $500 fine, revocation of 
the alarm owner's permit, and a suspension of response, which means police will no longer 
respond to the alarm location. Proof will then have to be provided that the alarm has 
been tested and fixed. Failing to register an alarm will result in a $200 fine. The 
provisions of the ordinance exclude activations of fire, motor vehicle, domestic violence 
or medical alarms. 

"Our police department must take every alarm activation seriously. In nearly every 
instance, however, our officers arrive to discover a false alarm caused by equipment 
malfunction or human error," said Chief Chavis. 

"This new program will help reduce the number of hours officers are diverted from 
critical police duties to respond to false alarms. This will ensure that officers are 
available to patrol our neighborhoods and respond to people in need."

For more information about the false alarm registration program or to register your alarm 
system, please call the city of Kannapolis False Alarm Reduction Program at 866- 402-
2091, or go click here.