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False Alarm Ordinance in Effect in Wabash County (IN)

Wabash County (IN) Commissioners recently adopted an ordinance designed to encourage homeowners and businesses to use their intrusion-alarm systems responsibly.

Called the False Alarm Ordinance, it provides small fines for homeowners and business who have, in a 12-month period, more than one false alarm to which a Wabash County Sheriff's Department officer responds.

In seeking the ordinance, Sheriff Leroy Striker said, “When E-911 Dispatch receives an intrusion alarm call, whether at a business or residence within the county, we believe the call is valid and respond in an appropriate manner. My officers expedite their run believing there is someone breaking-and-entering the home or businesses.

“Our goal is to make homeowners and business owners responsible for calling us when they accidentally trip their alarm, and ensure these entities make their alarm company responsible for their alarm systems.”

He noted that the false alarm runs take officers from other duties, use gasoline, and involve the extra risk that always goes with an expedited patrol-car run. Too often, he said, the officer arrives to find the responsible party “accidentally tripped the alarm” but failed to so notify the department.

The ordinance also puts pressure on homeowners and businesses to see that malfunctioning systems get fixed.

The ordinance provides a fine of $25 for a second offense, $50 for a third offenses, and $100 for each subsequent offense.

By ordinance, the fines go into a special fund, from which the county council may appropriate money for “reasonable and necessary law enforcement activities.”