posted on Tuesday, November 11, 2008 4:34 PM
by
klehan
Naugatuck, CT, Pursuing Collection of Alarm Fines from Businesses
Under a local ordinance, the borough of Naugatuck, CT, slaps fines on people or businesses who have too many false alarms. But there are 17 businesses and residents who have frequent alarms and are not paying the fines.
In an effort to recoup the money, the Board of Mayor and Burgesses will hire an attorney or debt collection agency.
"We feel that if the ordinance is going to have any teeth to it, the people who aren't going to respond need to know that there are consequences," said Police Chief Christopher Edson.
Police did not have the names of violators available on Monday.
Edson said the borough is willing to work with people who cannot afford to pay fines.
The ordinance that allows police to charge for too many alarms has been on the books for years, but was never implemented until March, when Edson and the Police Commission decided the false alarms were soaking up too much police manpower. The ordinance states there is no charge for the first two false alarms; a $50 charge for a third; a $75 charge for a fourth and $100 for each false alarm in excess of four.
He said the goal is not to generate revenue, but to encourage alarm owners to have their systems maintained and repaired.
Several people appeal their fees to the Police Commission, which reviews each appeal thoroughly, said Commissioner Steve Smith.
"When it's a frequent occurrance that seems like it could easily be corrected by the owner or the alarm company, we implement those fines," he said. "We are trying to encourage alarm companies to be responsive to this too."