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Rolling Meadows, IL, Looks to Correct its Alarm Ordinance

Rolling Meadows, IL, aldermen on Tuesday, Feb. 16 tried to correct a change to false alarm penalties that they didn't intent to pass.

"There was a recommendation to change some of the fee structure," explained Mayor Ken Nelson. "We changed more than we intended to."

In 2006, the city allowed residents to have up to three false alarms on their burglar alarm systems each year. After that, a resident was accessed a fee of $100 for additional false alarms. Fees and permits for alarms were set at 50% for senior citizens.

Aldermen that year considered a change in the false alarm ordinance. "The intent was to impact the fees for fire false alarms," Nelson explained. However, the change somehow also increased the fines for false burglar alarms. Under the current ordinance, residents are allowed only one false alarm with a fee of $350 for any additional ones.

Fire Chief Ron Stewart explained his department asked for higher fees due to the cost of sending two to four vehicles to a false alarm. In 2007, the fire department responded to 460 false alarms, 561 in 2008, and about 570 last year. Stewart further explained the department does not fine for everything classified as a false alarm and that it is behind in fine collection due to clerical cuts by the city.

Police Chief Dave Scanlan said his department noticed a problem with the new rates and did not charge the increased fees for false alarms. Police respond to about 800 false alarms each year, he added.

Nelson asked for a corrected version of the ordinance come before the Committee of the Whole in March. It could then be back on the books after two council meetings. Meanwhile, he expects the police department to enforce the old ordinance as it has been.