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Rolling Meadows, IL, Alderman Look to Correct Alarm Ordinance

Rolling Meadows, IL, aldermen corrected, on first reading, fines for false alarms.

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 for fire alarms, but 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.

The change, if approved on second reading at the next council meeting, would change both fee structures.

Under the changes, residents are allowed two false fire alarms. The third triggers a $350 fine, the fourth through sixth carry a $450 fine and on-site written notice, the seventh is a $600 fine and revocation of the alarm permit.

For burglar alarms, residents will now be allowed three false alarms with a fourth allowed for senior citizens. The fine for the next violation is $100. The next two carry a $150 and $200 fine respectively with a permit revocation on the final false alarm.

At the Committee of the Whole meeting the previous week, Fire Chief Ron Stewart explained the department fell behind on billing for fines during 2009 due to staffing cuts. However, he said he has worked with the finance department to correct those issues and will soon go back to the beginning of 2010 and file the proper notices to violators.