Just three days remain before Lincoln's new alarm ordinance goes into effect on July 1. The new ordinance requires that every alarm company, and every residence or business with an alarm, register that alarm within 60 days. If you have an existing alarm, you have until August 30 to register.
After the initial registration, you must re-register during January of even numbered years, so you'll be good until January of 2012. The registration fee is $100 for commercial alarm users, and $60 for residential alarm users. There is a discount for alarm users who submit their registration through their alarm company. All the details can be found on a FAQ page at our public website.
False alarms have been falling in Lincoln since peaking out in 2002 at 4,848. Last year, there were 3,181. The decline is continuing this year. So far in 2010, false alarms are down 8.3% from the same period in 2009. I expect that with the passage of the new ordinance the number may fall even further. If false alarms continue to fall, this is a good thing. Responding to alarms is dangerous, and when sloppy installation, maintenance, or operation causes repeated false alarms at the same premise, it is especially important for the owners to sit up and pay attention.
Last year's most egregious offender is a home improvement store that had 19 false alarms. They're doing just a little better this year, with only seven false alarms thus far. Under the new ordinance, you are allowed six free false alarms within a two-year registration period. After that, there is a $100 fee assessed for each false alarm until you hit 16, when the fee jumps to $250. Had this ordinance been into effect in 2009-2010, this business would have been assessed $3,650 so far with a half year left during which each additional false alarm would cost another $250.
Monday, June 28, 2010
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8 comments:
And just how is the notifications supposed to be made? One used to get a letter directly from LPD a day or two later by mail regarding their alarm activation. According to the documents I have read. I could be away for a 3 day holiday weekend my alarm go off. LPD will only forward reports to cry-wolfs 3 times a week. Cry-wolfs will notify users after only the 5th one being number 6. Mailing it from Maryland or wherever? How long will that take to recieve? I fail to see how dragging out this process or none at all has anything to do with reducing a dispatch, but adding to the problem. It is not acceptable. Granted it is the users responsibility. One could have several more alarms in the process. And not even know it. I hope your expectations are correct with the reduction of dispatches therefore we will be able to also reduce the registration fee and fine to accurately reflect the actual cost. But I know better. I also want others to note the document also states Cry -wolfs collects 17 percent of those collections for a very basic bill collection service. And had to post a 10,000 dollar bond? They have a 2 yr contract that can be extended for another 2 years. This is NOT a local company yet they just pretend / act like it. People would be really upset to know this, just as they call India to get customer support for technology. The only reason a local address is used is for the collection of funds. Cry-wolf is Public Safety Group of Maryland. Thus the reason one is calling an 800 number. Very typical of people wanting to get paid but can’t seem to show up for work. The phone company bills people for service their not receiving, yellow pages extending the life of their directories and still billing advertisers. And just as in paying alarm registration fees that are NOT prorated. I thought this was considered fraud? I guess I’m wrong, sorry…
And the mayor wants to eliminate alarm response service? Hello is anyone concious, responsible or really know what there doing?
From my perspective no one put any care or thought into this process, and from the lack of comments, I really do not believe anyone cares. Thank you.
This is very alarming.
256
Personally, I thought that the $60 registration fee was a little steep for residential (compared to $100 for commercial), considering that I pay a little under half that per month for my alarm service... took a bit of a bite out of my budget. Over the last ten years, my house has had zero false alarms, so what exactly am I paying for??? Registration, maybe; false alarms, no. Not learning much from the punishment part of the ordinance as-of-yet, unfortunately...
6:35-
You've never been notified of false alarms by the police department, unless you exceeded the number of allowed false alarms and were mailed a citation. Your alarm company should be the one to notify you when your alarm has gone off, and if they are not, I'd take that up with them. I would be rather unhappy, personally, if I. was paying a company for alarm service, and they weren't even bothering to notify me when my alarm had been tripped
This ordinance change was widely covered by the news media while it was being considered by the City Council last year, and there was ample opportunity to express your opinion at the public hearing. I testified that we would intend to outsource the registration and accounts receivable to a private sector firm if the ordinance was passed, and crywolf was selected after an open, competitive bid--as required by law.
Eric,
It's a two year registration period, so it's $2.50 per month. If your alarm company submits the registration, it's $40 every two years, instead of $60, or $1.67 per month.
Did some of the comments not make it? I posted a question yesterday and have not seen it.
3:33-
I posted everything received....??
Having a big dog in the yard is still very cheap!
I hate it when my alarm goes off but it doesn't cost me anything.
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